Flower Press: How To Preserve Their Color

Interest in the art of pressed flowers is growing and knowing how to preserve their color can produce a beautiful piece of art. Apply them to candles, ceramic tiles or glass ornaments. Pressed flowers also look lovely as a framed arrangement. What a great way to use your imagination and create a one of a kind piece of art. Preserving the color of pressed flowers begins with choosing the right flower. Pressing flowers is a very easy way to preserve the flower's color.

Before you begin, choose from this list of flowers to create colorful pressed flowers:

• Aster
• Bleeding heart
• Buttercup
• Chrysanthemum
• Columbine
• Cosmos
• Dahlia
• Dogwood
• English daisy
• Geranium
• Larkspur
• Lily-of-the-valley
• Marigold
• Pansy
• Poppy
• Rose
• Sweet pea
• Violet
• Zinnia

Things you'll need:

• Unglazed paper (such as newspaper)
• Heavy, flat object (such as a book)

1. Pick the flower at its freshest point. This is right after budding. Pick the flower in the evening when it is out of direct sunlight and heat.
2. Use unglazed paper. Newspaper or an old telephone book is great for pressing. You can also buy a professional flower press.
3. Spread the flowers on several sheets of newspaper. Make sure the flowers do not overlap and there are no wrinkles or staples in the paper.
4. Press the flowers down with a heavy flat object. You can use a heavy book. A telephone book works well in this case.
5. Press in a dark, dry place. The time required for drying depends on the flower size or tissue content. It may take up to one month or longer.
6. Remove and use your pressed flowers. Keep the flowers out of direct sunlight and humidity. The colorful pressed flowers should keep their color for about five to seven years.