| Welcome To Garden Designs |
| Pressed Flower Techniques |
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| How to Dry and press Pressed flowers |
Any flower can be a lasting remembrance if you use the
right technique in pressing them. Start with a flower you
like. Years ago people pressed flowers with just using a
heavy old book and this can still apply today. Now there are
flower presses to make the flowers come out looking more
like the fresh petals you just picked from a stem.
Above all enjoy pressing flowers, as it is a reflection of what
you once saw, which was a beautiful natural living plant.
right technique in pressing them. Start with a flower you
like. Years ago people pressed flowers with just using a
heavy old book and this can still apply today. Now there are
flower presses to make the flowers come out looking more
like the fresh petals you just picked from a stem.
Above all enjoy pressing flowers, as it is a reflection of what
you once saw, which was a beautiful natural living plant.
Step 1.
Cut the flower stem about half way from the top of the petals, with
the leaves attached. Place the flower down onto a sheet of paper
either using a flower press or pages of a heavy book. Take care in
closing the pages of a book as to not curl the edges of your flower
petals.The main thing to remember in pressing a flower using a
book, is to weigh the book down. Clamps, heavy objects or what
ever it takes to make the book close completely. Flower presses are
better to use as they have the screwed down effect which allows the
cardboard sheets to compress harder. However, over the years I
have pressed many beautiful flowers, just using a book. You don't
have to go out an buy flower presses just to press a flower. The
mistake many people have is placing a flower in a paperback novel
book and the petals shrivel up and become hard. Again, using
weight will increase the volume of the spread of each petal. Rule of
thumb, never place a flower between plastic or foil, the flower will
mold. Drying is the key. The flowers that you are about to press need
to have all the air out of them, thus pressing a flower between two
dry pieces of paper does the trick.
Cut the flower stem about half way from the top of the petals, with
the leaves attached. Place the flower down onto a sheet of paper
either using a flower press or pages of a heavy book. Take care in
closing the pages of a book as to not curl the edges of your flower
petals.The main thing to remember in pressing a flower using a
book, is to weigh the book down. Clamps, heavy objects or what
ever it takes to make the book close completely. Flower presses are
better to use as they have the screwed down effect which allows the
cardboard sheets to compress harder. However, over the years I
have pressed many beautiful flowers, just using a book. You don't
have to go out an buy flower presses just to press a flower. The
mistake many people have is placing a flower in a paperback novel
book and the petals shrivel up and become hard. Again, using
weight will increase the volume of the spread of each petal. Rule of
thumb, never place a flower between plastic or foil, the flower will
mold. Drying is the key. The flowers that you are about to press need
to have all the air out of them, thus pressing a flower between two
dry pieces of paper does the trick.
Step 2.
Do not hurry the process of pressing flowers. This may take up to
4-5 days or longer for the flowers to completely dry and press well.
Taking them out exposing them to the air before they are completely
dry will only curl up the ends to your flower petals. Place a sheet of
paper onto either your book page or a cardboard piece in a flower
press, then place your flowers down onto the sheet of paper. Now
take another sheet of paper and place that one on top of the
flowers, then either close your book pages or place another piece
of cardboard onto the flower press sheets. Either way the idea is to
have a sheet of paper in between each set of flowers you are about
to dry. This assures that your book pages or the cardboard pieces
to your press don't have impressions or any moisture from the
flowers remaining on them.
Do not hurry the process of pressing flowers. This may take up to
4-5 days or longer for the flowers to completely dry and press well.
Taking them out exposing them to the air before they are completely
dry will only curl up the ends to your flower petals. Place a sheet of
paper onto either your book page or a cardboard piece in a flower
press, then place your flowers down onto the sheet of paper. Now
take another sheet of paper and place that one on top of the
flowers, then either close your book pages or place another piece
of cardboard onto the flower press sheets. Either way the idea is to
have a sheet of paper in between each set of flowers you are about
to dry. This assures that your book pages or the cardboard pieces
to your press don't have impressions or any moisture from the
flowers remaining on them.
Step 3.
When opening your book of pressed flowers or a flower press, be
sure to go slow. Each flower you have pressed is now dry and can
fall to the floor without you noticing. Picking them up can result in
broken petal pieces. I use a set of tweezers to pick up each petal
off my sheets. This works great when handling tiny petals.
Everyone uses maybe a different technique, but the result
basically is the same. Once you have pressed your first set of
flowers, you will see what works best for you, most important what
works best for each different flower. I have pressed bright orange
poppies and when I opened the press, the color was a soft pale
rose. It takes time to see what works best with each flower, after
all a flower doesn't just grow in seconds. Time is your friend in
this area, but more important is PATIENCE.
When opening your book of pressed flowers or a flower press, be
sure to go slow. Each flower you have pressed is now dry and can
fall to the floor without you noticing. Picking them up can result in
broken petal pieces. I use a set of tweezers to pick up each petal
off my sheets. This works great when handling tiny petals.
Everyone uses maybe a different technique, but the result
basically is the same. Once you have pressed your first set of
flowers, you will see what works best for you, most important what
works best for each different flower. I have pressed bright orange
poppies and when I opened the press, the color was a soft pale
rose. It takes time to see what works best with each flower, after
all a flower doesn't just grow in seconds. Time is your friend in
this area, but more important is PATIENCE.
Step 4.
There you have it, four simple steps in pressing flowers. Nothing to
it. Now, comes the fun part. Taking your beautiful pressed flowers
and creating something special with them. Pull out all your inner
artistic talents and go to work. For first time starters: I recommend
placing your pretty flowers on cards. These can be given to friends
or family and everyone will smile when they see how lovely they
are. Then, advance to placing your flowers in frames and so on.
What ever you do with your pressed creations, is your personal
signature to your art design. Everyone has a favorite flower, so be
sure each year to collect as many of those flowers to press as
possible.
Now enjoy the wonderful world of Flower Art!
There you have it, four simple steps in pressing flowers. Nothing to
it. Now, comes the fun part. Taking your beautiful pressed flowers
and creating something special with them. Pull out all your inner
artistic talents and go to work. For first time starters: I recommend
placing your pretty flowers on cards. These can be given to friends
or family and everyone will smile when they see how lovely they
are. Then, advance to placing your flowers in frames and so on.
What ever you do with your pressed creations, is your personal
signature to your art design. Everyone has a favorite flower, so be
sure each year to collect as many of those flowers to press as
possible.
Now enjoy the wonderful world of Flower Art!
