Pressed Flower Collage (with DIY microwave flower press!)

Forget old school flower presses that take weeks to work–the future is here! Use this tutorial to make your very own microwave flower press, all with materials you already have at home. Once you’ve created your vibrant and beautiful florals, piece them together on a piece of paper to create a unique collage that’s perfect for any gift.

To create your own microwave flower press, you’re going to need a few pieces of cardboard, tissues/paper towels, and 4 rubber bands. Place three layers of tissue on the first piece of cardboard, then fold a few of your flowers into a tissue. Put three more layers on top of it then the next layer of cardboard. You can continue this process until you use up all of your flowers.

Once you’re done, wrap rubber bands around it to keep everything pressed tightly together. Put this in the microwave for 40 to 50 seconds. You may have to experiment a little with the timing–just keep in mind if you leave it in for too long, the flowers will burn and you’ll have a funky smell wafting throughout your house. Believe me, no one wants that!

Carefully peel the tissue away from the flowers. They will be delicate so handle them with care. Here’s what some of my dried and pressed flowers looked like!

Arrange the flowers on a piece of printer paper or heavy paper. Make sure it fits the picture frame you plan on displaying your floral masterpiece in. You can make a design or spread them out however you like. If you need some ideas, I recommend checking out Etsy or Pinterest.

Using a paintbrush, apply clear Mod Podge on the backs and fronts of the flowers, sealing them to the paper. It’s okay if some of the white goop is still visible–it will dry clear in a few minutes. After the Mod Podge dries, pop your collage into a picture frame and you’re all set. Good luck and happy crafting!

DIY Temporary Tattoos

    

Whether you’re looking to try out a new tattoo or rock a fun design for a couple of days, these DIY tattoos are simple and cheap to make. Even better, you probably already have all the supplies you need at home!

When you’re deciding where to put your tattoo, be careful not to put it on body parts you move a lot (wrists, fingers, etc.) The constant movement causes the liquid bandage to wrinkle and peel off faster. Regardless, this is still a fun DIY that looks great!

Let’s get started!

What you’ll need:

• Liquid or pencil eyeliner
• Wax paper
• Printer paper
• Baby powder
• Brush
• Liquid bandage

Step 1

Print out a tattoo design on printer paper; they have great ideas on google images. If you’re feeling brave, draw it with a Sharpie instead! Once you do this, place the sheet of wax paper on top of the design.

Using either your liquid eyeliner or a gel pen, trace the design onto the wax paper.

Step 2

Flip the wax paper over and place it on the desired location for your tattoo. Make sure the ink is on the bottom so it transfers onto your skin! You’re going to use this as an outline for your tattoo.

Step 3

Peel off the wax paper and use either the liquid or pencil eyeliner to trace the outline you just made. Thicken and sharpen the lines so it looks like a real tattoo.

Step 4

Once you’re satisfied with your design sprinkle it with some baby powder. This will set the ink/pencil so it won’t smear when you put on the liquid bandage. After a few seconds brush off the baby powder. It’s okay if the lines look a little faded — they’ll become dark again when you put on the liquid bandage.

Step 5

Apply the liquid bandage to your design. This will seal it onto your skin so you’ll have a waterproof and lasting tattoo. Voila–your temporary tattoo is complete!