Gather flowers to dry. I recommend using smaller flowers with thin petals, leaves, and greenery as these things will dry the best. Larger flowers may not fit on the bookmarks without being trimmed, and if they are too bulky, they won’t lay flat in a book, making it hard for the bookmark to do its job! You can also simply order dried flowers and skip the wait! I have had success drying lavender, honeysuckle flowers, small hydrangea clusters, small ferns, strawberry flowers, small leaves, and pretty weeds.

Once your flowers are gathered, lay them out on parchment paper in a book. Choose a spot near the middle of the book. Place them carefully in a single layer. Lay them as flat as possible. Some flowers will not lay perfectly flat, and that is ok! Just do your best to make them as flat as possible.

Write the date on the parchment paper and close the book. Taking note of the date will help you remember when your flowers should be ready. Give the flowers at least 2 weeks to dry.

Carefully close the book and add weight to the top to help press the flowers. I use more heavy books for added weight.

After 2 weeks have passed, open the book to reveal your DIY pressed flowers!

Gather your blank bookmarks, tweezers, paint daubers and brushes, Mod Podge, ribbons and tassels, and paint cup.

Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge onto a blank bookmark. Paint a small section at a time so that the glue doesn’t dry as you work.

Carefully remove the flowers from the parchment paper that you would like to use to decorate your bookmark. You can use tweezers for those delicate, paper-thin petals. Take your time and be gentle.

Place each flower carefully on the bookmark.

Let the glue dry for about 30 minutes.

Paint over the flowers with a thin layer of Mod Podge. Some flowers may do better with a paint dauber instead of using a paint brush since you can gently press the glue on instead of brushing it on. It will look like you are covering your beautiful flowers at first, but don’t worry! The Mod Podge will dry clear and it is used to secure those little flowers to the bookmark. A second top coat may be necessary for some flowers, and that is ok! Just let the glue dry between coats.

Grab your favorite book and read while you wait for the top coat of glue to dry completely! When you are done reading, you can loop a tassel or tie some ribbon through the hole in the top of the bookmark and you will have a brand new bookmark to hold your spot!