Preserving Summer by ShadowsNTime

Photography • Collage • posted on Aug 22, 2008

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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.

Description

Something a little different tonite:-) One of my favorite things to do is to personalize gifts and cards and I use a lot of natural things to make my own decorations. In this case I am preserving spring and summer flowers to use to decorate packages and to put inside birthday cards etc. You would be surprised at the reaction you will recieve when you gear the decoration of the box to the person you are gifting to. I do it according to their fav colors, so the box actually becomes a second gift they can use for keepsakes, mementos etc. Purchase Silica Gel Crystals from your local craft store or online (possibly a floral shop too).A plastic container works best, with a tight fitting lid. Pour a small amount of silica gel crystals on the bottom evenly. Cut small flowers removing as much stem as possible. Place them upside down on the silica crystals, then gently pour silica crystals over until they are covered.You can also do large flowers like roses but this requires a lot of crystals and a deep container so as to cover properly. At Christmas I make my own cloth bows and I glue a dried flower and a little moss in the center unless I am using pine cones etc. I also recycle paper and do paper casting,paper and envelopes, paper angels, animals and decorations with a mold. Sometimes just as a decoration, sometimes with a magnet on the back. Also a good way to recycle those great sayings in cards, cut out the saying, laminate and put a magnet on the back. Great stocking stuffers! http://www.craft-supplies-online.com/productdetail.asp?item_nbr=038-MN150 http://www.papermaking.net/casting.htm Thanks for looking and for previous comments!