# Pressed Flower Valentine Cards
> Press garden flower petals in the microwave in under a minute, then brush on a little glue and arrange them on cardstock to make nature-themed Valentine cards.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/art-activities-kids-flower-pressing-valentine-art/
- Ages: 4–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: low
- Time: prep 25 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: fine-motor, nature-exploration, science-observation, patterns, creativity

## Materials (one batch)
- Fresh flowers (e.g. roses, daisies) and leaves
- 1 sheet White printer paper (household)
- 1 sheet Paper towels (household)
- 1 piece Heavy microwave-safe plate (household)
- 1 piece Microwave (household)
- Glue
- 1 piece Brush
- 1 sheet Cardstock paper
- Pens or markers (optional) (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of flowers: Fall leaves (The author says this works in any season. Think gorgeous fall leaves, dried.)

## Safety
- An adult runs the microwave. Stay with it and use short 30-second to 1-minute bursts so the paper doesn't overheat.
- The plate and paper can be hot after microwaving. Let them cool before kids handle the petals.
- Only use flowers and leaves you know. Some garden plants are toxic, so supervise young kids so petals and glue stay out of mouths, and wash hands afterward.
- Kids with pollen or plant allergies may react to fresh flowers.

## Before you start
- Collect a bunch of flowers from the garden, or pick some up from the florist.
- Fold the cardstock in half to make cards.

## Steps
1. Pull the flowers apart into separate petals.
2. Arrange the petals on a sheet of white printer paper.
3. Fold the paper in half to close it, then wrap a folded paper towel around it.
4. Adult: put it in the microwave and set a heavy microwave-safe plate on top.
5. Adult: microwave about 30 seconds for small petals or 1 minute for good-sized rose petals. Do daisies, small flowers and leaves in 30-second steps.
6. Explore the dried petals and make patterns with them.
7. Lightly brush glue on the back of each petal and press it onto your card.
8. Let the cards dry for a while, then write notes to your friends.

## Tips
- You could dry the petals longer, but I didn't want them too brittle since my 4 year old was going to make cards with them.
- I always let the kids explore the materials before the actual activity. Often the intended activity never happens, and that is totally fine in our house!
- The kids were impressed with the super fast pressing. My 6 year old made guesses about what caused the change in texture.
- If you are totally snowed in, bring in some color from the florist.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2015)

Easy art activities for kids using fresh flowers. Flower pressing in under a minute. Use them to create nature themed Valentine Art. **Materials**

- Flowers
- Printer Paper
- Glue
- Heavy Microwavable Plate
- Paper Towels
- Glue
- Brush
- **[Cardstock Paper](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006P1ER8O/?tag=blmemo-20)**

I have always wanted to try flower pressing with the kids simply because of all the fond memories of my childhood! I loved flower pressing as a kid. Luckily both my kids enjoyed this art activity. A good project, just in time for Valentine's Day. Since we were super short on time we took the easy route and did flower pressing in our microwave. We followed the directions from numerous Youtube videos on the process. For your reference here is one such [**video**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIb879Uhda8).

[***{ Homemade Card with pencil shavings here}***](https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-mothers-day-cards-pencil-shavings-flowers/)

### Flower Pressing in under a minute

We collected a bunch of flowers from our garden. { If you are totally snowed in, how about bringing in some color from the florist?}
 The kids separated the petals and arranged them on a regular white sheet of paper. Fold the paper in half and close it. We also used a kitchen paper towel and folder it again and placed it around the sheet of paper with the petals. Place the sheet in the microwave and to make sure the petals stay in place I placed a heavy microwave safe plate over it. Depending on the size of the petals I would microwave them for 30 seconds. For good sized rose petals 1 minute would do the trick. If you are pressing daisies r smaller flowers and leaves I recommend pressing in increments of 30 seconds.  You could dry them for longer if you wish. I didn't want the petals too brittle since my 4 year old was going to make Valentine cards with them..



The kids were impressed with the super fast flower pressing method and were glad to explore with the transformation of the flower petals. My 6 year was making guesses as to what caused the change of texture.  She loved this unique art activity and spent a lot of time making patterns with the dried flower petals. I always let the kids enjoy and explore the materials we set out for any project before engaging in the actual activity. { Often times the intended activity never happens and that is totally fine in our house!} 

### Art Activities for kids with pressed flowers for Valentine's day

Time to create with dried flowers. Lightly brush with glue on the back of the flowers and petals and the kids can start making Valentine cards. This is a perfect all season art for kids { Think gorgeous fall leaves dried!}  We let them dry for awhile before writing notes to all our friends.

 We even pressed a whole rose and my 6 year old had to make a heart with petals for one of her special friends! We adore natured themed art activities.



Thanks for reading

### More [**nature activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/nature-crafts/) for kids here

### All our [**Valentine's day activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/holidays/valentines-day-holidays/) here