Make your own cards out of pressed flowers

As an avid gardener I have always loved pressing my own flowers and leaves to embellish my handmade paper stationery. I believe that when someone receives one of my handmade cards they receive a piece of my garden, as well.

I recycle and make my own paper pulp using paper scraps, such as envelopes without the plastic windows or stamps; non-glossy printed paper; white or coloured computer paper; brown grocery and lunch bags; napkins, etc. I select and organize the paper scraps into groups by colours and textures.

Materials needed to make your paper pulp

• Blender or food processor
• Wash basin or laundry tub
• Mould and deckle set (available at craft stores in different sizes – example shown here)
• Recycled papers (envelopes, tissue papers, construction papers, grocery and lunch bags, egg cartons, etc.)
• Lukewarm water
• Dried flower heads and leaves
• Pressed flowers and leaves

How to make your paper pulp:

1.    First, select the recycled papers you want to blend together to make your paper pulp.

2.    Rip the paper into small pieces (about an inch) and place them into the blender or food processor.

TIP: You can add colour and texture to your pulp by adding dried flower heads and leaves or pieces of colored paper.

Blend the pulp thoroughly for an even-coloured handmade paper. You can also get an interesting, chunky effect if you blend them lightly. Write down your pulp recipes.

3.    You should have about half a blender or food processor full of pulp. Fill the blender or food processor with lukewarm water.

TIP: It is better to blend small portions of paper to prevent damaging your blender or food processor blades.

4.    Run the blender or food processor slowly at first and increase the speed until the pulp looks smooth and well-blended. Make sure that no large flakes of paper remain. Remove any unblended paper chunks.

5.    Pour your pulp and water into your washbasin or laundry tub.

6.    Gently stir the pulp with your hands and add enough water to have your pulp floating freely in the wash basin or laundry tub. Let the pulp rest a few hours.