Pressed flowers turn garden clippings, wedding bouquets, or roadside wildflowers into lasting keepsakes—and with a few household items and a little patience, anyone can do it at home. This guide covers four simple pressing methods, from the classic heavy-book technique to a quick microwave approach, plus tips for choosing the best blooms, troubleshooting common problems, and creative ways to use your finished flowers.
What You’ll Need
The basics are simple: absorbent paper such as blotting paper, parchment paper, or plain paper towels; cardboard; a heavy book or flower press; and a dry, flat place to store finished flowers. Keep a pair of tweezers handy, because dried petals tear easily.
Choose the Best Flowers
Flowers with flat, thin petals press best. Good choices include pansies, violas, daisies, cosmos, ferns, and forget-me-nots. Pick fresh blooms on a dry day, ideally in the morning after dew has evaporated. Gently pat away any dampness. Richly coloured flowers hold their colour best: blues, purples, and yellows tend to stay true, while reds often darken and whites may turn cream or brown.
Four Pressing Methods
1. The Classic Book Press
Place a sheet of absorbent paper between the pages of a heavy book, lay the flower face down or sideways, and cover with another paper sheet. Leave several pages between flowers so they don’t stain each other. Stack extra books on top and wait two to four weeks without peeking too often.
2. A Flower Press
A dedicated press applies firm, even pressure for flatter results. Layer cardboard, blotting paper, flowers, another paper sheet, then cardboard. Tighten the bolts or straps evenly, and tighten again after a few days as flowers shrink. For a DIY version, sandwich layers between two wooden boards and secure with strong rubber bands.
3. Microwave Pressing
When you need flowers quickly, place them between two sheets of parchment paper inside two microwave-safe ceramic tiles or plates—no metal parts. Microwave on low or medium for 30 seconds, cool completely, then check. Repeat in 10- to 15-second bursts until the flowers feel dry and papery. Let them rest for a few hours before handling. Check often to avoid scorching.
4. Iron Pressing
This works well for thin, delicate leaves and petals. Place the flower between absorbent paper, set the iron to low or medium with steam off, and press gently for 10 to 15 seconds. Lift and check, repeating until dry. Don’t slide the iron, since it can drag the petals. Finish with a day or two in a book to remove any remaining moisture.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
- Brown flowers: They were probably too wet or pressed too slowly. Use fresh, dry blooms, change the paper, or try the microwave method.
- Mould: Too much moisture. Discard affected flowers and make sure everything is dry before storing.
- Petals stuck to paper: Use parchment or coffee filters for delicate blooms, and peel gently with tweezers.
- Crumbling flowers: They’re likely over-dried. Handle carefully and reduce heat or time next attempt.
Ways to Use Pressed Flowers
Arrange them into framed botanical art, greeting cards, gift tags, bookmarks, resin jewellery, candles, soap, scrapbooks, and journals. Pressed petals also make lovely wedding keepsakes from a bouquet or buttonhole.
Store finished flowers flat in a dry container with layers of tissue paper, away from damp and direct sunlight. Label each bloom with its name and date, and your pressed flower collection will last for years.