1 Measure your head from mid-forehead and over your ears to approximately 1 inch above the hairline on the back of your neck. Add 6 inches and cut two pieces of wire to your measurement. Evenly line up the two wires and begin to wrap the floral tape around the wire at one end. Stretch the tape as you wrap and keep it nice and tight. Continue to wrap the entire length of wire by twisting the wire as you go. As you spiral down the wire, make sure each layer overlaps the previous so no wire is showing.

2 Locate the center of the wrapped wire, and measure 6 inches in one direction to locate your starting point. The total area covered in flowers will be about 12 inches. From the starting point, begin to wrap floral tape onto the base wire with the shorter end in front of you. Lay your first stem next to the starting point; then wrap the tape around the stem and wire a few times to secure the flower to the base wire. Remember to stretch with your fingers as you go, keeping the wrap tight. As you work, wrap around each stem a few times around before adding the next piece.

3 Continue adding flowers one stem at a time, keeping each new flower close to the previous. Slightly bend the wire as you go to create a curve. Add fewer flowers for a thinner crown, or fill the space in with more flowers for a thicker crown.

4 If you are going for a thicker crown, begin to lessen the thickness of your crown after 6 to 7 inches, adding smaller and smaller pieces toward the end. The total length of the flower section should be about 12 inches long. Use the tape measure along the way to check your progress.

5 When you’re done adding flowers, continue to wrap the remaining stems until they are completely covered. Tear or cut the floral tape, and wrap the remaining end around the base. To connect the crown, overlap the two ends by approximately 3 inches. Cut a 2-inch piece of floral tape, and wrap it around the overlapped ends to secure the crown while you try it on. Make adjustments, if needed. When the crown is the size you want it, cut a 12-inch piece of floral tape and completely cover the section where the two ends overlap.

 1 Start with smaller leaves and increase the leaf size as you go. Begin by folding the first leaf in half so the tip and stem are next to each other, with the colorful side out. Leaves with stems still attached will create a sturdier, longer-lasting rose. Roll the folded leaf from one side, keeping the folded edge on top.

2 Keeping the first rolled leaf in one hand, fold your next leaf in half. Roll the second leaf around the first.

3 Continue adding leaves in this same way, turning the rose as you go to maintain an even size. You can create roses of all one color or multicolored roses.

4 Continue holding the rose in one hand as you add more leaves. If you set it down, the rose it will unravel and you’ll have to start over.

5 If the center of the rose begins to poke up too far, gently push it back down. You may need to do this a few times as you go.

6 As you near completion of the rose, start tapering the leaf layers downward. This will help hold all the layers in. Use the largest leaves at the bottom, and stop adding leaves when you’re happy with the size.

7 Gently slide a 9- or 10-inch piece of floral wire into the rose as far as possible without upsetting the layers. You could also use a small, sturdy twig.

8 Holding the rose in one hand, place the end of the floral tape under your thumb, and turn the rose gently to wrap the tape around the base, stretching the tape as you go to keep it as tight as possible.

9 Wrap seven to ten layers of tape around the base.

10 Continue wrapping down the wire and stems until you reach the end of the wire. Cover the end in tape, and wrap back up the stem slightly. Tear the tape off when you are done.

 1 Gather pieces of nature from your yard or public nature areas. Starting in the middle of your design area, begin arranging the items. I like to start with smaller pieces in the center and gradually use larger ones as I work outward. Place one item after the next, creating a curve around the starting point.

2 Continue adding items one by one to your spiral.

3 Continue to add to the arrangement.

4 Keep adding nature items until you’re happy with the spiral. I add a little tail of petals to the end of mine.

5 Embellish the spiral with more nature items, if desired. I add little petals around some of the flowers. You can add as many as you like until you feel your spiral is complete.

6 Take a photo of your spiral to create a lasting memory of your artwork that you can share with others.

 1 Gather your materials. Choose two similar pieces for the eyes. The eyes are the central focus, so be sure to choose pieces that will stand out and aren’t too small. Select two large petals or small leaves for the nose. Then cut a stem for the line of the mouth. Leave enough space to place teeth above the line.

2 Choose petals or leaves for the teeth. Cut the tips of the petals off, making some larger than others. Start by adding two teeth at the top center. Continue adding petals on either side to fill in the line. Then add petal teeth to the bottom of the line. I use the front of the petals for the top and the back of the petals for the bottom to create contrast.

3 As you continue, choose pairs of flowers or plants that are similar in size to add to each side. To begin the outer design of the skull, pick two pieces to represent the cheeks. Place these on either side of the nose, just outside the eyes. Then use stems, or small flowers with stems, at either side of the mouth.

4 Continue adding flowers, stems, and leaves two at a time, one on each side of the skull, directly across from each other.

5 Use slightly curved pieces to complete the chin and top of the head. I like to finish the skull with a flower at the very center of the top and bottom of the design.

6 You may also like to add two petals for rosy cheeks. Feel free to add leaf or petal embellishments to the forehead, chin, or other areas.

7 Play around until you have a design you like. You can stop here, or sprinkle small petals around the background for a different effect. I use mostly white petals with a few purple petals for contrast. Take a few photos of your creation to print and frame.

Cutting & Gathering

While collecting botanicals, you’ll need cutting implements to clean off debris or trim unusable parts. Take plastic zip bags and paper towels with you to collect fresh botanicals for pressing. Don’t limit yourself to “perfect” flowers and foliage. Imperfect presses still make for really interesting masterpieces.

Pressing

To press fresh botanicals, you’ll need heavy books, weights (optional), and plain copy paper. You can also make your own flower press with pieces of plywood and some clamps or screws. Keep in mind that not all flowers retain their color. Some flowers on the scarlet-purple side retain a dark crimson color. Paler petals may turn brown. Grass, weeds, and vines tend to keep their original color.

Handling & Crafting

Use handmade paper or card stock, craft glue, and paintbrushes to create artwork with your pressed flowers. Avoid handling pressed items with your fingers. Instead, use a palette knife, spatula, Popsicle stick, or butter knife. Touching pressed flowers may transfer oils from your fingers to the piece, which could invite mold and mildew later.

 1 Gather your favorite botanicals. It’s best to harvest your picks on a sunny afternoon, so that any morning dew has dried. Avoid flowers with pods, pistils, and pollen. These types of flowers are easily attacked by mildew. Store what you pick in plastic zip bags with a bit of air for a day or two before pressing. The same goes for bouquets. Be sure to take the bouquet out of water for at least a day before pressing.

2 Make sure that the flowers and leaves are free from any moisture and bugs. Remove any hard or bulky seed cases, calyxes, or stems. It’s always best to break flowers down to the most basic parts. For instance, it’s wise to press petals, instead of an entire bud all together.

4 Close the pages of your books, and store in a cool dry place. Stack books on top of each other, or place weights on top for added weight and even pressing. Then put your patience to the test. Leave the presses alone for 6 to 8 weeks. Do your best not to introduce moisture back to the flowers—you’re not allowed to peek!

5 After the recommended pressing period, check if the presses are ready. A quick test is to pick up a flower by the tip. If the flower is floppy, it is not yet fully dried and pressed. If the flower is stiff, you can start using it for your projects.

6 If you’re not yet ready to use pressed flowers, it’s best to store and repackage them. Carefully transfer the pieces into plastic zip bags, housed in envelopes or folded sheets of copy paper.

 1 Cut a strip of paper the same height as your candle, and use it to plan your design. Select your pressed materials carefully. If you’re using a cylindrical candle, make sure brittle pieces won’t break when they are placed on the candle.

2 Light a separate candle as a heat source. Hold an old metal spoon over the flame. Get it just warm enough to melt the wax. Be careful—the spoon can get hot quickly!

3 Hover the spoon over your candle. Warm a spot on the candle just long enough for the surface to soften, without letting the wax come to a drip.

4 Place a flower or leaf over the melted spot. The wax acts as glue. Don’t worry if it doesn’t stick right away!

5 Smoothly glide the spoon over the leaf or flower to coat it with more wax to help seal it in.

6 Reheat the spoon as needed, and repeat until all the flowers and leaves are placed on the candle. Display along with other pressed flower pieces for a beautiful nature-themed mantle or shelf at home!

 1 Sketch out your chosen shape on a plain sheet of copy paper—consider animals, objects, or perhaps silhouettes of your kids. Make sure to accentuate or exaggerate any distinct features. This will make the finished piece more striking.

2 Mark the center of the finished sketch. Align the center of the sketch with the center of the card stock for your actual collage piece. Once everything is aligned, trace over your design with a dull pencil or a stylus. This will leave score marks on the card stock, giving you a faint outline of the sketch, without the trouble of having to erase pencil marks later.

3 Start picking out flowers, leaves, and stems from your pressed botanicals collection. Plan your design on a clean sheet of paper for visual approval. It’s best to start with the outline of the shape, and work your way inward. Fill the space as best as you can, using an assortment of colors, shapes, and textures.

4 Using a brush, apply a very thin coat of glue on the reverse side of each flower or leaf. Make sure to cover the strategic areas first, including the spine, stem, and thicker parts.

5 Carefully apply each piece to the card stock. If needed, use a toothpick to straighten out any folded areas or burst any bubbles that may have formed. Remember to be very gentle! Allow to dry; then check for loose pieces by gently blowing on the flowers.

6 Take a step back and see if everything looks the way you want it. On the back, you may want to note all the flowers you used for identification in the future. Frame your artwork, and display in your home or give it as a gift.

 1 Trim your flowers and clover plant, separating each petal and leaf. Select a limited color palette, such as the pink and green that you see here. For the small round objects, I am using pink chocolate-covered sunflower seeds. You could use other types of small candies, buttons, stones, or beads.

2 Arrange four or five petals in a circular shape. Place the inside part of the flower, pistil, stamen, or other round object in the middle of the circle.

3 Select several clover leaves that are about the same size. Place them next to each petal, and use your tweezers to adjust the small leaves so that they face outward.

4 Place small round objects or other flower parts in the spaces between each leaf. If you like, complement your simple mandala by placing paint swatches in similar colors next to or behind your design.

5 After photographing and editing your mandala, try making your own greeting cards by printing the image on card stock.