Hi, lovelies! I've really enjoyed every step of learning to teach myself to press flowers and I've been avidly pressing flowers and leaves for a little over a year now! I thought I'd share my knowledge and tips with you because I've had a few people asking me for advice and telling me they'd love to try it! There are a few helpful tricks I would have wish someone would have shared with me before I started.... here's what I've learned so far!
9 tips on pressing flowers:
1. Choose the day/weather you pick your specimens wisely. If it just rained or snowed.... it's a terrible time to pick flowers because they are damp and will ruin your beautiful books and bleed through a lot of layers! This warps your binding and crinkles pages. They also won't keep their shape and color as well.
2. There are some flowers that just don't press well. You will learn this with trial and error. Large bulky flowers are a no go unless you want to press individual leaves or you have a large thick book. If the flowers are too bulky then they will ruin your book binding and it won't close properly, which is important for a seal. Tulips are hard to press, (because of the bulk AND pollen stamens) but if you press the petals... it works better!

3. Avoid pollen. Pollen will ruin your books and just get all over the place! Nasty! It smells horrible, too (I am extremely allergic).

4. Make sure your book isn't packed too full and can close all the way around your flower so no oxygen can get to it. Oxygen turns the color of your beautiful flowers brown and makes them disentigrate faster. Try to stack books on top of each other for more pressure. The tighter your book is held in between other books/ the more weight on top of your book, the better chance you have of a perfect result.

5. Press first, then go back and rearrange. Have you ever pressed a flower and just left is and it wasn't so great? The first initial press doesn't have to the the only one! Press your flower flat in your book and come back to it a couple minutes later and arrange it the way you like! Your results will be much more controlled!

6. I suggest going on nature walks as much as you can with at least three thick books to gather your flowers and leaves! Invite your friends, too!

7. As for the gestation period, it depends specifically on the individual specimen. I usually wait about a week before unveiling the pressings. If they feel completely dry, you are free to decorate with them anywhere you like! I keep mine in a green paper box! I would also consider individual plastic bags for very fragile flowers.
8. If you're unsure, just try it! Don't be afraid to press any flower.... try hydrangeas, too! They look huge and bulky, but if your book is big enough then be adventurous! They're my favorite flower to press :)

9. I bought some cute washi tape to hold down my pressed flowers while displaying them in my portfolio! You could glue them, too!
I hope this helped you and inspired you to start pressing your first flowers and leaves! Happy Spring!
love, polly
21 comments:
So inspiring... I always like to press them inside books
really grate blog!
http://afinaskaterblogspotcom.blogspot.ru/
Oh this is so great! :) thank you for sharing your tips! <3
Wow I have never trıed before it looks amazing!!
I used to love pressing flowers as a kid! I'm going to do this with flowers that have died that I still would like to have as a keep sake! :)
My mum used to love pressing flowers so thanks for a little sweet nostalgia. Really like your little cute case too.
Thanks for being so sweet.
http://downwithpants1969.blogspot.com
So pretty! I used to do this a lot as a kid (with leaves, too) and I always forget how lovely pressed flowers are. Will have to take it up again :)
xox Sammi
www.thesoubrettebrunette.blogspot.com
Beautiful
MUAH*
Neuza Mariano
Youtube
very beautiful,nice post!
visit me :)
xx
breepluse.blogspot.com
These are great tips, I used to press flowers when I was a kid but haven't done it in years. I like the idea of maybe using pressed flowers to make cards for people. What else do you use yours for?
Emma x
Εξαιρετική η τεχνική!
Τελείες οι φωτογραφίες!
Φιλία απο την ελλαδα
this is such a lovely and inspiring post, I am definitely going to try this!
xxx
Looks so good! I love it:)
http://theprintedsea.blogspot.de/
My goodness what a lovely blog you have. It has been ages since I pressed flowers, thanks for the inspiration.
blessings, jill
Perfect post for Spring!
Jillian - http://epic-thread.blogspot.com
lovely blog
Following you in bloglovin and GFC and Fb :)
Hope you can follow me back
Recent post:
♥ Dressing up has no age limits ♥
nice & cool.... mobil sedan corolla
Its such an amazing post, I really like it.
Harga Mobil Murah Bandung
Harga Mobil Chevrolet Bandung
Harga Mobil Daihatsu
Harga Mobil baru Honda
Harga Mobil Murah Suzuki
Harga Mobil baru Mitsubishi
Harga Mobil Murah Mazda
Harga Mobil Ford
Harga Mobil Kia Bandung
Harga Mobil baru Toyota
Harga Mobil Murah Nissan
Wow this is a great post and Such a nice information you shared in this article, I like it.
Mobil Murah Chevrolet
Harga Mobil Daihatsu
Mobil baru Honda
Harga Mobil Suzuki
Mobil baru Mitsubishi
Harga Mobil Mazda
Mobil Ford
Harga Kia Bandung
Mobil baru Toyota
Harga Mobil Nissan
Love this post, i think is the best for me.
Harga Mobil Baru Chevrolet
Harga Mobil Baru Daihatsu
Harga Mobil Baru Honda
Harga Mobil Baru Suzuki
Harga Mobil Baru Mitsubishi
Harga Mobil Baru Mazda
Harga Mobil Baru Ford
Harga Mobil Baru Kia
Harga Mobil Baru Toyota
Harga Mobil Baru Nissan
I’m definitely loving the information. I’m bookmarking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Excellent blog and superb style and design.
verhuisbedrijf zoetermeer
Post a Comment