DIY bookmarks using pressed flowers from the garden
A handmade bookmark can turn an ordinary reading session into a small seasonal ritual. Pressed petals, tiny leaves and delicate grasses preserve a glimpse of the garden between the pages of a favourite book. The finished piece is useful, inexpensive and personal enough to give as a birthday present, classroom treat or rainy-afternoon craft.
This project suits children with adult supervision, though younger makers may need help arranging fragile flowers and sealing the bookmark. It also works well for families who enjoy collecting natural materials without taking too much from the garden. A few fallen petals or carefully chosen weeds can create a beautiful result.
Australian gardens offer plenty of suitable plants throughout the year. A jacaranda floret from Brisbane, a small daisy from a Melbourne courtyard or a lavender sprig grown in a Canberra pot can all become part of a bookmark. In warmer regions, native flowers and hardy herbs may press especially well when gathered during a dry spell.
The process has a quiet, bookish quality: collect, press, wait, arrange and read. While the flowers flatten, children can choose a book to match the colours or keep a garden journal about what they found. The activity becomes a gentle way to connect stories, creativity and the changing seasons.
Choosing flowers that press well
The best flowers for bookmarks are naturally flat or can be separated into slim parts. Pansies, violets, daisies, alyssum, lavender florets, clover, fern fronds and small herbs are good choices. Individual petals from roses or gerberas can work too, although thick centres usually take longer to dry.
Pick flowers on a dry morning after the dew has disappeared. Avoid specimens that are bruised, damp or already turning brown. In Australia, a hot afternoon can wilt flowers quickly, so place your finds in a container as soon as possible. A small basket or paper envelope is kinder to delicate petals than a plastic bag.
Only collect from your own garden or from places where picking is permitted. Never gather flowers from public reserves, botanic gardens or roadside verges without checking local rules. Look carefully for insects, prickles and irritating sap, and wash hands after handling plants. If a child has allergies, use known garden varieties and keep the project well ventilated.
Pressing petals and leaves
Place each flower between sheets of absorbent paper, such as plain printer paper, blotting paper or coffee filters. Avoid glossy pages because they can trap moisture. Arrange petals face down or spread them gently so they do not overlap. Leaves should be flattened while they are still fresh, with the stem trimmed if it makes the piece bulky.
Put the paper inside a heavy book, then add several books on top. An old dictionary, atlas or sturdy cookbook provides useful weight. Keep the stack somewhere dry and away from direct sunlight. In humid coastal areas such as Sydney or Cairns, check the flowers after a few days and replace damp paper if necessary.
Most thin flowers take one to two weeks to dry completely. Thicker pieces may need longer. They are ready when they feel papery rather than cool or soft. Rushing this stage can lead to mould, so patience is part of the craft. The waiting period is a good opportunity to start a family reading challenge, such as a summer reading bingo activity for children.
Gathering simple craft materials
Pressed flowers are the star, but a few basic supplies make the bookmark stronger and easier to handle. Cardstock, recycled cereal boxes, paper offcuts and watercolour paper all make suitable bases. Choose a pale background if you want fine stems and pastel petals to stand out.
A paper trimmer gives straight edges, though scissors and a ruler are perfectly adequate. Children can use a glue stick for light pieces, while clear-drying craft glue works better for leaves or textured grasses. For a more durable finish, use self-adhesive laminating sheets, clear contact or a laminator operated by an adult.
Useful materials for a small craft afternoon include:
- Smooth cardstock or recycled cardboard
- Pressed flowers, petals, leaves and grasses
- Scissors, ruler and pencil
- Clear-drying glue or a glue stick
- Laminating sheets, clear contact or wide clear tape
Keep the workspace dry and uncluttered. A sheet of baking paper protects the table from glue, while tweezers help position fragile petals without leaving fingerprints. If you are working with several children, give each maker a shallow tray or envelope for their own botanical pieces.
Making the bookmark step by step
Cut the base to approximately 5 by 15 centimetres, adjusting the size for the books your family reads most often. Round the corners if the bookmark will be used by a younger child. Before gluing anything, arrange the pressed flowers on the card and take a quick photograph. This makes it easier to recreate the layout if a petal shifts.
Try a simple composition: one stem down the centre, a cluster in one corner or a border of tiny daisies. Apply a very small amount of glue to the back of each piece. Too much adhesive can stain translucent petals and make the card ripple. Tweezers or the tip of a clean paintbrush can help with placement.
Once the design is complete, leave it flat until the glue has dried. Place another sheet of baking paper over the bookmark and add a light book on top for an hour or two. This helps the card remain smooth. Avoid pressing directly on uncovered flowers, as some petals can stick to paper or lose their shape.
Finish the bookmark with a protective covering. Self-adhesive laminating film is convenient because it requires no heat, while clear contact gives a similar result. If using a laminator, an adult should handle the hot machine and allow the bookmark to cool under a flat book. Punching a hole and adding cotton thread, wool or ribbon creates a cheerful tassel.
Designing bookmarks around favourite books
A pressed-flower bookmark can reflect a story’s setting, mood or season. Blue petals and fern fronds might suit a book about the coast or rainforest, while golden grasses could accompany an Australian bush adventure. For a poetry collection, a single violet with a handwritten line on the reverse may be enough.
Children can add the name of the reader, the date and the place where the flowers were gathered. A small label such as “Autumn garden, 2025” turns the bookmark into a memory object. Older children might sketch the living plant on the back or record whether it grew in a pot, backyard bed or community garden.
These design ideas work well for gifts or shared reading projects:
- Match flower colours to the cover of a favourite novel
- Create a native-garden theme with eucalyptus leaves and grasses
- Make a rainbow bookmark from separate petals
- Add a short poem, reading goal or personal message
- Use one pressed herb sprig for a simple, fragrant-looking design
Keep the decoration flat enough to slide between pages without stressing the book’s spine. Avoid bulky buttons, beads and thick knots, especially for library books. A neat, lightweight bookmark is kinder to picture books, chapter books and well-loved paperbacks.
Caring for the finished bookmark
Store completed bookmarks away from heat, moisture and strong sunlight. A hot windowsill can fade petals, while a damp schoolbag may soften the card. Laminated bookmarks are more practical for everyday use, but even sealed pieces should be kept dry. If the covering begins to lift, trim the edge carefully and add a fresh strip of clear contact.
The bookmark can also become part of a family reading space. Display a few on a peg rail, place one beside a garden journal or use them as place cards at a book-club afternoon. For seasonal inspiration, the Reading Style Guide blog offers a natural companion to activities that bring books, making and everyday family life together.
In households with older readers, the craft table can remain a shared space after children finish. An adult might pair a new novel with a quiet evening activity, although browsing online entertainment should stay separate from children’s reading areas; even a mobile-friendly casino guide is best treated as adult-only content.
Choosing the right finish
The ideal finish depends on how the bookmark will be used. A simple card version feels handmade and is easy to recycle, while a sealed version lasts longer in a school bag. Laminating preserves colour and protects the flowers, but it can create glare and requires extra equipment. Clear contact is inexpensive and readily available from Australian stationery shops, supermarkets and craft retailers.
| Finish | Best feature | Things to consider | Suitable use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unsealed cardstock | Natural handmade feel | Vulnerable to moisture and bending | Home reading and short-term gifts |
| Clear contact | Affordable and easy to apply | Can trap bubbles or wrinkles | Family craft sessions |
| Self-adhesive laminating sheet | Durable without heat | May soften very delicate petals | School bags and regular use |
| Heat lamination | Strong, polished protection | Requires an adult and a laminator | Keepsakes and repeated handling |
A pressed-flower bookmark does not need expensive supplies or rare blooms. Its charm comes from the small details: a petal gathered after rain, a leaf from a balcony pot, or a flower remembered from a family walk. Made carefully, it carries the garden into every chapter and gives children a lasting reason to pause, choose a book and begin reading.