Pressing Flowers

Recommended Age Group: 5 Years +

Materials Required:

• Flowers Recently Picked
• Two Pieces of Corrugated Cardboard
• White Printer Paper
• Paper Towels
• Rubber Bands
• Heavy Book
• Microwave

Instructions:
Pressing flowers is a way to create beautiful pictures for the wall or as part of other projects. Pressed flowers are preserved versions of flowers you pick, so they are excellent way to make a souvenir project of a nature trip or just a fun walk through the backyard.

The most authentic way to press flowers is between the pages of a heavy book. Pick fresh flowers at their prime and be sure there is no dew or moisture on the blossoms. Then put your flowers between two pieces of paper in the center of the book and squash. Leave the book closed over the flowers for up to two weeks before the blossoms are dried and ready for framing.

For faster pressing, you can create your own microwave flower press using cardboard, paper towels and rubber bands. Lay out your two small pieces of cardboard as if you are making a sandwich. Then fold a paper towel into quarters and lay one on top of each piece of cardboard.

Fold a piece of white printer paper in half and carefully insert the flower between the folded sides. Put the white paper between the two paper towels and cardboard halves and secure with the rubber bands.

Put the whole concoction into the microwave and microwave the cardboard press for thirty seconds to one minute on a medium setting. Remove the cardboard and open it to let the flower cool for a minute. Then rewrap and repeat. Continue microwaving the flower in short bursts until it seems to be almost dried out.

Then place the flower and white paper between the pages of a heavy book for an hour or two to let the process complete on its own. Thicker flowers, such as roses, might take much longer to press completely. When the flower is dried, remove it from the book and use it in any form of craft or picture, but we careful as the dried blooms are very fragile.