One art form that I really admire is that of pressed
flowers. It’s great because you can pick and preserve
the flowers and use them year round to create pictures,
note cards and decorate picture frames.
It’s a fun way for children to become engaged in
gardening and begin to take a closer look at the many
gifts of nature. In late summer our gardens are full of
beautiful blooms that are perfect for pressing.
Building a flower press is simple. All you need is a few
simple materials:
Materials
- (2) 14 inch x 14 inch pieces of 1/4 inch plywood
- (4) 3 inch long 1/4 inch threaded bolts
- (4) wing nuts and washers to fit bolts
Hand drill with 1/4 inch bit - 5 – 7 pieces of cardboard 14 inch x 14 inch with the corners trimmed off so that they will fit around the bolts. The flowers will be pressed between these.
- 8 1/2 inch x 11 inch construction paper
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Clamps
- Markers
- Masking tape
Directions:
-
First measure and mark the corners of the plywood to indicate
where to drill holes for the bolts. At each corner, with a
pencil or pen, mark a spot about 1" in from the edge of
the plywood. -
Lay the second piece of plywood under the one that you have
marked and clamp the 2 together. Drill a hole in each corner,
using a 1/4" drill bit. -
Now you are ready to assemble the press. Begin by placing 1
washer on each of the bolts. Thread the bolts through the
bottom piece of plywood and set this on your workspace so
that the screws point up. Stack the cardboard on top of the
plywood and cap with the second piece of plywood so that the
bolts fit through the holes drilled into the corners. -
Add washers and wing nuts to each to the bolts. Tighten the
wing nuts. -
Once your press is built you are ready to collect flowers.
I’ve found that plants such as petunias, cosmos and salvias
press better than fleshy or bulky blooms like marigolds,
large roses and sunflowers. And don’t forget to collect some
leaves as well, ferns, and colorful foliage plants such as
coleus will complement your pressed flowers. -
After the flowers and leaves have been selected, lay them on
your construction paper and hold them in place with a little
clear tape. Then label each one and write something about
where it was found growing. Place the construction paper in
the press between the cardboard pieces and tighten the wing
nuts. -
In about 1 week you’ll have pressed and dried flowers. The
pages can be made into an album for a nice late summer keepsake
for you and your children to enjoy for years to come. -
If you don’t have time to make a press you’ll find an old phone
directory can work just as well. But the real fun with this
project is going out and gathering the flowers.
