Use a wilting bouquet or gather flowers and leaves (with permission, of course!) to make beautiful place mats. Colors eventually fade to browns for a truly elegant look.

You need:

• Clear Contact Paper
• Flowers and Leaves
• Scissors

Instructions:

For each place mat, cut 2 pieces of contact paper approximately 12″ x 18″. Peel the backing off one piece and lay it sticky side up on the table. Remove blossoms and leaves from their stems and arrange them on the sticky side of the contact paper. Press everything flat with your fingers. Some flowers will work better if you remove the petals and use them individually.

Peel the backing off the 2nd piece of contact paper. Place it sticky side down over your arrangement. Do not worry about lining up edges exactly. You will probably get some wrinkles. Just press everything down as flat as possible and your place mat will look beautiful. Trim around all edges with scissors.

TIP Have someone help with the contact paper. You can each hold 2 corners and it will be easier to apply.

IDEA Make decorative edges by cutting scallops or applying colored tape.

IDEA Cut into several different shapes pieces and make a mobile to hang in front of a window.