Preserve the natural beauty of fresh blooms with the simple technique of pressing flowers, then use them to make a pressed flowers card – so pretty to give for a birthday, anniversary or wedding.
Pressed flowers can also make a sweet addition to jewellery boxes, phone cases, door plaques and picture frames.
You'll need to plan ahead when it comes to working with pressed flowers, as the flowers take some time to dry out.
How to press flowers
You can either use a shop-bought flower press, available from craft shops, or make your own press. Fred Aldous has a good range of flower presses.
Lay out the flowers, leaves or stems you want to use on a tissue, so they don't overlap.
Lay another tissue on top and place inside the fold of a newspaper, or parchment paper to absorb any moisture.
Place a heavy book on top of the newspaper and leave for five to seven days, until the flowers are flat and the moisture has been removed.
Which flowers press best?
Any flower with a single row of petals will press well. That includes daisies and delphinium. Thicker flowers like roses and lilies are too bulky to press in one go, but you can cut them in half.
How to prepare flowers for pressing
Cut the stems at an angle, then place any wilting flowers in a jug of cold water. Clean each flower with a damp cloth, removing any leaves you don't want to press.
How long do pressed flowers last?
Pressed flowers can last from five to seven years before the colour starts to fade.
How to make a pressed flower card
Pick three pansy flowerheads and press them between tissues in a heavy book, until they are dried and flat. Alternatively, you can buy ready-pressed flowers to use. Try Devon Pressed Flowers (01626 367364).
Stick the three dried pansy flower heads, equally spaced, in a line on the front of a blank card using a small spot of glue delicately applied to the back with a toothpick. Handle the flowers with tweezers so they don't tear.