Q&A for How to Press Flowers

You certainly can. If you want them to stay in the same position, try gluing the pressed flowers to a paper backing before you put them in the frame. This will allow you to make a permanent artistic arrangement, which can be prettier than simply sticking the flowers in randomly.

Freshness is the key. Choose flowers that are either still in bud form or that are freshly bloomed. If you’re picking them from a garden, do so in the morning right after the dew has evaporated.

Paper tissues or regular printer paper work just fine. Just make sure they're dry.

Nope! After a few years it might fade a bit, but that's inevitable. It should be able to preserve itself for a very long time.

Flowers that have been pressed can be glued or simply taped into sketch/notebooks.

Press the individual petals, let them air dry, or dehydrate them in your oven. For the detailed instructions with some helpful pictures, read How to Dry Rose Petals.

It is okay as long as your flower is completely dry. This is a trial and error process, and all dates are approximate. Your leaves are dry if there is a papery feel to it and some discoloration.

Absolutely, but if they are attached to thick twigs it may be difficult to press completely. If you wish to dry a bouquet or assortment of branches, simply tie them together and hang them upside-down in a dry place for a week or so.

They should be completely fine, as long as they are dry as well.

It's just decorative. Some people like the look.

You can press one or two flowers. Even one flower will make the page start to wrinkle. If you add paper towels after the blotter paper, then you'd have a better chance of keeping the book in good condition.

You can absolutely just press the petals. Just use the same instructions in this wikiHow, but instead with just the petals.

Yes, but be very careful. You can use tweezers or glue them onto the paper that will display the daisies in the frame before pressing.

Yes, as long as it’s dry. If the paper or the flower is wet it can lead to the flower letting it’s color leak.

Just make sure you aren’t applying too much pressure to your flower, and you should be good to go.

Blotter paper works the best, but regular paper works too.

Absolutely! If you have a local flower shop that sells flowers that you want to press, have at it! Your imagination is your only limit.

No, it doesn't matter. Mat Modpodge and Puzzle Saver work best, but you can use any glue that can be found in stores that sell glue.

You need to make sure, if you're using the microwave method, that the flower is sandwiched tightly between the flat tile/ceramic. Most plates aren't able to lay fully flat on each other while tightly pinning the flower.

Yes, you would do it the same way you would a whole flower. You can press petals, full flowers, leaves, etc.

Something akin to tissue paper. You can use this or baking parchment.

I don't see any reason why you couldn't! The flowers are like any other, just not quite as fresh.

Pressed flowers can last up to a couple of years. Be careful as they are very fragile, and obviously don’t get them wet.

Most flowers will be good for pressing, as long as you do it correctly.

Flowers with a single layer of petals, like a peony or lily. Cosmos are also a good flowers to press. Thick flowers are not good candidates.

Use parchment paper to help absorb the excess moisture, and trim away any wilting leaves before you press the flowers.

Pressed flowers can last for many years, depending on conditions such as temperature and humidity. However, after about 5 years or so, the colors will start to fade as the flowers fully dry out. They'll still continue to last, but their colors won't be as vibrant.

Parchment paper is great to use to absorb the excess moisture from the flowers as they dry. But if you don't have parchment paper, coffee filters, blotting paper, or even newspaper are great alternatives. Just make sure the paper is dry and clean so you don't damage or discolor the flowers.

A quick and easy way to press flowers is to place them between the pages of a heavy book for a week or so. Start by placing them between 2 sheets of parchment paper, or another absorbent paper such as coffee filters or newspaper, and then insert them into the center of a heavy book. Then, stack 2-3 more heavy books on top of it for some extra weight.

Those flower choices would look amazing. The zinnias are a little thick, so if you are using the book method, then maybe leave in the books pressing them in place for 10-ish days.