Grace Kelly Pressed Flowers: 16 Elegant Christmas Gifts That Look Royal for Pennies

Grace Kelly pressed flowers are the sweetest handmade Christmas gift idea we have found this year, and the story behind them is even better. The movie star who became Princess of Monaco loved her garden so much that she led the local garden club and wrote a book about blooms in 1980. She tucked garden flowers between heavy pages, then turned them into elegant framed pictures. You can copy her look with a heavy book, a few blooms from the yard or the grocery store, and a little decoupage glue. Below are 16 pretty gifts, from soap bars to tea trays, that look like they came from a fancy boutique but cost only pennies to make. Grab your favorite blooms, clear off the kitchen table, and let’s get started..

Grace Kelly Pressed Flowers Gift Table

Before she was a princess, Grace Kelly won an Oscar for The Country Girl in 1954. Two years later she married Prince Rainier III and moved to Monaco, where she became president of the local garden club and fell hard for flower pressing. You can read more about her life on her Wikipedia page. This flat lay shows the kind of gift table she might have loved: ornaments, bookmarks, a tiny framed picture and kraft parcels. Mix in a few ideas from our handmade gifts for Mom too..

You will need: Assorted pressed blooms, clear glass ornaments, kraft paper, jute twine, ribbon, a small frame, fresh fir sprigs.

How to make it: 1. Press your blooms in a heavy book for two weeks. 2. Pick three or four projects from this list and make them in one afternoon. 3. Wrap each gift in kraft paper and tuck in a sprig of fir.

Pick Garden Roses at Their Peak

Princess Grace knew the best pressed blooms start with the freshest flowers, picked on a dry morning after the dew is gone. Roses are lovely, but thick buds hold a lot of water, so pull the petals off and press them one by one, or slice a bud in half from top to stem. Grocery store bouquets work just as well as garden roses in December. Save a few stems for a centerpiece, like the ones in our easy Christmas flower arrangements roundup.

You will need: Fresh roses, sharp scissors, paper towels, a heavy book.

How to make it: 1. Pick or buy roses with petals that are just open. 2. Pat them dry and pull the petals off. 3. Lay the petals flat between paper towels inside a heavy book.

Grace Kelly Pressed Flowers Collage in a Gold Frame

The princess made flower pictures that looked like little paintings, layering pansies, ferns and larkspur into graceful bouquets. You can do the same inside a thrifted gold frame that costs a dollar or two. Paint the backing board ivory, arrange your blooms with tweezers, then tack each one down with a dot of glue. The glass keeps them flat and free of dust. A framed collage of Grace Kelly pressed flowers makes an heirloom gift. If you love frame makeovers, see our Christmas picture frame crafts for more cheap thrift store wins.

You will need: Thrifted gold frame, ivory paint, pressed pansies, ferns and larkspur, tweezers, clear drying glue.

How to make it: 1. Clean the frame and paint the backing board ivory. 2. Arrange the blooms into a loose bouquet shape with tweezers. 3. Glue each piece down with tiny dots, let dry, and close the frame.

Press a Daisy, Lavender and Fern Bouquet

One easy trick is to press a little bouquet all at once, so the stems already sit in a pretty shape. Daisies, lavender and fern fronds press flat and keep their color well. Arrange them on parchment, close the book, and stack more books on top for two weeks. A strip of washi tape across the stems, like in this photo, makes it look like a botanical print. This is the easiest way to start your own Grace Kelly pressed flowers collection. Try it in one of our pretty pressed bloom crafts for even more ideas.

You will need: Daisies, lavender sprigs, fern fronds, parchment paper, a heavy book, washi tape, cardstock.

How to make it: 1. Arrange the stems in a small bouquet shape on parchment. 2. Close the book and add more weight on top for two weeks. 3. Tape the bouquet to cardstock to frame or gift.

Bloom Topped Soap Bars Wrapped for Gifting

Plain white soap becomes a boutique gift with one pressed bloom on top. Brush a thin layer of decoupage glue on the bar, press the flower down, then seal it with a second coat. The flower stays put through many washes and peels away cleanly when the soap gets small. Wrap each bar in clear cellophane and tie it with velvet ribbon. Our homemade Christmas soap guide shows how to make the bars from scratch if you want to go further.

You will need: Bars of white soap, pressed pink blooms, decoupage glue, a soft brush, clear cellophane, green velvet ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Brush a thin coat of glue on the top of each bar. 2. Lay a pressed bloom on it and smooth it with your finger. 3. Add a second thin coat, let dry overnight, and wrap in cellophane.

Dried Lavender Bundles Tied With Twine

Lavender grows all over the sunny hills near Monaco, and it dries beautifully without a book. Hang small bunches upside down in a dark closet for about two weeks, then tie them with twine and a kraft tag. Tuck one in a drawer, on top of a gift, or in a guest room. Grace Kelly pressed flowers and dried lavender pair perfectly in one gift bag. For a pampering bundle, add one to the ideas in our spa gift baskets post.

You will need: Fresh lavender, rubber bands, jute twine, kraft tags, a dark closet.

How to make it: 1. Gather 20 to 30 stems and wrap the ends with a rubber band. 2. Hang them upside down in a dark, dry spot for two weeks. 3. Cover the band with twine and add a tag.

Clay Trinket Dish Stamped With Blooms

Roll out white air dry clay, lay a pressed bloom or fresh sprig on top, and roll over it once to leave a delicate print. Cut a circle around a small bowl, lift the edges, and let it dry inside the bowl so it keeps a soft curve. A little gold paint on the rim makes it look like a pricey boutique piece. It is the perfect spot for rings or earrings on a dresser. Use the same clay for our clay Christmas ornaments and give a matching set.

You will need: White air dry clay, a rolling pin, a sprig or pressed bloom, a small bowl, a craft knife, gold paint.

How to make it: 1. Roll the clay to about a quarter inch thick. 2. Press the bloom in with the rolling pin, peel it off, and cut a circle. 3. Dry it inside a bowl for 48 hours and paint the rim gold.

Dried Lavender in a Blue and White Pitcher

Not every gift needs glue. A thrift store blue and white pitcher filled with dried lavender looks like something from a French country house, and it lasts for months. Look for chipped pieces that are too worn for the table, since the flaws only add charm. Pair the pitcher with a card of Grace Kelly pressed flowers for a set that feels truly royal. Our vintage china Christmas decor ideas show more ways to use those thrift store finds.

You will need: A small blue and white pitcher, a bundle of dried lavender, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the pitcher. 2. Trim the lavender so the heads sit just above the rim. 3. Tie a ribbon around the handle and gift it.

Grace Kelly Pressed Flowers Decoupage Tea Tray

This is the project that makes people ask where you bought it. Sand a plain wooden tray, paint the base a soft cream, then arrange violets, ferns and rose petals across it. Brush on decoupage glue, lay the flowers down, and seal everything with three or four thin coats. Finish with a water resistant topcoat so it can hold teacups. Grace Kelly pressed flowers look stunning under that glossy layer. Want more ideas like this? Browse our wooden Christmas gift ideas.

You will need: An unfinished wooden tray, sandpaper, cream paint, pressed violets, ferns and rose petals, decoupage glue, a foam brush, clear water resistant topcoat.

How to make it: 1. Sand and paint the tray, then let it dry. 2. Glue the flowers down with a thin coat and smooth out any bubbles. 3. Add three or four thin coats, then a water resistant topcoat.

Christmas Gift Box With Dried Orange and Spice

Princess Grace hosted a Christmas celebration each year with presents for orphaned children in Monaco, a sweet reminder that the giving matters most. This little box mixes dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, fir and a tiny bloom for a gift that smells as good as it looks. Line the box with fresh fir, nestle the pieces in, and add a sprig of dried flowers on top. See more packaging ideas in our DIY Christmas gift boxes post.

You will need: A small box, fresh fir, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, a sprig of dried blooms.

How to make it: 1. Dry thin orange slices in a 200 F oven for about three hours. 2. Line the box with fir. 3. Arrange the oranges, spices and blooms, then close with twine.

Grace Kelly Pressed Flowers Wood Slice Ornaments

Wood slices are cheap at craft stores, and a single pressed pansy turns each one into a keepsake. Brush on glue, place the bloom, and seal it with two glossy coats. Glue a ribbon loop to the back and they are ready for the tree. Write the year on the back with a fine marker so the family remembers when you made them. They also make lovely gift toppers. Find more ideas in our handmade Christmas ornaments roundup.

You will need: Wood slices with bark, pressed pansies and ferns, decoupage glue, a small brush, red ribbon, a glue gun.

How to make it: 1. Brush a thin coat of glue on the slice. 2. Lay the bloom on top and brush another coat over it. 3. Let dry, add a glossy coat, and glue a ribbon loop to the back.

A Jar of Dried Rose Petals for Potpourri

Petals that crumble too much for pressing still make a lovely gift. Spread rose petals on a baking sheet lined with paper and let them air dry for a week, stirring each day. Add a few drops of essential oil, a little orange peel and a cinnamon stick, then pack it all into a jar. A tag and ribbon finish it off for under two dollars. This pairs nicely with our Christmas gifts in a jar for teachers and neighbors.

You will need: Rose petals, a baking sheet, paper, essential oil, dried orange peel, a cinnamon stick, a glass jar, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Spread the petals in one layer and air dry for a week. 2. Toss with a few drops of oil and the spices. 3. Spoon into a jar and tie on a ribbon.

Grace Kelly Pressed Flowers Notecard Set

A boxed set of blank cards is a gift anyone will use. Glue a single pressed pansy or fern to each card front, cover it with a strip of clear contact paper, and stack the cards with envelopes in a white box. Tie the stack with satin ribbon for that elegant Grace Kelly pressed flowers look. A pen tucked in the box makes it feel complete. Add matching tags using our DIY Christmas gift tags ideas.

You will need: Blank cream cards and envelopes, pressed pansies and ferns, a glue stick, clear contact paper, a white box, satin ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Glue one bloom to the front of each card. 2. Cover it with a strip of clear contact paper and trim. 3. Stack the cards and envelopes in the box and tie with ribbon.

Lay Roses Out Before Pressing

Roses on a stem can be pressed too. Lay them on white paper first so you can see the shape and decide which way each bloom should face. Turn the flower on its side for a profile view, which keeps the petals from turning brown in the middle. Use plenty of blotting paper and change it after three days. Deep red roses look gorgeous in a gift frame for someone special, like the ideas in our sentimental Christmas gifts post.

You will need: Roses, white paper, blotting paper or paper towels, a heavy book or flower press.

How to make it: 1. Lay the roses out and choose each angle. 2. Press them on their sides between blotting paper. 3. Change the paper after three days and press one more week.

Grace Kelly Pressed Flowers Jewelry Box

An old wooden jewelry box from the thrift store gets a royal makeover with pressed roses, ferns and forget me nots. Lightly sand the lid, arrange the flowers, and seal them under several thin coats of decoupage glue. The finish ages to a soft honey color that looks antique. Fill it with a strand of faux pearls and you have a gift that feels straight out of a palace. Pair it with our handmade jewelry gifts for a full set.

You will need: A wooden jewelry box, sandpaper, pressed roses, ferns and forget me nots, decoupage glue, a foam brush.

How to make it: 1. Sand the lid and wipe off the dust. 2. Glue the flowers down in a loose garland shape. 3. Seal with four thin coats, letting each one dry.

A Simple Green Door Wreath With a White Bow

The Princess Grace Rose Garden in Monaco honors her love of plants, and simple greenery fits that elegant style. Wire bay or boxwood sprigs onto a ring, tuck in a few small white blooms, and finish with a soft white bow. The leaves dry in place and stay pretty for weeks. It is a perfect last minute gift for a host. For more front door ideas, see our Christmas wreaths collection.

You will need: A wire wreath ring, bay or boxwood sprigs, floral wire, small white dried blooms, white ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Wire small bunches of greenery around the ring, all facing the same way. 2. Tuck in a few white blooms. 3. Tie a big white bow and hang it on the door.