What is the best way to press a flower?

also if you press them, do they trun brown or do they still have their color? i would like to press a flower from my grandpa%26#039;s funeral

What is the best way to press a flower?
Could not improve on the technical know how of your first responder here --- just wanted to put my two cents worth down once I saw for what purpose you were at this task !!!





what is the best way to press a flower ?


TO YOUR HEART





Sorry for your loss-- and-- the Best to You !!!
Reply:One of the most popular methods for drying flowers is to put them under pressure, to basically squeeze the moisture out while leaving the flower%26#039;s color and structure largely intact. There are several ways to apply pressure to flowers, from placing them in heavy books to purchasing a professional flower press. Here are some guidelines for pressing flowers the traditional way:





Pressing Flowers in Books: You can simply place flowers in a heavy book and wait for them to dry, but this method takes at least a month. An old phone book is a good choice, or a thick encyclopedia (as long as you don%26#039;t mind the possibility of damaging its pages). Consider placing your flower between a couple sheets of acid-free blotting paper or even printer paper, which will help absorb moisture, protect your book, and keep the petals from absorbing ink or being degraded by residual printing acids. Any additional pressure you apply, such as stacking books or other heavy objects on top, will help speed the process. Check your flowers infrequently, and gently straighten any furled leaves or petals. If the surrounding paper is damp, carefully peel your flowers off by bending the page away and then continue pressing your flowers in the book with dry paper. Your flowers are ready when they feel dry to the touch and are rigid, not limp. This method works best with simple garden flowers and petals, but can make thicker flowers look squashed.


Pressing Flowers in a Flower Press: There are a variety of flower presses available for sale both online and in local craft supply stores. You%26#039;ll find a range of sizes and designs, and the results from these presses are usually quite good. Be sure to shop around and find a flower press designed to fit your needs. For example, if you have arthritis or would otherwise find it difficult to tighten screws, look for a flower press that uses velcro straps or rubber ties to create pressure. Or, if you want to use heat to quicken the process, look into microwave presses. Flower presses are usually simple to use and come with easy to follow directions, but pricing can be prohibitive, particularly considering the relatively inexpensive alternative of making your own.


The Easiest Flower Press to Make: Creating your own flower press is an easy and rewarding activity that requires very little investment. You can create a simple flower press using two pieces of corrugated cardboard, newspaper, a few sheets of blotter or printer paper, and three large rubber bands. Just put your flowers between a few pieces of paper, place them between the pages of the newspaper, sandwich the newspaper between the cardboard, and hold it all together with the rubber bands, evenly spaced. You will want to apply more pressure by placing heavy objects on top. Can take up to a month or more to dry thick flowers completely, but thinner flowers may be done in about two weeks.


Building a Better Flower Press: Making a professional quality flower press is also a relatively simple alternative to buying one at a store, but does take a little bit of time. Here%26#039;s the process we used to build our favorite flower press:


First, assemble your materials. You will need:


2 wood boards of equal size and thickness


1 inch thick piece of polyester fiberfill, about an inch and a half smaller in length and width than your boards. Available at fabric stores.


2 pieces of fine nylon fabric the same length as your fiberfill. Available at fabric stores.


1 can of spray fabric adhesive. Available at fabric and craft stores.


4 bolts, at least an inch longer than the total thickness of your boards and polyester fiberfill, with matching washers and wing nuts.


Drill with drill bit size appropriate for bolts.


Clamps


Once you have your supplies, you can start building your press. Place your boards on top of each other, making sure the edges match up, and clamp them securely together. Use your drill and appropriately sized drill bit to make 4 holes, one in each of the corners, about an inch from the corner point. You should now have two boards with four holes each that will match up perfectly when the bolts are inserted.


After drilling, separate your boards and decide which one will be the bottom of your press. Keep the best looking board for use as the top, which you can decorate when you have finished building your press. Take the bottom board and spray the inside with your fabric adhesive, then place your fiberfill down in the center. Spray the top of your fiberfill with the adhesive, and cover it with the first piece of nylon fabric. Press down on the nylon and fiberfill to make sure the adhesive will stick. Next, spray your adhesive on the inside of the top board and press your second piece of nylon into it, doing your best to make sure it will match up with the fabric on the bottom board. Let dry.


The final step in building your flower press is to simply insert your bolts from the outside of your bottom board through to the outside of the top board, and screw on the wing nuts. You now have a great flower press, which you can decorate with paints or even your own pressed flowers!


One of the best things about this press is that it is infinitely expandable. You can create layers upon layers of pressed flowers simply by using fiberfill attached to particle board as a divider. You%26#039;re only limited by the length of your bolts!



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