Sara
10-30-2008, 05:38 AM
Pressing Flowers
I worked in the floral industry for many years and have an extreme love of flowers. Once becoming a SAHM, I missed handling and designing fresh flowers, but still enjoyed doing creative things with silk and dried flowers. When we downshifted into an even smaller home, I realized even silks and dried florals were too bulky. I didn't have enough space to store them, so I decided to start pressing fresh flowers. Pressing flowers is a fun hobby and can be done very inexpensively and with little experience. You can start out small and work your way up. I thought I'd take some time to discuss the basics such as how to press flowers, what supplies you may need, some design ideas, and some books for further information.
First, let's consider the supplies you need to get started. A formal press isn't necessary. You can use a phonebook and weigh it down with a full gallon jug or heavy books, or you can make your own. You can consider using just two pieces of cardboard with tissue paper and weigh it down with a heavy object too.
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/howtomakyour.html
If you opt to purchase a flower press, there are many types to choose from. Some are basic and some are quite fancy. You'll see in the following links that there are some presses that can go in the microwave, so your pressed flowers are completed much more quickly than traditional pressing. The natural flower moisture is boiled off by the use of the microwave. Some people use a combination of a flower press and silica gel. Once the flowers are pressed, they bury it into a plastic tote filled with silica gel. Silica gel is a dessicant. It's an absorbant material. Basically, it works to hold water vapor or prevent condensation. It helps by limiting the growth of molds.It's more like a sand granule or crystal than a gel. It can be found at your local craft store. If you have ever bought leather goods and seen a little packet of crystals~that's silica gel.
Here are the links to some presses:
http://www.microfleur.com.au/default.htm
http://www.emsplace.com/pfprod/flpr.asp
http://www.earthlygoods.com/garden_whimsy/flower_press.html
http://www.frugalvillage.com/fieldpress.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/fieldpress.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/flaxartpress.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/flaxartpress.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/flower_press.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/flower_press.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/press3.gif (http://www.frugalvillage.com/press3.gif)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/rollerwave.gif (http://www.frugalvillage.com/rollerwave.gif)
There are tons of ebay listings, as well.
Next, you'll want to know where to get your fresh flowers to press. You'll also want a list of supplies to have on hand. Most supplies are general household materials. Flowers and foliage can be found in your own garden, local florists, traded online on yahoo groups or gardening forums, neighbors, or just wild field flowers. I love to pick my flowers by the roadside. I can often find flowers such as Black eyed Susans, Monte Casino, Goldenrod, Wild Daisies, and Queen Anne's Lace.
Here is a list of flowers to press for beginners:
Pansies
Daisies
Mini roses
Larkspur
Sweet Alyssums
Marigolds
Delphinium
Geraniums
Baby's breath
Queen Anne's Lace
Cosmos
Black-eyed Susans
http://www.frugalvillage.com/mayflow.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/mayflow.jpg)
If being handpicked, the flowers should be picked mid day to evening when moisture levels are lower. Flowers are more moist in the morning. They should be immediately pressed or pressed asap. You can use a plastic ziploc baggie to temporarily hold them too. Worst case scenario, you can pop this baggie into the fridge until you're ready.
The following shows a list of supplies needed.
Supplies:
Scissors
Glue (any clear drying type)
Small utility knife or exacto knife
qtips
Toothpicks
cardstock
contac paper or laminator
Tweezers
Paintbrush
plastic totes if you plan to use silica gel
Silica gel
Blotting paper.(computer paper, tissue paper, and newsprint can be used)
and some sort of press
Next, you're probably wondering when will my pressed flowers be ready? Most flowers will be ready within a week, but some take longer. You'll know by looking at it and if the flower stands upright without bending. They will appear papery and quite fragile. A good tip is to exercise patience. If you look before they are dry, sometimes the flowers can stick to the blotting paper. You may be able to salvage the flower by slowly working it off the paper by rubbing or scratching the backside of the paper or you can try prying with tweezers or your fingers. If you pull and a petal falls off, as long as the entire flower doesn't shatter, you can still use this. I have found that at times, I may press let's say ten flowers, but am only happy with perhaps seven. The trick is simply to press lots of extras.
When pressed flowers are dry, handle with care. You can store like types in between cardboard and "rubberbanded" in standard envelopes. You can store them in an extra phone book too. You can write on the envelopes, add a label, or even a post it note to reflect the date, type of flower, color , and where you found it.
Next, you'll have your completed dried flowers to choose from, so will want to choose a project and attach the flowers. There are various different creative projects such as creating bookmarks, pictures, invitations, notebooks, stained glass, notecards, homemade paper, and candles. This step requires some careful planning.
Before gluing down the flowers on cardstock, you should plan ahead. You can do this either by sketching it out, or by creating a layout. Once glued down, it's pretty much stuck there. If you're fast, you maybe able to move it a bit with a toothpick, your fingers, or tweezers.
Some flowers and leaves soak up the glue more readily, so consider using a toothpick or mini paintbrush to apply it to the flower. It's not necessary to glue the entire flower. A little goes a long way. In time, you'll learn creative ways to hide your patchwork behind leaves or other embellishments like ribbon. You'll find you'll be able to piece flowers together, borrow petals, stems and even leaves. Once your design is glued, you'll want to allow it to dry for 24 hours before sealing it. You don't want any glue residue to show once your project is sealed.
Next, your project is dried and ready to be sealed. Some people spray the project with an acrylic fixative such as by Krylon or
Design Master or modge podge sealer. (waterbase sealer, glue and finish for all surfaces)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/fixatif.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/fixatif.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/modgepodge.gif (http://www.frugalvillage.com/modgepodge.gif)
The idea is to protect the flowers from moisture and to beautify your artwork. There are a few ways of doing this. You can
laminate it, Contac paper it, or even frame it. If you don't have a laminator check your local office supply store. They generally have one that you can use and you often pay by the inch. Contac paper works well for small projects such as bookmarks and notecards though too. If using Contac paper, you may find that you encounter some static. It can often be eliminated by rubbing a fabric sheet over the contac paper. If framing, please consider some preventative measures. It is a good idea to use small packets of silica gel in the backing of your frame. They can be scotch taped on, and this will help avoid any moisture getting trapped within the frame.
http://www.frugalvillage.com/alifesmall.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/alifesmall.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/bookmark.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/bookmark.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/boomark.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/boomark.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/mininotebooka.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/mininotebooka.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/mininotebookb.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/mininotebookb.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/webc.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/webc.jpg)
Finally, once you've completed a mini project, You'll be amazed by what you've accomplished with little expense or experience. It takes up so little space in comparison to other crafts too. You've learned the basics and now you may be thirsting for more. There are many books that you can reference for more information. There are also some great sites online to surf, as well. I have compiled a list for your enjoyment.
Happy pressing~ :-)
Sara
Books of interest:
Wildflowers
Susan Hood National Audubon Soc
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide : An Ingenious New Key System for Quick, Positive Field Identification of the Wildflowers,
Flowering Shrubs and Vines of N, Vol. 1
Lawrence Newcomb Gordon Morrison (Illustrator)
Pressed Flower Decorations by Margaret Spencer
Pressed Flower Pictures
Ruth Voorhees Booke
Glorious Pressed Flower Projects
Celestine Hannemann
Bouquet of Ribbons: Pressed Flowers & Ribbon Embroidery (Craft Impressions Series)
by Ann Snuggs
Souvenirs De Fleurs A Pressed Flower Keepsake Book
Louise Kollenbaum
Collage from Seeds, Leaves and Flowers
Joan Carver
Flowercraft (Milner Start-A-Craft)
Lynette Silver
The Book of Pressed Flowers
by Penny Black, Geoff Dann (Photographer)
The Afterlife of Flowers
by Janie Feldman Gross
Microwaved Pressed Flowers: New Techniques for Brilliant Pressed Flowers
by Joanna Sheen
Forever Flowers: A Flower Lover's Guide to Selecting, Pressing, and Designing
by Bernice Peitzer
The Pressed Plant: The Art of Botanical Specimens, Nature Prints, and Sun Prints
by Andrea Dinoto, David Winter, John Berens (Photographer)
Pressed Flowers: Decorative Projects to Enhance the Home
by Alison Jenkins, Michelle Garrett (Photographer)
New Pressed Flower Designs (The New Flower Designs Series)
by Alison Morrison
Pressed Flowers
by Pamela Le Bailly
Pressed Flowers: Creating and Styling
by Joanna Sheen
Sites of interest:
http://preservedgardens.com/pressedflowersites.htm
[/URL][URL]http://www.emsplace.com/default.htm (http://www.pressedbest.com/)
I worked in the floral industry for many years and have an extreme love of flowers. Once becoming a SAHM, I missed handling and designing fresh flowers, but still enjoyed doing creative things with silk and dried flowers. When we downshifted into an even smaller home, I realized even silks and dried florals were too bulky. I didn't have enough space to store them, so I decided to start pressing fresh flowers. Pressing flowers is a fun hobby and can be done very inexpensively and with little experience. You can start out small and work your way up. I thought I'd take some time to discuss the basics such as how to press flowers, what supplies you may need, some design ideas, and some books for further information.
First, let's consider the supplies you need to get started. A formal press isn't necessary. You can use a phonebook and weigh it down with a full gallon jug or heavy books, or you can make your own. You can consider using just two pieces of cardboard with tissue paper and weigh it down with a heavy object too.
http://www.save-on-crafts.com/howtomakyour.html
If you opt to purchase a flower press, there are many types to choose from. Some are basic and some are quite fancy. You'll see in the following links that there are some presses that can go in the microwave, so your pressed flowers are completed much more quickly than traditional pressing. The natural flower moisture is boiled off by the use of the microwave. Some people use a combination of a flower press and silica gel. Once the flowers are pressed, they bury it into a plastic tote filled with silica gel. Silica gel is a dessicant. It's an absorbant material. Basically, it works to hold water vapor or prevent condensation. It helps by limiting the growth of molds.It's more like a sand granule or crystal than a gel. It can be found at your local craft store. If you have ever bought leather goods and seen a little packet of crystals~that's silica gel.
Here are the links to some presses:
http://www.microfleur.com.au/default.htm
http://www.emsplace.com/pfprod/flpr.asp
http://www.earthlygoods.com/garden_whimsy/flower_press.html
http://www.frugalvillage.com/fieldpress.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/fieldpress.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/flaxartpress.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/flaxartpress.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/flower_press.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/flower_press.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/press3.gif (http://www.frugalvillage.com/press3.gif)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/rollerwave.gif (http://www.frugalvillage.com/rollerwave.gif)
There are tons of ebay listings, as well.
Next, you'll want to know where to get your fresh flowers to press. You'll also want a list of supplies to have on hand. Most supplies are general household materials. Flowers and foliage can be found in your own garden, local florists, traded online on yahoo groups or gardening forums, neighbors, or just wild field flowers. I love to pick my flowers by the roadside. I can often find flowers such as Black eyed Susans, Monte Casino, Goldenrod, Wild Daisies, and Queen Anne's Lace.
Here is a list of flowers to press for beginners:
Pansies
Daisies
Mini roses
Larkspur
Sweet Alyssums
Marigolds
Delphinium
Geraniums
Baby's breath
Queen Anne's Lace
Cosmos
Black-eyed Susans
http://www.frugalvillage.com/mayflow.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/mayflow.jpg)
If being handpicked, the flowers should be picked mid day to evening when moisture levels are lower. Flowers are more moist in the morning. They should be immediately pressed or pressed asap. You can use a plastic ziploc baggie to temporarily hold them too. Worst case scenario, you can pop this baggie into the fridge until you're ready.
The following shows a list of supplies needed.
Supplies:
Scissors
Glue (any clear drying type)
Small utility knife or exacto knife
qtips
Toothpicks
cardstock
contac paper or laminator
Tweezers
Paintbrush
plastic totes if you plan to use silica gel
Silica gel
Blotting paper.(computer paper, tissue paper, and newsprint can be used)
and some sort of press
Next, you're probably wondering when will my pressed flowers be ready? Most flowers will be ready within a week, but some take longer. You'll know by looking at it and if the flower stands upright without bending. They will appear papery and quite fragile. A good tip is to exercise patience. If you look before they are dry, sometimes the flowers can stick to the blotting paper. You may be able to salvage the flower by slowly working it off the paper by rubbing or scratching the backside of the paper or you can try prying with tweezers or your fingers. If you pull and a petal falls off, as long as the entire flower doesn't shatter, you can still use this. I have found that at times, I may press let's say ten flowers, but am only happy with perhaps seven. The trick is simply to press lots of extras.
When pressed flowers are dry, handle with care. You can store like types in between cardboard and "rubberbanded" in standard envelopes. You can store them in an extra phone book too. You can write on the envelopes, add a label, or even a post it note to reflect the date, type of flower, color , and where you found it.
Next, you'll have your completed dried flowers to choose from, so will want to choose a project and attach the flowers. There are various different creative projects such as creating bookmarks, pictures, invitations, notebooks, stained glass, notecards, homemade paper, and candles. This step requires some careful planning.
Before gluing down the flowers on cardstock, you should plan ahead. You can do this either by sketching it out, or by creating a layout. Once glued down, it's pretty much stuck there. If you're fast, you maybe able to move it a bit with a toothpick, your fingers, or tweezers.
Some flowers and leaves soak up the glue more readily, so consider using a toothpick or mini paintbrush to apply it to the flower. It's not necessary to glue the entire flower. A little goes a long way. In time, you'll learn creative ways to hide your patchwork behind leaves or other embellishments like ribbon. You'll find you'll be able to piece flowers together, borrow petals, stems and even leaves. Once your design is glued, you'll want to allow it to dry for 24 hours before sealing it. You don't want any glue residue to show once your project is sealed.
Next, your project is dried and ready to be sealed. Some people spray the project with an acrylic fixative such as by Krylon or
Design Master or modge podge sealer. (waterbase sealer, glue and finish for all surfaces)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/fixatif.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/fixatif.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/modgepodge.gif (http://www.frugalvillage.com/modgepodge.gif)
The idea is to protect the flowers from moisture and to beautify your artwork. There are a few ways of doing this. You can
laminate it, Contac paper it, or even frame it. If you don't have a laminator check your local office supply store. They generally have one that you can use and you often pay by the inch. Contac paper works well for small projects such as bookmarks and notecards though too. If using Contac paper, you may find that you encounter some static. It can often be eliminated by rubbing a fabric sheet over the contac paper. If framing, please consider some preventative measures. It is a good idea to use small packets of silica gel in the backing of your frame. They can be scotch taped on, and this will help avoid any moisture getting trapped within the frame.
http://www.frugalvillage.com/alifesmall.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/alifesmall.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/bookmark.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/bookmark.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/boomark.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/boomark.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/mininotebooka.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/mininotebooka.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/mininotebookb.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/mininotebookb.jpg)
http://www.frugalvillage.com/webc.jpg (http://www.frugalvillage.com/webc.jpg)
Finally, once you've completed a mini project, You'll be amazed by what you've accomplished with little expense or experience. It takes up so little space in comparison to other crafts too. You've learned the basics and now you may be thirsting for more. There are many books that you can reference for more information. There are also some great sites online to surf, as well. I have compiled a list for your enjoyment.
Happy pressing~ :-)
Sara
Books of interest:
Wildflowers
Susan Hood National Audubon Soc
Newcomb's Wildflower Guide : An Ingenious New Key System for Quick, Positive Field Identification of the Wildflowers,
Flowering Shrubs and Vines of N, Vol. 1
Lawrence Newcomb Gordon Morrison (Illustrator)
Pressed Flower Decorations by Margaret Spencer
Pressed Flower Pictures
Ruth Voorhees Booke
Glorious Pressed Flower Projects
Celestine Hannemann
Bouquet of Ribbons: Pressed Flowers & Ribbon Embroidery (Craft Impressions Series)
by Ann Snuggs
Souvenirs De Fleurs A Pressed Flower Keepsake Book
Louise Kollenbaum
Collage from Seeds, Leaves and Flowers
Joan Carver
Flowercraft (Milner Start-A-Craft)
Lynette Silver
The Book of Pressed Flowers
by Penny Black, Geoff Dann (Photographer)
The Afterlife of Flowers
by Janie Feldman Gross
Microwaved Pressed Flowers: New Techniques for Brilliant Pressed Flowers
by Joanna Sheen
Forever Flowers: A Flower Lover's Guide to Selecting, Pressing, and Designing
by Bernice Peitzer
The Pressed Plant: The Art of Botanical Specimens, Nature Prints, and Sun Prints
by Andrea Dinoto, David Winter, John Berens (Photographer)
Pressed Flowers: Decorative Projects to Enhance the Home
by Alison Jenkins, Michelle Garrett (Photographer)
New Pressed Flower Designs (The New Flower Designs Series)
by Alison Morrison
Pressed Flowers
by Pamela Le Bailly
Pressed Flowers: Creating and Styling
by Joanna Sheen
Sites of interest:
http://preservedgardens.com/pressedflowersites.htm
[/URL][URL]http://www.emsplace.com/default.htm (http://www.pressedbest.com/)