Your Guild to Flower Pressing: How to Start Pressing Flowers

The Art of Flower Pressing: A Fun and Creative Hobby

Flower pressing is a wonderful way to save the beauty of flowers and turn them into special keepsakes. This fun and relaxing craft has been around for hundreds of years and is perfect for anyone who loves nature and being creative. Let’s learn a little about the history of flower pressing, which flowers work best, how to press flowers, and what cool things you can do with your pressed flowers.

A Quick Look at Flower Pressing History

People have been pressing flowers for a long time! In Japan, there’s an art called Oshibana that started in the 16th century. Artists used pressed flowers to make beautiful pictures. In the 19th century, during Victorian times, people pressed flowers to remember special moments or to study plants. Today, flower pressing is still popular because it’s simple, fun, and lets you create amazing things.

The Best Flowers to Press

Some flowers are better than others for pressing. Flowers with flat petals and not too much water inside work best. Here are some great choices:

• Pansies: These small, colorful flowers look great when pressed.
• Daisies: Their simple shape and cheerful look make them perfect.
• Fern Leaves: Even though they’re not flowers, their pretty patterns look awesome.
• Larkspur: These flowers keep their bright colors after pressing.
• Queen Anne’s Lace: This flower looks like delicate lace when pressed.

To get the best results, pick flowers that are fresh and not damaged. Press them quickly to keep their colors bright.

How to Press Flowers

Pressing flowers is easy and fun! Here’s what you’ll need and how to do it.

Things You’ll Need:

• Fresh flowers or leaves
• A flower press or heavy books and cardboard
• Blotting paper, parchment paper, or thin cardboard
• A flat surface

Steps to Press Flowers:

1. Pick Your Flowers: Choose fresh flowers with no damage or bruises. Trim the stems if needed.
2. Prepare the Press: If you’re using a flower press, follow its instructions. For books, open to the middle and place a piece of blotting paper inside.
3. Arrange the Flowers: Lay the flowers flat on the paper, spreading the petals gently. Cover them with another piece of blotting paper.
4. Press the Flowers: Close the press tightly or stack heavy books on top. Make sure everything is evenly pressed.
5. Wait: Leave the flowers to press for 1-2 weeks. Check occasionally to ensure they’re drying well.
6. Remove and Use: Once dried, carefully remove the flowers. They’re now ready for your projects!

Fun Things to Do with Pressed Flowers

Once you have your pressed flowers, you can make all kinds of cool things! Here are a few ideas:

1. Greeting Cards: Make birthday or thank-you cards extra special by decorating them with pressed flowers.
2. Framed Art: Arrange your flowers into pretty designs and put them in a frame to hang on your wall.
3. Bookmarks: Pressed flowers can make your bookmarks look unique and beautiful. Use clear tape or laminate them to keep them safe.
4. Jewelry and Crafts: You can put your pressed flowers into resin to make necklaces, keychains, or coasters.
5. Scrapbooks: Add your pressed flowers to scrapbook pages to make them even more colorful and fun.