I've always loved crafting with both dried and pressed flowers.
This is the time of year to start gathering your flowers and
leaves to press. Whether you use a purchased flower press,
large old books, or two pieces of wood held together tightly
with a belt, you can press your own flowers!
Flowers for pressing: pansies, daisies, lobelia, geraniums,
Queen Anne's Lace, snapdragons, cosmos, asters, johnnie
jump ups and mums.
Leaves for pressing: geranium, all types of ivy, herbs, dusty
miller, small tree leaves and ferns
You can use any plain paper to press your flowers. As I
mentioned, you need something heavy. I have always used
a very large, old dictionary that I put aside in a corner with
other books on top of it. You'll need a good 3-4 weeks for
most flowers and leaves. They will be very delicate, so take
care in handling them. My favorite two things to make are
gift tags and bookmarks. I choose card stock or heavy paper
and cut into what I am making. Then I carefully place a small
amount of craft glue on the back of each flower or leaf with a
toothpick and attach to the paper. I then cover the front of the
tag or bookmark with clear contact paper, and smooth it down.
Always press far more flowers than you think you will need so
you have room to make mistakes. (I still keep those and use
them for my own bookmarks!) More tips...
-Use a hole punch before decorating your tags or bookmarks
to make a hole in the corner, and later tie a piece of raffia.
-Personalize the tags or bookmarks with calligraphy pens.
-Make your own "labels" the same way for gifts in jars by
using the contact paper to attach it to the front of the jar.
-Once you get the hang of it, try creating notecards, placemats,
or pictures!
-Pick your flowers and leaves after the dew has dried on a
sunny day-you don't want them to be moist.
About the author:
Brenda Hyde is the editor of Old Fashioned Living and
a freelance writer. She lives in the Midwest with
her husband and three children.
