There's nothing like pressed leaves or flowers to add that special touch to handmade items. They bring a sense of romance to whatever it is you're making, whether it's a greeting card or decoupage. If you want to get your creative juices flowing in no time at all, learn how to press flowers quickly and you're halfway there.
Many a child has gone through a period of pressing every interesting-looking piece of plant material between the pages of a heavy dictionary of the family bible. It's a cheap and easy method of preserving flora. Another traditional method is to use a flower press, which is made up of two wooden blocks screwed together with the flower sandwiched in between.
The more traditional methods have some disadvantages. One is that they take time. In fact, the items you're pressing will only be ready for use after a couple of weeks. In addition, they often lose their vibrant colors. Moreover, the sap from the plants can cause stains and damage to books.
There are much quicker ways to get the blooms you want. One is to use the microwave. Take two tiles, top them with a layer of cardboard and blotting paper and then sandwich the flower in between the two tiles. Use rubber bands to secure the tiles together as tightly as possible. Now simply microwave this for a few seconds. Keep checking the flower and microwaving it in short increments until it's ready.
Alternatively, place your flower on a sheet of paper and cover it with another sheet. Place something heavy on top to flatten it the way you want it. Remove the heavy object. Then set a clothes iron to the cool and dry setting and gently press it onto the paper for a few seconds. Check the flower and repeat the process until your flower feels stiff and dry.
Using the microwave or the clothes iron has the advantage that it's quick. You'll have a pressed flower within minutes. A bonus is that the flower won't lose its color and will look vibrant, almost as if you've just picked it.
Some types of flower work better for pressing than others. The best ones to use are those with a flat face, such as pansies or daisies. Leaves work wonderfully too. More rounded blooms such as roses and marigolds are very difficult to flatten and you'd be better off using the petals separately. The same goes for cup-shaped blooms such as tulips or daffodils.
Once you have your pressed plant materials, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to ways of using them. Aside from the more traditional options of greeting cards or bookmarks, you can use them for lampshades made of paper. Paste them onto flat plastic surfaces like old bangles or the cover for your iPhone to give these items a new look. Turn a wooden box into a stunning, colorful jewelry box fir for a princess. Even Easter eggs can benefit from the floral treatment.
Many a child has gone through a period of pressing every interesting-looking piece of plant material between the pages of a heavy dictionary of the family bible. It's a cheap and easy method of preserving flora. Another traditional method is to use a flower press, which is made up of two wooden blocks screwed together with the flower sandwiched in between.
The more traditional methods have some disadvantages. One is that they take time. In fact, the items you're pressing will only be ready for use after a couple of weeks. In addition, they often lose their vibrant colors. Moreover, the sap from the plants can cause stains and damage to books.
There are much quicker ways to get the blooms you want. One is to use the microwave. Take two tiles, top them with a layer of cardboard and blotting paper and then sandwich the flower in between the two tiles. Use rubber bands to secure the tiles together as tightly as possible. Now simply microwave this for a few seconds. Keep checking the flower and microwaving it in short increments until it's ready.
Alternatively, place your flower on a sheet of paper and cover it with another sheet. Place something heavy on top to flatten it the way you want it. Remove the heavy object. Then set a clothes iron to the cool and dry setting and gently press it onto the paper for a few seconds. Check the flower and repeat the process until your flower feels stiff and dry.
Using the microwave or the clothes iron has the advantage that it's quick. You'll have a pressed flower within minutes. A bonus is that the flower won't lose its color and will look vibrant, almost as if you've just picked it.
Some types of flower work better for pressing than others. The best ones to use are those with a flat face, such as pansies or daisies. Leaves work wonderfully too. More rounded blooms such as roses and marigolds are very difficult to flatten and you'd be better off using the petals separately. The same goes for cup-shaped blooms such as tulips or daffodils.
Once you have your pressed plant materials, you're spoiled for choice when it comes to ways of using them. Aside from the more traditional options of greeting cards or bookmarks, you can use them for lampshades made of paper. Paste them onto flat plastic surfaces like old bangles or the cover for your iPhone to give these items a new look. Turn a wooden box into a stunning, colorful jewelry box fir for a princess. Even Easter eggs can benefit from the floral treatment.
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Card makers and artists can easily learn how to press flowers quickly with the help of our user manuals. For FAQs, simply visit the related homepage at http://www.microfleur.com.
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