I received my first flower press when I turned nine years old. I got it as a birthday gift from my best friend. The flower press came with a small instructional booklet on how to collect and preserve colorful wildflowers.
On the front of the press was an illustration of Anne of Green Gables, happily picking florals and putting them into a giant basket. I still have that flower press, all these years later, with flowers wedged between the pages that are as old as the press itself.
It was a fantastic gift that had me hunting for leaves and petals to collect and keep forever. Whether you’re making one as a gift for a kid who loves getting outside, or you want to give yourself an excuse to explore the outdoors, a DIY flower press is a quick and easy project to make.
Pressing flowers at home is a delightful and creative way to preserve the beauty of nature. This timeless craft involves carefully flattening and drying flowers, allowing them to retain their shape, color, and intricate details for long-lasting enjoyment.
By using a wooden flower press you can easily press flowers at home. The process typically involves selecting fresh flowers at their peak, placing them in the press, and applying gentle pressure.
Over time, the moisture in the flowers evaporates, resulting in perfectly preserved botanical specimens that can be used for various artistic purposes, such as creating stunning framed displays, decorating greeting cards, designing unique bookmarks, or adding a touch of natural beauty to scrapbooks.
How to Make a Flower Press
Pressing flowers at home is a delightful and creative way to preserve the beauty of nature. This timeless craft involves carefully flattening and drying flowers, allowing them to retain their shape, color, and intricate details for long-lasting enjoyment.
Materials
- 2 small wooden plaques
- 4 machine bolts and 4 matching nuts
- Matte Mod Podge
- Corrugated cardboard
- Sandpaper
- Masking tape
- Pen, pencils, or paint, to add a design
Tools
- Power drill
- Drill bit that is slightly larger than the machine bolts
Instructions
- Start by wrapping tape around both wood boards to secure them in place. At each corner, make a mark. Clamp the boards to a steady surface, and drill into each mark, through both boards. Check that the machine bolts fits easily in the drilled holes. Remove the tape, and sand away any rough edges.
- Now it’s time to add a little flair to the top. I used watercolor pencils and a marker to decorate my DIY flower press. You can use paint, markers, pencils, decoupage, or just leave it blank. If you do add a design, apply a thin layer of matte Mod Podge to the top to protect the design.
- Insert the machine bolts through the bottom boards. Cut a few sheets of corrugated cardboard into octagonal shapes so they fit just inside the machine bolts. Lay the cardboard in the flower press, add the top, and screw the nuts in place.
- To use your DIY flower press, lay blooms in between the pieces of cardboard. Make sure the flowers aren’t touching. Close up the flower press, and tighten the bolts. In two weeks, re-tighten the bolts for the final press. Wait another two weeks and your flowers will be ready to go.
The Best Flowers and Plants for Pressing
When it comes to pressing flowers, certain varieties tend to press well and retain their color and shape. The best flowers for pressing are the ones will shallow heads (i.e. not sunflowers), but other than that the world is yours! Here are ten flowers and plants that are known to be excellent choices for pressing:
- Daisies (Bellis perennis)
- Pansies (Viola tricolor)
- Roses (Rosa spp.)
- Larkspur (Delphinium spp.)
- Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis spp.)
- Ferns (various species)
- Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
- Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
- Verbena (Verbena spp.)
- Delicate herbs like lavender (Lavandula spp.)
These flowers and plants typically have flat, thin petals or leaves, which allow for easier pressing and minimal distortion during the drying process. However, it’s essential to experiment with different flowers and plants to discover your personal favorites and explore the unique qualities each variety offers when pressed.
Remember to select blooms that are in good condition and have not yet started to wither for the best results.
Pressed Flower Inspiration
There are lots of creative ways to use pressed flowers. Use your pressed flowers to decorate paper, set them in resin, frame them, or catalog your findings.
Here are ten of our favorite pressed flower projects:
- Framed Floral Art: Create stunning wall art by arranging pressed flowers in a frame, allowing you to showcase their natural beauty.
- Greeting Cards: Adorn your handmade or store-bought cards with pressed flowers to add a unique and personalized touch.
- Bookmarks: Use pressed flowers to create delicate and charming bookmarks, perfect for gifting or enhancing your reading experience.
- Resin Jewelry: Embed pressed flowers into resin to make beautiful and wearable pieces of jewelry like pendants, earrings, or bracelets.
- Botanical Coasters: Arrange pressed flowers on ceramic or wooden coasters, then seal them with resin or a protective coating for functional and decorative table accessories.
- Pressed Flower Candles: Decorate plain candles by pressing flowers onto their surfaces, adding a touch of elegance and natural appeal.
- Wall Hangings: Arrange pressed flowers in a visually appealing pattern and frame them as a unique and eye-catching wall hanging.
- Flower-Embedded Paper: Create your own handmade paper with embedded pressed flowers, perfect for writing letters, making cards, or scrapbooking.
- Decorative Trays: Transform plain trays by decoupaging pressed flowers onto their surfaces, creating functional and decorative pieces for your home.
- Wedding Invitations: Incorporate pressed flowers into your wedding invitations or stationery for a romantic and personalized touch that captures the essence of your special day.
Pressing flowers at home is a delightful and creative way to preserve the beauty of nature. This timeless craft involves carefully flattening and drying flowers, allowing them to retain their shape, color, and intricate details for long-lasting enjoyment.
More Project Ideas from Curbly
I love this idea so much. Lovely photos.
@Chrisjob Thanks Chris! =)