How to Make Pounded Flower Art with Fresh Blooms 

You've never gifted flowers quite like this before!

Project Overview
  • Working Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours
  • Skill Level: Beginner

Flowers are a classic and thoughtful Mother's Day gift, but they don't last very long. This year, give Mom a gorgeous art print made from her favorite fresh blooms. Our simple flower pounding technique makes it easy to transform fresh flowers into a gorgeous art piece she'll love. Grab a store-bought bouquet (or pick a few of her favorite flowers from the garden) and turn the flowers into a pretty, handmade Mother's Day gift. Once you make the flower pounded art, just pop it in a frame and add a Mother's Day card!

What You'll Need

Materials

  • 1 Watercolor paper
  • 1 Fresh flowers
  • 1 Hammer
  • 1 Waxed paper or paper towel
  • 1 Picture frame

Instructions

  1. Cut and arrange flowers

    placing flowers on paper for smashing

    Start with a store-bought bouquet that features a variety of bright flowers and greenery. We found that flowers with more brilliant pigments—like bright yellows and dark purples—transferred the best. Next, cut each flower at the base, close enough to remove the whole stem while still keeping the flower intact. When you have an assortment of cut flowers in different sizes and shapes, arrange them face down on a piece of watercolor paper trimmed to your frame size.

    Related: How to Create Beautiful Dried Flowers to Enjoy Year-Round

  2. Pound flowers

    smashing flowers with hammer for coloring paper

    Before you create your flower pounded art design, try transferring a few flowers to your watercolor paper to see how they do. Then you can decide the best way to arrange them.

    Start by placing each flower facedown, then cover the arrangement with waxed paper or a paper towel. Next, use a hammer to pound around the circumference of the flower, applying pressure to the petal area. Avoid putting pressure on the center of the flower; otherwise, pollen and moisture will stick to the paper as well, which doesn't look as pretty. Repeat this process until you're happy with how the hammered flower art looks—don't forget, you can add accents and dimension by pounding leafy greenery, too!

    Related: How to Make a Colorful Dried Flower Wreath

  3. Frame flower art

    smashed flower colors in wooden frame
    Brie Passano

    When you're done hammering the flowers, carefully remove the wax paper and flowers from the watercolor paper. Set the paper in a cool, dry area. Make sure it's flat, then let dry completely. Once dry, add the flower print to a frame and gift it to Mom. Don't forget to fill out a card or add a sweet note. Bonus points if you give her a matching bouquet with her flower art!

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