Flower press how to: DIY flower art
Botanical art is not only beautiful but so simple and mindful to make. You could use flowers from a wedding, your garden or any particular varieties that mean something to you.
How to make pressed flower art
1. Forage for some flowers.
Ensure your flowers and leaves are dry - the best time to pick is late morning when the morning dew has evaporated from the petals. Make sure you forage responsibly by taking no more than you need and picking from plentiful areas (follow the countryside code for more information).
2. Choosing your flowers
Flatter smaller flowers often work better in the flower press as they have less moisture and will retain their shape when pressed. Leaves also look fantastic when pressed and can add a lovely texture when layered up with the flowers in your arrangement.
3. Place the flowers in the flower press
Sandwich the blooms between the paper sheets and then screwing on the nuts and bolts. Press the flowers for at least two weeks to ensure they are fully flattened and retain their colour.
4. Arrange them in a frame
Open your frame and arrange your flowers onto one side - it may help to have a piece of white paper underneath the frame so you can see the arrangement clearly. Tweezers are helpful to move the flowers so that you don’t damage the petals.
5. Secure the arrangement
Once you are happy with your arrangement, place a tiny dot of clear craft glue underneath each flower and then close your frame to finish.
6. Display and enjoy!
Feeling inspired to create your own flower art? Here are the products used in this tutorial:
Wonders of Nature wooden flower press, £12.95
Hanging brass frames, from £12.95
Travel Flower Press: preserving nature’s beauty on the go
Wonders of Nature travel flower press, £6.95
My daughters love picking wild flowers (responsibly), and I always think that preserving these tiny beautiful things is such a lovely reminder of whenever you picked them – the perfect picnic surrounded by a sea of buttercups, a blustery walk with some wonderful coloured leaves, or the first delicate daisy of the summer!
This travel flower press is so handy to take with you on days out, walks or holidays. It means that as soon as you see something you can press it right away rather than coming home with a rather limp looking flower!
It also makes the most gorgeous gift! Flower pressing appeals to so many people of all different ages. It would pair beautifully with a posy of blooms which could be pressed, or a notebook to collage into... there are so many wonderful options.
Its smaller shape makes it perfect for tiny hands. It is just the thing to spark a little one’s imagination and love of flowers. Pressed flowers can be used in card making, art, and so many different decorative projects. To get beautifully pressed flowers, once placed in the press it’s best to wait a good two weeks before opening.
This handy little travel press could be part of an explore pack you take on a day out - you could take a pair of binoculars, a notebook or travel journal, and a magnifying glass to really examine the beautiful things around us.
Get started with a Wonders of Nature travel flower press, just £6.95.
Thank you to Georgia Coote for these flower press tutorial and ideas!
