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.
- Coasters
- Photo Album
- Pressed Flower Art
- Bookmarks
- Candles
- Plant Pots
- Lampshades
- Jewelry Box
- Paperweights
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.
Personalise your photo albums by decorating them with your pressed flowers.
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.
Decorate a piece of card with your pressed flowers and laminate with clear contact paper to create a pretty bookmark.
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.
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.
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.
Give your jewelry box a personal touch by sticking a selection of dried, pressed flowers to the sides and lid.
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.
I hope these ideas have inspired you to do more with your pressed flowers. Remember: the possibilities are endless and the only limit is your imagination.
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.
Through trial and error she has discovered:
- the best methods of preserving vibrant colour
- how to maximise the longevity of pressed flowers
- the best techniques for mounting pressed flowers
- how to profit from flower pressing
And she has recorded all this plus much more in her book.