Nature Bookmarks
One of my favourite things about nature adventures is that they don't have to end when you get home. These bookmarks are a lovely way to remember a favourite walk, using leaves, grasses and flowers you've already collected along the way.
Nature Bookmarks
🎨 Activity Type: Creative nature craft
⏱️ Time: 30–60 minutes (plus drying and pressing leaves beforehand)
🎒 You'll Need: Card, pressed leaves or flowers, old book pages or patterned paper, Mod Podge or PVA glue, paintbrush, scissors, hole punch and ribbon (optional)
🧼 Mess Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
👀 Senses Engaged: Sight ✨ Touch 🍃
🌱 Nature Links: Leaf identification • Wildflowers • Trees • Seasonal changes • Nature journaling
😊 Difficulty: Easy (adaptable for most ages)
We've always got loads of books on the go, and fight over the one bookmark we own, resorting to paper scraps to slide into the remaining books. Well no more my friend. We deserve beautiful hand-made bookmarks in our lives.
We'd been struggling with how to show off the array of pressed spring leaves we found earlier in the year, so this seemed like a great opportunity. (Along with a few flowers that had already come off plants because of course we're not picking flowers off plants in march when the minibeasts need them).
This craft is very versatile, you can swap out bits you don't have and replace them with bits you do. We used some brown card, paper from old books, illustrations from books (I feel like cutting up books is controversial, it was from a charity shop and the pictures are beautiful to use in crafts), old bits of interesting paper, and of course the selection of dried leaves, and a fair bit of modge podge.
1 - We cut some of card into rectangle shapes. I experimented with a palm tree shape with one of mine. We also used gift tags as a base.
2 - Then we experimented with sticking various paper onto it. I love the texture that I got with some old dressmaking paper. Little Leopard loved using the bird illustrations.
3 - We brushed on Mod Podge, arranged our leaves and flowers, then sealed everything with another coat over the top.
We weren't sure if the modge podge would be strong enough to hold down some of the thicker leaves, I thought we'd need to stick some contact paper over the monkey leaf monstera, but once it was all dried, everything stayed on beautifully, and the modge podge gave everything a beautiful sheen.
If you don't have Mod Podge, laminating pouches, sticky-backed plastic or even wide clear tape all work well too.
4 - Once they're dry, then if you want, you can punch a hole in them, and add some twine for added whimsy.
I love how differently all the bookmarks turned out. And I love that Little Leopard found a style that he loves.And I reaaally love that we get to use these crafts everyday rather than being something that gets shoved in a drawer and forgotten about.
There's lots of thoughtful ways this method could be used. On cards, gift tags, posters.
Drop me a message on facebook or instagram if you decide to make some nature bookmarks, and what direction you take them in.
Adapt it
Younger Children
Keep things simple
Offer a small selection of larger pressed leaves and let children arrange them however they like before helping with the glue.
They could even make one large collaborative bookmark together.
Remember to keep it child-led and let them enjoy the experience, the end creation doesn't have to be pinterest-perfect.
Older Children
Challenge them to create a themed bookmark.
Ideas include:
Only woodland plants
A rainbow of wildflowers
One season
Trees of Oxfordshire
A favourite nature reserve
Their favourite book
They could also label a species on the back and include facts about it.
Sensory
Spend time exploring the plants
Feel the different textures.
Which leaves are smooth?
Which are furry?
Which smell strongest when gently rubbed?
Talk about where each plant was growing before pressing it for your bookmark.
Your Next Activity
If you found this fun, why not try one of our other nature activities
Plant Biomes
We brought minecraft to life, with these rainforest, desert and woodland biomes,
Go on an Oxfordshire Nature Adventure
Nature reserves, gardens, zoos, epic walks and quiet strolls, here's a taste of our recent family nature expeditions across Oxfordshire.
Click here to see all of the adventures so far
Nature Adventures · Nature Reserves
Earth Trust
An epic adventure spotting newts, buzzards, kingfishers, caterpillars and so much more.
Nature Adventures · Parks and Gardens
Stonor Park
A fun-filled day spent exploring the adventure playground, spotting deer, getting up close with birds of prey and strolling round the gardens and arboretum.
Nature Adventures · Nature Reserves
Cothill Fen
A distinctly Jurassic stroll through the most diverse area in Oxfordshire, taking in FIVE nature reserves. We saw solitary bees, fossils, woodpeckers and some impressive geology.
Nature Adventures · Nature Reserves
Thrupp Lake
A gorgeous walk from Radley Station to Abingdon under the sounding bridge, around the lake and through Barton Fields, hearing an astonishing number of birds.
Find your nearest Adventure
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