Flowers can be pressed and preserved for years with their unique shapes and vibrant colors still intact. Pressed flowers can be used for a variety of decorative additions to scrapbooks, cards, and journals. You can also showcase them in frames to beautify your space. In this article, we will look at how to press flowers in different ways.
- Wooden Flower Press
To make a wooden flower press, the first thing is to get the items right and ready. Get two pieces of nine by twelve inches rectangular plywood and drill holes in each of their corners. Ensure you line them up properly when stacking them. Next, place the flowers in-between two pieces of paper. To get the best effect, layer them systematically in the order of wood, paper, flower, paper, and wood. Now use bolt and wing nuts to tighten the whole ensemble. Change the papers every four days and keep pressing the flowers for four weeks.
- Book Pressed Flowers
This is the most common method of pressing flowers and it’s also the simplest. Get a very heavy book and place the flower in-between two papers and place them in the pages of the book. Ensure you space them evenly to prevent the moisture from one flower from getting to the other. Change the pieces of paper holding the flowers every few days and keep pressing for three to four weeks. You can also place more books or bricks on the book to weigh it down when closed. To remove it, use tweezers because the dried flower will be delicate.
- Iron Pressed Flower
You can get pressed flowers without waiting for weeks when you use an iron to press the flowers. To do this, put the flowers between absorbent papers and flatted them out with a heavy object. Ensure that the iron doesn’t have water to avoid adding moisture to the flower. Power the iron on a low heat and when warm, press it on the upper paper sheet for about 15 seconds and wait for the paper to cool for another 15 minutes. Repeat the process and carefully check to see I the flower is dry and stiff.
- Microwave Pressed Flowers
Get rubber bands and two ceramic tiles and line the sides of the ceramic tiles with a piece of paper and cardboard. Sandwich the flowers in the middle of the tiles and place them in the oven. Heat it for about 40-60 seconds at low temperatures. Allow it to cool for a few seconds before repeating the process until the flowers are completely dried. This should take about two days.
- Notebook Pressed Flowers
You can also use notebooks to press your flowers if you can’t get a heavy book. If you are using a notebook, make sure you get a heavy object that you can place on the book. Also, ensure that the flowers do not fall out.
- Tissue Paper Pressed Flowers
Using tissue paper makes the moisture escape faster, which means you can get your flowers completely dry quicker. Add some layers of tissue paper in-between the flowers and two pieces of paper. Maintain this for three days after which you can remove the tissue paper and replace the sheets of paper and place it in another book.
- Place Flowers Facedown on Papers
This will prevent the petals from getting all squished. When you place flowers side up on a piece of paper and cover it with another, there is a high chance that it will crease and you may not get the desired effect from your pressed flowers.
- Use Preservation Spray
When you press flowers, the colors fade with time when exposed to the air and light. To preserve your pressed flowers for long, you can seal them up or spray them with preservation spray.
- Press the Flower Immediately
Don’t wait until the flowers start drooping before you press your flowers. If you notice that they are drooping already, place them in a small water vase. However, do not let the petals get wet.
- Experiment with Different Pressing Techniques
There is no specific rule that binds the pressing of flowers. You can always experiment with different items. It’s the world of DIY, so you can be creative and use different pressing items to get your pressed flowers.
Conclusion
There you have ten different ways you can press flowers at home. You can explore and use different pressing methods at home. It’s all about being creative.