MondayUPs




Monday's can be rough... But I'm here to help.

In celebration of my 15th year selling my handmade stuff... 
I am going to be featuring things I've seen on blogs, on the internet, in books
...wherever inspiration strikes! On making new items from old goods..
hence, MondayUPs (upcycling)...

***

 I remember back in 9th grade... we had to make a leaf collection for Biology class.
I got an A+.
I had been pressing leaves and flowers for years and years before that... 
and still collect them when I can. 
(one of my pressings is shown in the photo at the top)
Pressing flowers and leaves has been a hobby for people for a long time.
The oldest known collection was that of Antonius Christophori Münchenberg, 
a set of native and cultivated plants he mainly collected in Gotland, in 1701 and 1702.


So... what can you do with these lovelies once you press them?
Here are some cool ideas:


You can make pretty handmade paper, colorful cards... 
and collage them onto things like old bottles and such.


You can use them in making candles... put them onto lampshades...
or make some gorgeous framed pieces.


And, of course, you knew I would show some jewelry applications :)


but then I got to thinking about printing options...


And then I saw these incredible leaf cutting works of art!


Here are a couple cool links on Pinterest for more ideas...