Flower Press

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

Materials for making a flower press

Directions:

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Add washers and wing nuts to each to the bolts. Tighten the
    wing nuts.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

Materials for making a flower press