Flower Pressing

To learn more about this delightful pastime, I highly recommend Sandra Fisher's Flower Pressing Secrets. What started as a pleasurable hobby for her quickly evolved into a successful business and she has written a book capturing all her years of experience in this field.

Click here for Flower Pressing Secrets.

Spring is here and so is spring flower planting. Most of us know that to make our annual plants bloom more and to continue blooming we must pinch back our spent blooms. So why not do this pruning a little early and have that bloom for our craft projects. There are so many things you can do with dried flowers. Basically, you can decoupage them to any flat surface. You can decorate tables, candles, candle holders or make some beautiful one of a kind stationary. So here are the plans for an easy to build flower press that only require a saw and a drill and a pair of scissors.

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Flower Pressing is a wonderful hobby that combines nature, science and art. Popular projects include framing, greeting cards and notecards but the uses are only limited by your imagination. Here, I present 9 creative ideas for using your dried, pressed flowers.

1. Coasters
Start with some plain vinyl coasters and arrange your pressed flowers on them before glueing them down. Laminate with clear contact paper. As a finishing touch, glue a length of twine around the edge.

2. Photo Album
Personalise your photo albums by decorating them with your pressed flowers.

3. Pressed Flower Art
Sketch a picture on a sheet of drawing paper and "colour it in" by gluing a selection of dried, pressed flowers to it. Add a wooden frame to complete. You can find some beautiful examples at flowerox.com.

4. Bookmarks
Decorate a piece of card with your pressed flowers and laminate with clear contact paper to create a pretty bookmark.

5. Candles
Nothing quite enhances the look of a plain candle than an arrangement of pressed flowers. Due to the curves of a candle, it is important to make sure the edges are glued down securely. Melt another candle over the stove and seal the pressed flowers by covering them with the melted wax using a paintbrush. Be sure to do this quickly as the wax will dry fast.

6. Plant Pots
Decorate your flower pots with the preserved flowers that were once in them. When you have glued the pressed flowers in place, coat the pot with varnish to seal them. Once dry, apply a second coat of varnish for good measure.

7. Lampshades
Apply a thin layer of glue (diluted with water is best) to a plain lampshade and arrange your pressed flowers on it. Attach a layer of rice paper around the lampshade while the glue is still wet and add another layer of glue to the rice paper. After the glue is dry, the flowers will be visible throught the rice paper.

8. Jewelry Box
Give your jewelry box a personal touch by sticking a selection of dried, pressed flowers to the sides and lid.

9. Paperweights
Wash a rock or pebble and arrange and glue your pressed flowers to it. Cover the whole rock/pebble with a layer of glue to secure the pressed flowers in place (a technique known as decoupage). Add another two or three layers of glue, waiting for the previous layer to dry before applying. Depending on the glue you use, you may want to dilute it slightly so that it brushes smoothly over the object.

1. It's easy to learn how to press flowers and it's quick to get started. You can be up and running in a very short time.



2. You can work from home. Children will love to press flowers too. It's perfect for the stay-at-home mom and ideal for retirees too!



3. Flower pressing encourages your creativity. What greater reward than to express your creativity in such a lovely way?



4. Most of the tools and equipment needed to press flowers can be found in your home - unless you intend to press on a larger scale.



5. You can even earn some pin money from it. And more if you take it seriously.



6. It's a relaxing and calming occupation. Every aspect from the pressing of the flowers to the designing of the cards and pictures is therapeutic.



7. Flower pressing satisfies your sense of Beauty.



8. It alerts you to the gifts of Nature by opening your eyes to the little things you have never noticed before.



9. It makes a wonderful hobby and a great talking point. People will be fascinated with your pressed flowers. And your greeting cards will be unique!



10. Learn to press flowers simply because it's plain fun! Flower pressing is such a happy occupation.