Ever wished you could hold on to the beauty of your favourite blooms forever? Well, with flower pressing and drying, you can!
This age-old craft lets you preserve flowers, transforming them into stunning keepsakes and art pieces.
As you know, we at Terra Plants & Flowers love all things flowers and are passionate about bringing your floral fantasies to life. Pressing and drying flowers just happens to be one of our favourite pastimes.
So, without further ado, let's get pressing and drying!
Why Press and Dry Flowers?
There are many reasons to give flower pressing a try. It's a:
- Fun and creative activity. It's a relaxing hobby anyone can enjoy, from kids to adults.
- Thoughtful gift idea. Pressed flowers make unique and personalized gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or any special occasion.
- Way to preserve memories. Capture the beauty of your wedding bouquet or a special flower from your garden.
- Crafting goldmine. Pressed flowers can be used in countless DIY projects, like greeting cards, bookmarks, framed art, and more.
Best Flowers for Pressing
Be warned, although we love all flowers, they're not all made for pressing. The ideal candidates are flowers with thin, flat petals that dry well.
Here are some of our favourites to press.
- Roses. Classic and timeless, roses come in rainbows of colours and sizes, perfect for adding a touch of elegance to your projects.
- Hydrangeas. Their big, fluffy blooms add a romantic touch when pressed. For the best results, choose blooms that are just beginning to open. They will hold more colour, which could change while drying.
- Pansies. These cheerful little flowers come in a wide range of colours and press well, keeping their vibrant hues.
- Forget-me-nots. Delicate and charming, forget-me-nots add a touch of whimsy to any project.
- Lavender. Pressed lavender is not only beautiful, but also retains its fragrance—a wonderful addition to potpourri or sachets.
Your Flower Pressing and Drying Guide
Ready to give it a go?
What You'll Need
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Flowers. Choose blooms that are free of blemishes and pests.
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Blotting paper. This will absorb moisture from the flowers. Parchment paper or even coffee filters work well.
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Heavy books. Textbooks or large dictionaries are perfect for applying pressure.
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Optional. A flower press (available at craft stores) can make the process easier and more efficient.
Pressing and Drying Flowers Steps
- Pick the perfect blooms. Choose flowers that are just past their prime, but not wilted. Flowers with less moisture tend to press better.
- Prep your pressing materials. Cut a piece of blotting or parchment paper slightly larger than your flower. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for assembly, if you’re using a flower press.
- Check on your flowers. Gently peek after a couple of weeks. If the flowers feel dry and crisp, they're done. If they're still flexible, leave them for longer.
- Arrange your flowers. Carefully place your flowers on the paper, ensuring they don't overlap. You can gently spread the petals with tweezers for a more defined look.
- Layer it up. Cover your flowers with another piece of paper. If you're using a flower press, you can repeat this process to press multiple flowers at once.
- Apply pressure. For the book method, place your layered papers between the pages of a heavy book and add another heavy object on top for extra weight. If you're using a flower press, tighten the straps or screws to apply even pressure.
- Be patient! Leave your flowers undisturbed for 2 to 4 weeks. The drying time will depend on how thick the flowers are and how humid it is.
- Check on your flowers. Gently peek after a couple of weeks. If the flowers feel dry and crisp, they're done. If they're still flexible, leave them for longer.
Get Creative with Pressed Flowers
Here's some inspiration to get you started with pressed flower art.
- Make greeting cards. Stick pressed flowers onto blank cards for a unique and personalized touch.
- Create framed art. Arrange pressed flowers into a design and frame them for beautiful wall decor.
- Embellish bookmarks. Add pressed flowers to plain bookmarks for a lovely touch.
- Press flower coasters. Seal the pressed flowers between layers of clear contact paper to create unique coasters.
The possibilities are endless! So, grab your favourite Terra Plants & Flowers blooms, and get ready to transform them into everlasting works of art.
Top Tip
Living in Ottawa and short on blooms?
No problem! We offer a wide selection of fresh flower bouquets, and with our same-day delivery, you can have the perfect pressing materials at your door in no time!