How to Press Flowers (20 Ways to Use a Pressed Flower)

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How to Press Flowers (20 Ways to Use a Pressed Flower)

Learn how to press flowers with a simple wooden flower press from Ditsy Flowers.

Plus three fun tutorials on what to do with the finished pressed flowers and making them into flower art!

Pressing flowers is a great way to preserve a dainty and fragile part of nature and make it last forever...or very nearly.

This brilliant flower press from Ditsy Flowers is easy to use and doesn't require rubber bands or wing nuts.

This press can handle large fresh flowers and a variety of thickness of the flowers.

Floral preservation has never been easier! I really love the design and easy of the straps on this press, rather than the screwing of wingnuts and clamps.

This brilliant flower press from Ditsy Flowers is easy to use and doesn't require rubber bands or wing nuts. This press can handle large fresh flowers and a variety of thickness of the flowers. Floral preservation has never been easier! I really love the design and easy of the straps on this press, rather than the screwing of wingnuts and clamps.

I remember pressing flowers when I was a kid, using old phone books to press the flowers between the pages of the book...I would go downstairs to my dad's library office and find the biggest book possible. He had some big, boring math manuals and large books in the mix and they were great for crafts.

Then my mom gave me a wood press with layers of paper towels, wax paper and sheets of paper that is compressed with wing nuts.

Ditsy Flowers press is not a microwave flower press, but has a quick drying process that does not take a long time. Say goodbye to using thick books!

I remember pressing flowers when I was a kid, using old phone books to press the flowers between the pages of the book...I would go downstairs to my dad's library office and find the biggest book possible. He had some big, boring math manuals and large books in the mix and they were great for crafts. Then my mom gave me a wood press with layers of paper towels, wax paper and sheets of paper that is compressed with wing nuts. Ditsy Flowers press is not a microwave flower press, but has a quick drying process that does not take a long time. Say goodbye to using thick books!

Supplies Needed for Pressing Flowers:

Ditsy Flowers Press Kit (has everything you need for perfectly pressed flowers)

Includes Wood Boards, belt system, blotting paper, lining paper and sponge layers

Wild Flowers, wild plants, flower petals, or fresh flowers

If you prefer to make your own flower press, get 2 wooden boards and drill holes in each of the corners.
Thread a big screw in each corner that can be tightened with a wing nut.

Layer sheets of absorbent paper, piece of cardboard sheets, and blotter paper cut slightly smaller than the pieces of wood.

The thicker flowers can be layered in between the layers and the press tightened gradually over a few days time.

Supplies Needed for Pressing Flowers: Ditsy Flowers Press Kit (has everything you need for perfectly pressed flowers) Includes Wood Boards, belt system, blotting paper, lining paper and sponge layers Wild Flowers, wild plants, flower petals, or fresh flowers If you prefer to make your own flower press, get 2 wooden boards and drill holes in each of the corners. Thread a big screw in each corner that can be tightened with a wing nut. Layer sheets of absorbent paper, piece of cardboard sheets, and blotter paper cut slightly smaller than the pieces of wood. The thicker flowers can be layered in between the layers and the press tightened gradually over a few days time.

Step 1: Layering Fresh Flowers

Let's start by layering the flower pressing sandwich with the bottom board and a thick absorbent piece of blotting paper.

The Ditsy Flowers press has the perfect guide for pressing flowers--they also have refills for all the different pieces.

Step 1: Layering Fresh Flowers Let's start by layering the flower pressing sandwich with the bottom board and a thick absorbent piece of blotting paper. The Ditsy Flowers press has the perfect guide for pressing flowers--they also have refills for all the different pieces.

The second layer is the lining paper, it is thin and wispy and just sits right on top of the blotter paper.

Step 2: Adding Flowers to the Press

Now lay down your own flowers on the lining paper.

The flowers should be fresh, not dry flowers or they will just get crushed.

Place a single layer of petals, flowers or leaves on the liner paper.

Arrange the flowers the way you want them to be pressed...manipulate the petals, open up the top of the flowers and place them down on the paper.

Lay them on their sides. However you arrange the flowers on the board is how they will be pressed.

Step 2: Adding Flowers to the Press Now lay down your own flowers on the lining paper. The flowers should be fresh, not dry flowers or they will just get crushed. Place a single layer of petals, flowers or leaves on the liner paper. Arrange the flowers the way you want them to be pressed...manipulate the petals, open up the top of the flowers and place them down on the paper. Lay them on their sides. However you arrange the flowers on the board is how they will be pressed.

Then set the sponge sheet right over the top of the flowers.

Then repeat the stack as many times as you have supplies for.

Place the blotting paper
Then the lining paper
Then the fresh flowers
Finally the sponge

Step 3: Buckle it Up

After the flowers are arranged in the proper sandwich formation, use the straps and buckles to tighten the top board to the bottom board.

It's surprising how much you can cinch the pieces down just with the straps.

Step 3: Buckle it Up After the flowers are arranged in the proper sandwich formation, use the straps and buckles to tighten the top board to the bottom board. It's surprising how much you can cinch the pieces down just with the straps.

Step 4: Bag and Store

Place the whole press in the zipper bag and set it aside for 3 days or so, there's not really a right time, I typically fill it and forget it until I am ready to use pressed flowers for a project...then I use them and fill with more flowers to press.

That's all it takes is 3 days for the perfect dried and pressed flowers, great if you are making pressed flowers for wax seals as the finishing touch to wedding envelopes!

No need for heavy books, wooden press method, direct sunlight or microwave presses...this buckle press is a good choice.

Step 4: Bag and Store Place the whole press in the zipper bag and set it aside for 3 days or so, there's not really a right time, I typically fill it and forget it until I am ready to use pressed flowers for a project...then I use them and fill with more flowers to press. That's all it takes is 3 days for the perfect dried and pressed flowers, great if you are making pressed flowers for wax seals as the finishing touch to wedding envelopes! No need for heavy books, wooden press method, direct sunlight or microwave presses...this buckle press is a good choice.

For the best results it's a good idea to tighten the straps gradually if you have really thick flowers...giving them time to compress over a few days.

I love this press much more than the book method--and then stumbling across a book in the future that has random Summer blooms in it!

However there are lots of different methods for flower pressing and the results are stunning flowers that can be used in different ways for flower crafts!

For the best results it's a good idea to tighten the straps gradually if you have really thick flowers...giving them time to compress over a few days. I love this press much more than the book method--and then stumbling across a book in the future that has random Summer blooms in it! However there are lots of different methods for flower pressing and the results are stunning flowers that can be used in different ways for flower crafts!

Step 5: Flower Reveal!

After 3 days your gorgeous flowers, leaves and greenery are ready to reveal...I was surprised at how much of their color and vividness the greenery and florals kept.

Simply undo the buckles and remove the layers one by one, being careful, as the flowers tend to stick to different layers.

Use tweezers to remove them from the press and save in a container for future flower crafts.
The vibrant colors are still vibrant!

Of course I take great pride in these 4-leaf clovers I found in the yard for this press project!

Step 5: Flower Reveal! After 3 days your gorgeous flowers, leaves and greenery are ready to reveal...I was surprised at how much of their color and vividness the greenery and florals kept. Simply undo the buckles and remove the layers one by one, being careful, as the flowers tend to stick to different layers. Use tweezers to remove them from the press and save in a container for future flower crafts. The vibrant colors are still vibrant! Of course I take great pride in these 4-leaf clovers I found in the yard for this press project!

That's it!

Pressing flowers is an easy way to preserve the best flowers and use them for an art form like handmade cards, bookmarks, wax seals, a special event and other fun crafts.

I love being able to press the first of the blooms of the season and treasure them always.

After I clipped these clovers and crocus flowers, it completely snowed--so glad I have this springtime collection of pressed flowers to enjoy!

I was super glad I had saved a few of them in a beautiful way!