How To Make Pressed Flower Gifts from the Garden

For fun handmade gifts I like to press flowers and arrange them in pictures. This beautiful craft brings a touch of nature indoors. When I give the framed pictures as gifts I feel I am sharing a little bit of my garden and the joy it brings me.

First, I pick flowers, leaves, and stems at the peak of bloom. Look not only in your flower garden but beyond to the vegetable patch, yard, ditches, ponds or anywhere plants grow. Look carefully at the plant material and choose only that which is free from blemishes and bug holes. Finding what presses well is a matter of trial and error. I have had good luck with Verbena, petunia, Johnny-Jump-Up, ferns, Begonia leaves, and the curly ends of melon vines.

Next, lay the flowers and leaves flat between layers of facial tissue, being careful the plant materials don't touch each other. I press whole flowers as well as individual petals. Layer the tissues in a heavy book, separating layers between a thick layer of pages. Old phone books work well or any heavy book. I was lucky enough to find a bunch of old college textbooks at a garage sale which I use. Stack more books on top for added weight. Drying times vary but most flowers are pressed and dry in a week or two.

Now the fun begins! Arrange your flowers on heavy paper. Experiment to find a design of pressed flowers which is pleasing to you. The dried flowers can be arranged in a heart, made into butterflies, girls with frilly dresses or in a more natural free-form design. I use a toothpick to help move the delicate materials around. Use a paint brush to paint on clear drying non-acidic craft glue to fasten down the design and over the top to seal.

The pressed flowers can be used to decorate any number of items. Bookmarks made by laminating the sealed dried flowers on a narrow strip of paper and adding a tassel make wonderful gifts for teachers. Special vacation mementos can be made by surrounding photos with ferns picked at the campground. You can make place mats or magnificent natural art to adorn your walls; the possibilities are limitless.

These crafts could conceivably last a life time if cared for properly. I have many pressed flower items which are over ten years old. To preserve the delicate colors keep the art out of direct sunlight or bright light. Give it a try, you just might find yourself a new hobby.