Pressing
flowers to preserve them is an art that has been popular for centuries.
Pressed flowers have often been found between the pages of very
old books and reportedly even in Egyptian tombs. Victorian valentines
were often made using pressed flowers. Saving flowers from a special
occasion such as a Valentine's Day bouquet, a wedding bouquet or
a corsage is a great way to retain a keepsake of the event. Even
a walk in the country on a spring day may yield a specimen worth
keeping.
To
find the best types of flowers for pressing find healthy looking
blooms and collect them after the dew has dried. For best results,
choose open, dry flowers of approximately the same size and thickness.
This will allow several flowers dried together to dry evenly. Some
flowers that press well are clematis, impatiens, pansies, violets
and forget-me-nots. If you prefer thicker flowers such as roses,
daffodils or azaleas, these can be sliced apart to press correctly.
Give some thought as to how each flower will look when pressed.
When arranging the flowers for pressing, avoid overlapping parts
and place leaves flat on the drying surface.
A simple
way to press flowers is to use a heavy book and place flowers between
the pages. However, place the flowers between two sheets of white
paper first to protect the pages of the book. Leave at least 1/8
inch of pages between pressings. Place some weight on the book and
leave for at least a couple of weeks.
You
can purchase a flower press or make a simple one yourself. Cut two
boards the same length. Drill holes in each corner for a long bolt
to be attached by a wing nut. Use pieces of cardboard and blotting
paper to fit between the boards. Layer blotting paper on one piece
of cardboard, then place one sheet of plain, white paper on top.
Arrange flowers and leaves for pressing. Place another sheet of
plain, white paper on top of the flowers, then layer more blotting
paper, then top with another sheet of cardboard. More layers may
be added in the same order. Then place all layers into the wood
frame and tighten the wing nuts. For best color retention, change
the blotting paper every few days. Check to see if screws can be
tightened weekly. Be sure there is good air circulation around your
flowers to prevent mildew. Keep out of direct sunlight to preserve
colors.
Pressed
flowers can be used for many crafts such as making greeting cards
and bookmarks using cardstock. Use white glue that dries clear to
attach flowers and leaves to acid free cardstock and then cover
with clear contact paper. Many people prefer the naturally muted
colors of pressed flowers. If vibrant colors are more appealing
to you, pressed flowers can be enhanced with artists' pastels, transparent
oils or watercolors using a paintbrush.
Pressing
flowers is a lovely way to keep mementos of special occasions or
just to preserve some of the blooms of your summer garden. Pressed
flowers can be stored flat in envelopes until you are ready to use
them.
