It?s great to carry on the memories of places you have been with dried flowers. As you stroll along the trails, beaches or streets, remember to pluck flowers as you go. Ferns and leaves are great items also. They will help accent the flowers later. Most importantly, carry along with you that small book, with rubber bands around it, to lay your pickings in to dry.

Once the flowers are dry, about two months later, you are ready to start your creations. Here are a few ideas to start with:

DRIED FLOWER PICTURE FRAME

Purchase a double glass, free standing picture frame. You will also need a glue stick to hold your flowers in place. Take the picture frame apart and clean the interior sides of the two pieces of glass. Place one piece of glass back into the frame and gently arrange your flowers, making sure you have the front/right side of all the flowers facing up. Be careful not to breathe too hard or sneeze, your flowers will go all over the place! To secure the flowers to the glass, lift the flowers and with your finger, put a small amount of the glue stick on the glass where the flower came from. Now gently place the flower over the small amount of glue. Repeat with each flower. You want to work quickly when putting the flower over the glue; the glue on the glass dries quickly and if too dry, the flower won?t stick. Once all your flowers are secured remove this piece of glass from the frame. Take the other piece of glass and put it in the frame; this will be the front. Now, take the piece of glass with the flowers on the down side, and place it over the other piece of glass and secure the two pieces of glass in the frame. Complete!!!

These frames look especially wonderful when placed in a spot where natural light will come through them. In a window or on a table in front of a window are perfect places.

FRAMED WEDDING INVITATION

This is a great anniversary present. Purchase a nice frame with a mat that the wedding invitation or announcement fits in. Apply the dried flowers on the mat as described above. Dried flowers from the bouquets or table arrangements at the wedding would work perfect for this as long as they are not too big.

PLACE MATS

Purchase a box of lamination sheets. Place your flowers on a sheet to see how you will be arranging them on the finished product. Peal off the backing of another sheet and move your flowers onto the sticky surface. Remember, once you apply the flowers, they won?t move! Now, take a second lamination sheet, peal off the backing and put it on top of the flowers. Now you have that place mat with the flowers from your travels!