Fun with Flowers

There is no better time than now to try an old practice of preserving flowers. Flower presses help you preserve and enjoy flower blossoms at any time of year and offer the basis for many craft projects.

Flower presses can be purchased from almost any craft store or art supply center. They are designed to be easy to use and are not costly. It is, however, easy to make your own. Following are two different ways, and each gives great results and is very cost-effective.

Press number one is a bit involved but easy to make. You will need two pieces of plywood in any size you want up to about 10" x 10"; three (or more) large sheets of very absorbent paper (Blotter paper, 2-ply rag paper, or cotton linters for making handmade paper work well for this and all are available at art supply stores.); four long bolts about 3/16" thick and 3" long, along with 8 washers and 4 wing nuts; a drill with a 1/4-inch drill bit; and medium sandpaper.

Begin by drilling holes one inch in from all four corners. Sand around holes and all edges. Cut absorbent paper into squares the same size as your plywood. Cut off corners so that the paper will not interfere when you tighten the bolts.

Set the absorbent lining sheets between the plywood pieces and thread the nuts through the sets of corner holes. Attach the wing nuts to the bolts to complete the press. You are now ready to go out and collect flowers for pressing.

Another press can be made almost instantly. Simply use two pieces of plywood (or thick Plexiglas, Masonite, etc.) and hand clamps (those that look like giant clothespins) to press the top and bottom together. This is faster to make and works as well as the bolted style. It is especially handy for field collection.

With either press, allow two sheets against the top and bottom covers. This is added absorbency and cushion for the collection of natural materials being pressed. Check the tightness of the wing nut press after 48 hours. When working with thicker items, it might be necessary to tighten the press more as the flowers flatten.

One suggestion that really helps you get the best results possible is to collect your specimens after morning moisture has evaporated and before the heat of the day. Wet flowers will mildew or yield inferior colors. Ideally, the day would be mild with very low humidity.

Pressed flowers make wonderful additions to handmade greeting cards. They are so special that each card becomes a piece of artwork suitable for framing. Bookmarks are also a great application for pressed flowers. The fastest way is to use the instant lamination sheets. Lay out your pressed flowers in a pleasing design on the laminating sheet; then set another sheet on top, sticky side to sticky side. Cut with scissors or craft knife to make any shape or style of bookmark you want. Add a ribbon at the top and you have created a useful, permanent keepsake. Youngsters especially enjoy making these for teacher gifts.

Papermakers or those artists who like to decorate commercial papers will love using pressed flowers in their work. To attach the flowers to the surface of any flat, dry paper, be it handmade or commercially manufactured, use an adhesive that is all natural and dries without sheen. There are several acid-free adhesives that work well, or you can use acrylic painting medium in a matte finish. It can also be brushed over the top of the flowers to give a bit of protection to their fragile surface.

Glass can be decorated by using acrylic gel medium to attach and seal flowers. Candle jars, vases, or the underside of clear glass plates are just a few places to use pressed flowers for home decor projects.

Once you have your press, plan to get out there this summer and start collecting! You will find many creative ways to use your beautiful pressed natural treasures.