How to Make a DIY Floral-Pressed Notebook Cover

Creating a DIY floral-pressed notebook cover is a fun and creative way to personalize a notebook while adding a touch of nature to your everyday items. Here’s a simple guide on how to make one:

Materials Needed:

• Fresh flowers (flowers with thin petals work best, like daisies, violets, or lavender)

• Wax paper

• Heavy books (or a flower press if available)

• Scissors

• Mod Podge or any decoupage glue

• Paintbrush

• Plain notebook (preferably with a hardcover)

• Clear acrylic spray (optional)

• Parchment paper or tissue paper (optional)

Step 1: Select Your Flowers

Start by picking flowers that you want to press. Wildflowers, roses, and small garden blooms are ideal choices. It’s best to use flowers with delicate, thin petals so they press well and don’t lose their shape. Make sure to choose flowers that are dry and free from moisture.

Step 2: Press the Flowers

To press flowers, place them between two sheets of wax paper. If you don’t have wax paper, you can use parchment or tissue paper as a substitute. Lay the flowers flat, ensuring no petals are overlapping to avoid sticking. Once you’ve arranged the flowers, place the wax paper inside a heavy book, ensuring the pages of the book are as flat as possible to give the flowers an even press. You can add more weight on top of the book for a more thorough press. Leave the flowers to press for about 2-3 weeks, depending on their thickness.

Step 3: Prepare the Notebook

Choose a plain, hardcover notebook that you can decorate. If your notebook is soft, it may be harder to glue the flowers to, so a sturdy hardcover is ideal for this project. Make sure the surface is clean and dry before you begin decorating.

Step 4: Cut Out the Flowers

Once your flowers are fully pressed and dried, carefully remove them from the wax paper. Use scissors to trim the flowers to your desired shapes and sizes. You can cut the flowers into individual petals, leaves, or keep them whole depending on the design you want to create.

Step 5: Arrange the Flowers on the Cover

Before gluing the flowers, lay them out on the notebook’s cover to see how they fit. You can arrange the flowers in any pattern you like—symmetrical designs, a scattered look, or even a border. Play around with different layouts until you find one you’re happy with.

Step 6: Apply the Glue

Once you’ve settled on a design, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge or decoupage glue to the back of each flower. Place them carefully on the notebook cover, pressing gently to ensure they stick properly. Use a paintbrush to smooth out the glue around the edges of each flower to prevent lifting.

Step 7: Seal the Flowers

Once the flowers are glued on, use Mod Podge to coat the entire cover with a thin, even layer of glue. This will help to secure the flowers and give the cover a glossy finish. Be careful not to apply too much glue, as it can cause the flowers to become too wet and lose their shape. Let the glue dry completely.

Step 8: Optional – Add a Protective Finish

To make the cover more durable, you can spray a layer of clear acrylic spray over the flowers and notebook. This will protect the flowers from wear and tear, as well as give the cover a glossy, professional finish. Let the spray dry completely before handling the notebook.

Step 9: Enjoy Your Handmade Floral-Pressed Notebook

Once everything is dry and secure, your floral-pressed notebook cover is ready to be used. Whether you use it for journaling, sketching, or note-taking, you now have a beautiful, nature-inspired cover that’s uniquely your own.

This DIY project is a great way to preserve the beauty of flowers while creating something functional. You can experiment with different flowers, colors, and arrangements to make several custom notebooks that reflect your personal style.