Flower Pressing Tips

Greenspiration products are individually handmade. Each piece of paper is created in a mould and deckle, couched in cloth, pressed by hand and dried by steam or sunlight. Intricate designs of pressed flowers, leaves, bark and other plant material are then rendered by skilled and dedicated artisans to produce an exquisite line of handmade paper products.

TIPS ON PRESSING & PROTECTING FLOWERS, LEAVES AND FOLIAGE

Everyone who wants to work with pressed flowers should try and press their own flowers. It can be quite enjoyable in itself and will add to the fulfillment of creating a finished piece of pressed flower art.

Here are the basics of some good methods for pressing flowers.

Flower Preparation - For best results make sure you pick your flowers at their freshest and press when there is minimal moisture on them. Remember to properly condition your flowers if you don't press them immediately upon picking them. Taking this extra step will go a long way in keeping the flowers' natural colors.

When preparing the flower for pressing keep in mind how you want it will look when flattened. Avoid allowing parts to overlap unless for artistic effect. Leaves should normally be laid out flat.

Pressing in Books - Place flower between 2 sheets of paper to protect the pages of the book. Leave at least 1/8" of pages between flowers, then weigh the book down and wait about two weeks.

You can put the book with flowers in the microwave and heat in short bursts, (30 seconds to a minute at a time, checking between to see if they're done.) Repeat until satisfactory result is obtained.

Flower Presses - You can buy a flower press or make your own. Most people prefer a botanical flower press because it allows greater air circulation. Making one would however require some good wood-working skills.

To make a simple wooden press: Cut 2 square boards, hold them together with a long bolt and wing nut in each corner. Cut pieces of cardboard and blotting paper (or newsprint) to fit between the boards. Then layer them as follows: wood, cardboard, blotting paper, plain white paper, flower, plain white paper, blotting paper, cardboard, then repeat the layers. Place the other piece of wood on top and tighten the wing nuts. Your color retention will be greatly helped by putting the flowers between sheets of paper and then changing just the blotter about every couple of days. The flowers will turn brown if they don't dry quick enough.

Microwave Pressing - You can also use a microwave flower press which some prefer because it allows greater air circulation.

When pressing in the microwave, be careful not to overdo it. Start out with short bursts at a medium setting, perhaps 30-60 seconds, then experiment with the timing. Let the plant material cool between heatings. You may open the press to let the steam escape while cooling, then repeat until almost dry. To save time, consider working with 2 presses, just alternate in heating one while the other cools.

While still in the paper, place your flowers in a book or flower press to finish pressing. This normally takes anywhere from a few hours to a day depending on the particular flower.

To make a simple microwave press: Use regular ceramic tiles, with rubber bands to keep the whole thing together. A lot of different materials can be used for the padding but plain paper toweling works just as well. The flowers are placed between two pieces of regular paper. It's important to put the flowers between smooth-surface paper so they don't pick up any texture your paper toweling may have.

Coffee filters may also be a good substitute, especially for flowers that aren't completely flat, such as roses. The coffee filters aren't as stiff as computer paper so the flowers come out nicer.

An even simpler way to press in the microwave is to substitute corrugated cardboard for the ceramic tiles in the instructions above. Try these suggestions if only to get a feel of the process before you spend the time and money for a more costly investment in a flower press.

Different flowers press better with different methods, so experiment. There is such great variety of flowers and botanicals to press that the serious flower pressing buff will really need a couple of different presses. A flower that presses well in one type of press may not have the same result in another type.

The foregoing methods work well with simple flowers and leaves. More effort will be required for full open roses, for one. As lilies open, always remove the stamens to prevent staining the flower.

In some cases it helps to treat your plant materials with a little glycerin before pressing, especially with foliage and fall leaves. Just spray it on and allow the leaves to dry to the touch before pressing.

Protecting Pressed Flower Pieces - To minimize fading of pressed flowers, here are some simple precautions:

  * Avoid displaying pressed flowers in direct sunlight.
  * Keep pressed flower pictures out of rooms with high humidity, such as small bathrooms or kitchens.
  * Try to make an air tight seal when framing. Air causes oxidation and premature fading of pressed flowers.
  * Use desiccant and anti-oxidant when framing.
  * Vacuum sealing is desirable but not absolutely necessary (and in this case you would need either special equipment or the help of a professional).

You don't work with flowers, you experience them. It is a continuous process of wonder and discovery that will leave you at once exited and exhausted. Through it all, remember to experiment, play, always have a lot of fun.

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