DIY Vintage French Magnolia Book Flower Press

DIY Vintage French Magnolia Book Flower Press – learn how to easily turn any ordinary (old or new) hardcover book into a gorgeously painted and distressed flower press! I will show you how to paint and distress using acrylic paint, how to transfer the image and what to take into consideration right from the beginning, so you can achieve this super chic final look.

Upcycled French Flower Press

Hello, creative friends! Today we will be (re)visiting a really chic project that I shared on The Graphics Fairy not too long ago. If you loved pressing flowers between the pages of a book when you were a child, then this project is for you! Let’s just call it the grown-up, fancier version of a regular book turned into a flower press, shall we? :)

I was actually inspired by a gorgeous magnolia tree that was in full bloom when designing this French ephemera collage. I went with a little dark purple for the French elements and I think this color does a really good job complementing the different shades of the pink magnolia.

DIY Vintage French Magnolia Book Flower Press

What I love about this project is that it can be adapted to perfectly fit your needs!
1. You can use any sized book that you have around. I created 4 different sized printables!
2. You can use the book to press flowers, as I did, but you can also create a matching set and use it as a chic French decor in your home.
3. It’s perfect for any style and … for any of your friends! :) Yes, they make the PERFECT handmade gifts, who wouldn’t love a lovely decorated book like this?
4. You can find so many other uses for a book like this – you can turn it into a junk or art journal, or better yet, decorate your journal using this free printable and this technique!
5. And of course, there’s always the option of using the French magnolia printable on other projects too! This thing alone opens up so many possibilities and so many fun experiments!

You must use hardcovers books, if you look really close you can see how mine looked like a painted canvas when it was all done!

I actually love the idea of turning different, unusual objects into improvised canvas, you can get really creative with this. I went with a quite easy painting technique using acrylic paint, but there are a few things you need to consider, especially when starting this whole painting operation. The first layers are important and will ensure a great final result – one that will make you feel really proud and happy! The transformation will be quite amazing, no one will believe you actually started from this old boring book! :)

You will see how a few small details will make all the difference in the world!

You know I love using waterslide decal paper for decorating pretty much any object I lay my hands on, right? :) I used it here again, but I understand some of you may not have this type of paper easily available. If that is the case with you, please don’t let that stop you! Improvise, adapt, use what you usually use or have around, make this project YOURS! You can use other image transfers mediums – like a gel medium transfer or an acrylic paint transfer. I love the idea of using tissue paper, it really blends into the surface creating a smooth and beautiful finish. I haven’t had much luck actually printing on tissue paper with my laserjet home printer so far, maybe you’ll have better luck with yours! :)

If you turn this into an art journal or junk journal you can add other small embellishments, like these DIY Gold Foil French Rose Tags, they will look really beautiful together!

The final DIY Vintage French Magnolia Book Flower Press is absolutely amazing if you ask me! But then again I might be slightly biased, since I created this beauty, right? :)

As for the actual idea of using the decorated book to press the flowers, again, the sky is the limit! It’s perfect whether if you love to occasionally press a few flowers now and then, but also if you are more serious and more intentional about this whole process. I will share soon more of my flower pressing experiments! :)

hardcovers book | waterslide decal paper | laserjet printer | scissors |  | gesso | acrylic paint | small plates | small brush | craft sponge |

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Click HERE to learn how to make the DIY Vintage French Magnolia Book Flower Press and download the free printable, I’m sharing the step-by-step tutorial on The Graphics Fairy ♥!

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