The Art of Pressed Flowers and Leaves: Contemporary techniques & designs

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Step 2 — Next, place the paper and flowers directly into the microwave and flatten them with your pressing object on top (such as a microwavable plate, dish, ceramic tile, etc.). If you have a microwave press, make sure your flowers are layered between paper and cardboard—as you would in a normal press. Some people recommend pressing flowers for only 2 – 3 weeks, but we don’t find this to be long enough. We definitely recommend leaving your flowers in the book for 4 – 6 weeks to make sure that they’re completely dried out. Step 3 — Leave the flowers for three to four weeks, changing the paper a few times during that period to prevent browning. Once dried completely, you can remove the flowers from the press. The next consideration on your mind should be how much you’re willing to spend on your flower pressing kit. They’re available in a wide range of prices, so spend accordingly. Using a flower press is best when you have a large number of flowers. It is also the ideal method for preserving the flowers’ color. These presses are very easy to DIY if you have two boards, pieces of cardboard, paper, and a way to tighten it—for example, by using straps or fashioning it with bolts and wing nuts. On the other hand, you could simply buy one as well.

Spring is just around the corner and already some of the early bloomers have been peeking their floral heads out, teasing us with the promise of warmer days. While there’s nothing better than filling a vase with stems you’ve snipped from the garden or foraged on a walk, this year we are loving the idea of preserving those delicate finds for even longer. Maker and blogger and long time flower presser Claire Holland shares her passion for the art along with knowledge and tips on how to prepare and then press your flowers for the best results… The florists behind JamJar Flowers share their modern take on the lost art of pressing flowers' Gardens Illustrated Again, you will place the flower between two pieces of blotting paper. Then place a piece of cardboard on either side, followed by the wood or MDF. Step 3: Screw in the bolts, and wait 2-4 weeks for flowers to dry

However, there are several other ways you can press your flowers. Read on for a few different options. Use a wooden flower press: Forget-me-nots, dog violets, snow drops, snowflakes, tete-a-tete dwarf daffodils, crocuses, primula, snake’s head fritillaries, bluebells If you want to press flowers properly, it takes time. We definitely recommend the book method or using a proper wooden flower press. Cut the cardboard to fit inside the plywood or MDF, working around the four holes where you will insert the bolts. Lay a piece of blotting paper on top of the cardboard, and arrange the flowers on top as desired. Celebrate all things botanical and learn about the art of pressing flowers with this beautiful new book by the florists of South London’s beloved JamJar. The Modern Flower Press is a bible of fascinating floral facts, tips, myths and, above all, glorious illustrations and photography.' Tatler

The Modern Flower Press is a storybook full of entertaining facts, myths and legends about flowers. Melissa and Amy explain all aspects of the history of pressing flowers, from its origins to the present day. They show you how to choose the right flowers for pressing, how to prepare and press them, and share ideas for projects and artworks to display them in all their perfectly preserved glory. From their own small and large-scale commissions to lovely ideas that you can make at home by following their clear, full-colour illustrated step-by-step instructions, there are designs here to make best use of your favourite garden or wild flowers. Some other flowers that work well for pressing are violets, baby’s breath, lilies, hydrangeas, Queen Anne’s lace, buttercups, lavender, cosmos, pansies, daisies, and larkspur (aka delphinium). You can also dry small herb stems or fern leaves. Fred adds, 'Try drying your plant specimen next to a radiator or central heating boiler if you have one - these provide a nice flow of warm air. Even warming the newspaper before using it helps drive moisture off.' You can buy special microwave presses, which may give better results, but we haven’t tested those. Iron the flowers to press them: Using a microwave and cooking the flowers for short periods of time, you’ll be able to see a difference in a matter of seconds versus waiting weeks using the old-fashioned methods. Perfect for impatient folks!

While this method is successful at pressing the flowers flat, it doesn’t truly dry them. You need to leave the flowers under a heavy object for at least several days after microwaving them for the flowers to dry out. Try and minimise the amount the petals touch each other. At Precious Petals we take them apart and press each petal individually; then, when we create pictures we remake the flower again. This minimises the moisture that can be trapped in the flower as it’s being pressed. For more inspiration, see the company's new book, The Modern Flower Press' Country Homes & Interiors Transform fresh blooms into beautifully pressed flowers by following our simple step by step tutorial. It’s SO EASY to learn how to press flowers, though it does take a bit of time and patience.

For large flowers with layered petals, consider separating the petals before pressing and then “reconstructing” the flower later, if desired. Step 3 — Turn the microwave on low and heat the flower for 30 seconds to a minute at a time, allowing it to cool between each session.

Step 4 — Repeat this process until the flower is dry. You can also use this method to jumpstart the more traditional pressing method and transfer your flower to a book or a press to finish drying. Then they should be dried after a couple of days instead of weeks. Over the years, I’ve learned some flowers were born to be pressed, and some weren’t. I might have scorched a flower or two in my ambitious attempts to press them. Whoops! Newspaper works well as the immediate covering for your plant specimen because it is fairly absorbent and has anti-fungal properties. Step 3— Leave the flower in the book for two or three weeks to make sure it dries completely. If you try to remove it but realize it still isn’t dry, change out the paper and let it sit for a few days longer.