If you’re looking for a decorative element that manages to be dainty, timeless, and eye-catching, you should bring pressed flowers into your designs. It’s easy to make your own pressed flowers for crafts, and the results have an IG-worthy vintage aesthetic to boot.

Here are five must-try DIY pressed flower projects, arranged in order of difficulty.

1. Bookmarks

These bookmarks are not only both beautiful and useful, but they’re also easy to make. Cut some cardstock to your desired size. Arrange dried flowers and leaves on the bookmark, keeping them in place with a dab of glue. Cover the bookmarks with plastic, whether with a laminator or clear contact paper, and then trim off any excess material. Finally, add more decoration to your bookmarks as you wish! Read the full instructions on Buggy and Buddy.

2. Hanging Ornaments

Part of the beauty of these clay ornaments lies in that they can be hung just about anywhere, really. The ornaments’ minimalist feel also highlights the color of your pressed flowers. Simply take some white clay and form it into a circle or any other shape. Poke a hole through the top of the shapes so that a string can go through. Bake the shapes for an hour. With Mod Podge or a mixture of water and white glue, stick your pressed flower design to the ornament. Cover the design with another layer of Mod Podge. Finally, once they’re all dry, string your ornaments. This project was originally posted on Twig and Toadstool.

3. Bath Salts

As expensive as some bath salts might be, the process for making your own bath salt takes nowhere near an hour. Mix 1 cup epsom salt, 1 cup sea salt, and ½ cup of baking soda together in a bowl. You can add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil for a relaxing fragrance. Stir everything in the bowl, and then add as many dried flowers as you see fit. Finally, pour the bath salt into jars. The flower petals add texture and a feeling of luxury when mixed into the bath salts, which can be given as gifts for different occasions. Read the recipe on Almost Makes Perfect here.

4. Phone Cases

Why buy another phone case when you can simply add color to one that you already have? Arrange some pressed flowers on the back of your phone case, dabbing some glue onto them to keep them from moving around. Prepare some 50/50 clear-casting epoxy resin. Coat the back of the phone case with a thin layer of resin, wiping off any excess with a cotton bud dipped in acetone, and let it dry for an hour or two. The touch of nature will make your phone stand out. You can find the original instructions here.

5. Handmade Paper

Pressed flowers will certainly brighten up your next batch of handmade paper. First, tear scrap paper into small pieces (you may use a shredder to speed things up). Soak the scraps in hot water. Blend the soaked paper and water to prepare pulp. Fill a large plastic tub with water until it is ⅓ full. Pour the pulp into the tub and mix the contents of the tub with your hands. Take a frame covered with screening material. Dip it into the tub at an angle. While holding the frame with one hand, arrange pressed flowers on top with your other hand. Move the frame around before lifting it out of the water. Drain as much water as possible. Place a cloth on top of the paper, gently flip it onto a countertop, and then soak up more water with a sponge or another cloth. Carefully remove the screen and let your handmade paper dry. The resulting paper is perfect for custom gift tags or invitations. Read the full instructions on Hearth & Vine.

Pressed flowers in crafts and gifts have their own vintage charm that will never wilt. Try one of these projects yourself or go and surprise someone with a handmade gift.

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