How do u press flowers? Ive read wesbites but I am a bit confused.?

Question

I need to press flowers in my art coursework sketch book but im not 100 % sure on how to do it. I read somewhere about using tissue paper, but I though you just stuck it on a book and squash it? LOL

Answer 1

I have always used blotting paper but not all stationery shops stock it these days. Put the flowers between blotting paper and place the blotting paper between the leaves of a large book or old telephone directory. Weight it down with lots of other heavy books and leave for about 6 weeks. You can make a flower press by drilling holes in the corners of two pieces of wood and join them with long nuts and bolts. Cut blotting paper to fit inside and lay down alternate layers with flowers. Leaves are useful too and bits of moss and even seaweed. Tighten the nuts and every few days tighten them again. Leave for four weeks.

If you want it faster cover a plate with blotting paper. Place flowers and cover with more blotting paper. Put another plate on top as if you were stacking them and put something heavy on the top plate. Put it all in the microwave and nuke for a few minutes. You will have to experiment with the timing but this works and often retains colours better.

Answer 2

The paper needs to be thick art paper. You can use a press or squash them between two books. Make it as tight as possible and leave for a couple of months, without disturbing them. It always worked for me.

Answer 3

you can put them in the middle of a book for a while this does the job no problem x

Answer 4

Old phone books work great for pressing flowers.

However they do lose some color, or it changes.

It's not an overnight project.

I still have some flowers pressed in my Bible.  They remind me of one of GOD's gifts, but now I forgot who gave me the flowers in the first place, but I'm still grateful for them.

I have made cards from clear plastic and colored paper with the pressed flowers, but now I lost interest in the project.

GOD bless us always in all ways.

MBA-Boston Univ.

CPA-retired

Answer 5

I just put my flowers inside a thick book and let them sit for a bit.  I would recommend using a different paper to encase the flowers (like tissue paper).  Sometimes the flower will leave behind stains in your book from teh liquid you're squeezing out.  If you don't want to risk staining your pages, be sure to put the flowers between some sheets of paper before you press them.

Answer 6

In addition to just putting them into the pages of a large book, or using an actual "flower press," you can dry and press flowers quickly by using a microwave oven and a few simple things from the kitchen.  (Then you could put them in your sketch book or anywhere you wanted.)

If you're interested in that technique, check out this page:

http://www.glassattic.com/polymer/mixing...

...click on the category at the top of the page called "Dried Nature,"  then scroll down a few pagefuls to the subcategory called "Quick Drying," with a Microfleur or just with a microwave, plates and paper towels.

HTH,

Diane B.