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"Kathy Cano Murillo is the renaissance woman of DIY Culture."

– Venus Magazine

The Crafty Chica DIY Project Library: a collection of fabulous handmade ideas by Kathy Cano-Murillo, the Crafty Chica!

Monday, April 05, 2004

Pressed Flower Light Switch Cover



Are you a professional "wing it" crafter? Making it up as you go works great for most creations, but there are certain areas in which spontaneity just doesn't cut it. Working with pressed flowers is one. Each step of the process is crucial to the outcome.
The new book The Art of Pressed Flowers (Running Press, $30) is a complete package to picking, pressing, preserving and presenting all sorts of leaves and petals. The 64-page how-to book contains helpful color photos, guidelines and project ideas, and comes with a wood press and a package of blotting paper. All you need are flowers.
Initially intimidated by the delicate procedures, I began with a simple light-switch cover. It didn't take long to catch on -- I'm now working on floral glass coasters and jewelry boxes.
Pressed-Flower Light-Switch Plates
SUPPLIES:
* 1 sheet of white typing paper
* 3 to 4 small, colorful flowers with leaves
* Tweezers
* 2 flat objects to act as the press
* 1 standard light-switch plate
* Spray paint in desired color
* White glue
* Brush
* Polyurethane varnish
DIRECTIONS: Follow the guidelines in the book for pressing the flowers. Otherwise, here are general directions:
Fold the paper in half, then open it. Insert the flowers and leaves on one side. If making a design from the petals alone, use tweezers to separate them from the pistil and line them neatly and evenly. Close the paper. Place it between the press and tighten it daily for several weeks, or until the flowers are dried. If not using a press, place the folded paper with the flowers inside a thick book or between heavy flat objects.
In a well-ventilated area, spray the light-switch plate with paint and let dry. Once your flowers have dried, remove them from the paper with the tweezers and apply them to the light-switch cover with white glue and a brush. Let dry, then coat the cover with polyurethane varnish and let dry.

* For more artsy goodness, check out CraftyChica.com *
• Posted by Crafty Chica, 6:31 PM

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