Pressing flowers is an enjoyable pastime and not very difficult at all, even for the complete beginner. The best part is it's completely free! Of course you can buy proper presses but they're just as easy to make yourself - you just need some heavy household items like phone-books or bricks.
Pressing is very simple and just what you'd expect - simply place the flower on a smooth surface, add another smooth surface on top and add some weight! You can press flowers inside a book (in between the pages) but they sometimes stain the pages so it's best to use separate pieces of paper above and below the flower. You can use just about any kind of paper for this, from old newspapers to kitchen paper towels. If you have flowers with some larger parts or features that you don't want to 'squash' too much then consider using some kind of padding. A thin padded layer between the book and the paper, on both sides of the flower, helps the flower to retain certain features. Again you can use just about anything for this layer of padding, from cardboard to foam matting, as long as it is flat and smooth.
Now all you have to do is wait. Most small flowers take just a few days to dry, while large flowers can take up to a week. Just make sure the flowers are completely dry before you remove them otherwise you risk cracking and shrinking. If the flowers stick to the paper as you're removing them, don't try to pull them off because they are very delicate and you will almost certainly rip them. Try cutting them off with a knife and if that fails then you can try steaming the paper off by holding them under a boiling kettle. This is a last resort though as it can easily destroy the flower!
You will get best results in warm conditions. If you have a particularly hot room in your house, the loft for example, then try to store the press in there for the duration of the process. It will work fine in cold conditions too but the end result is usually not as visually pleasing as the colours tend to fade a little more. If the flower takes too long to dry out it can turn brown and lose most of its beauty. If the conditions in your house are not suitable then consider using an oven on low heat for a few days, or even a microwave for a couple of short bursts before you begin pressing. If this is the case it's very important to check for moisture while gathering and only go for drier flowers.
Some tips on collecting flowers for pressing:
1. Shape of flowers - Try to look for flowers that are not too bulky in shape as they will press much better without getting that 'squashed' look. Try to picture what each flower will look like when flattened!
2. Condition of flowers - Inspect each flower first for imperfections. If you hurriedly gather lots of flowers you may miss certain ugly spots that will show up once you begin pressing. Also try to get flowers that are fully opened.
3. Time of day - try to pick flowers late in the day as this is when they have the least moisture and therefore will be easier to dry.
4. Put the flowers in a wide, flat container, such as a box or basket. You want them to sit flat without touching each other so they survive the journey home and you should try to get them from the ground into the press in as little time as possible.
Pressing is very simple and just what you'd expect - simply place the flower on a smooth surface, add another smooth surface on top and add some weight! You can press flowers inside a book (in between the pages) but they sometimes stain the pages so it's best to use separate pieces of paper above and below the flower. You can use just about any kind of paper for this, from old newspapers to kitchen paper towels. If you have flowers with some larger parts or features that you don't want to 'squash' too much then consider using some kind of padding. A thin padded layer between the book and the paper, on both sides of the flower, helps the flower to retain certain features. Again you can use just about anything for this layer of padding, from cardboard to foam matting, as long as it is flat and smooth.
Now all you have to do is wait. Most small flowers take just a few days to dry, while large flowers can take up to a week. Just make sure the flowers are completely dry before you remove them otherwise you risk cracking and shrinking. If the flowers stick to the paper as you're removing them, don't try to pull them off because they are very delicate and you will almost certainly rip them. Try cutting them off with a knife and if that fails then you can try steaming the paper off by holding them under a boiling kettle. This is a last resort though as it can easily destroy the flower!
You will get best results in warm conditions. If you have a particularly hot room in your house, the loft for example, then try to store the press in there for the duration of the process. It will work fine in cold conditions too but the end result is usually not as visually pleasing as the colours tend to fade a little more. If the flower takes too long to dry out it can turn brown and lose most of its beauty. If the conditions in your house are not suitable then consider using an oven on low heat for a few days, or even a microwave for a couple of short bursts before you begin pressing. If this is the case it's very important to check for moisture while gathering and only go for drier flowers.
Some tips on collecting flowers for pressing:
1. Shape of flowers - Try to look for flowers that are not too bulky in shape as they will press much better without getting that 'squashed' look. Try to picture what each flower will look like when flattened!
2. Condition of flowers - Inspect each flower first for imperfections. If you hurriedly gather lots of flowers you may miss certain ugly spots that will show up once you begin pressing. Also try to get flowers that are fully opened.
3. Time of day - try to pick flowers late in the day as this is when they have the least moisture and therefore will be easier to dry.
4. Put the flowers in a wide, flat container, such as a box or basket. You want them to sit flat without touching each other so they survive the journey home and you should try to get them from the ground into the press in as little time as possible.