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Petal Portraits

Total Time Needed:: 1 Hour

Buttercup the Fairy says, "No one has ever managed to photograph a fairy, but these flower-petal prints are a clever way to capture our likeness. Put your prints in tiny frames, or use them to decorate notecards or a bookmark."

Materials

Flower petals (some kinds work better than others, so you'll want to experiment; we used violas and Johnny-jump-ups)
Bath or kitchen towel
Wooden cutting board
Paper towels

White card stock
Hammer
Fine-tip marker

Instructions

Gather the flower petals in true fairy spirit: be sure they are safe to pick and are in your yard, or use petals you find on the ground. Choose a large petal for the skirt and smaller petals for the arms and wings. Tear petals in half if you can't find the right size.
Place the towel under the cutting board (this reduces the noise when you hammer). Set 2 layers of paper towel on the board. Place a piece of card stock on the paper towels.
To print, lay your first petal facedown on the card stock, cover it with a second piece of card stock, and use the hammer to gently tap the area where the petal is sandwiched (no heavy pounding!).

Tips:: Petal-Print Hints:
1. Be sure the petals are dry before you begin.
2. Darker flowers print best. Some others to try: marigolds, bee balm, verbena, phlox, and impatiens (white flowers won't print, even on dark paper).
3. Keep the finished prints out of direct sunlight so the colors stay bright.

Create More Fairy Magic:
Need a friend? Make one of these Flower Friends and they'll keep you company for as long as you want.

Fairies need places to rest. Build these Fairy Houses and keep your visiting fairies happy.

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