Pressing flowers has been a popular craft for many years. Whether as a way to preserve the flowers (for scientific reasons), as a memento (it was a very popular way of creating souvenirs for soldiers serving abroad during World War I) or to use in other crafts (decoupage etc) there are many different ways they can be used.
 
But how do you press them? Once upon a time it was simply a matter of putting a flower between the pages of a thick book, usually between two slips of blotting paper. While this will still work well, if you want great results there are other methods you can employ. These include a flower press or a microwave press. However, you don’t need to go out and buy some expensive equipment; you can make both of these presses yourself out of everyday items and there are also lots of books and websites dedicated to a range of presses you can make. We have our own guide to making one here.
 
Regardless of which method you choose, it is important to make sure you pick the best flowers to begin with. Picking them from the garden when they are open, fresh and dry will ensure you get the best results. And flowers that are relatively two-dimensional will always press more successfully than rounder blooms.

Once you have pressed your flowers there are lots of ways you can use them. Why not make some pressed flower greeting cards or even frame them and display them on the wall?
 
Don’t forget, you needn’t limit yourself to flowers. You can press leaves, herbs, even some whole plants. The possibilities are endless.
 
Monday’s Topic: Looking after your tools
Look after your tools and they’ll look after you.