Pressed flowers are a timeless keepsake. Tucked between the pages of a treasured book, perhaps, as a token of that perfect afternoon spent in the spring sunshine, or discovered in the girlhood journal of a grandmother long passed. The activity dates back to 16th-century Japan, but became hugely popular during the Victorian era thanks to a growing interest in natural history and the sentimental language of flowers. The technique hasn’t changed much since then; flowers can be preserved between the pages of a book or magazine or with a wooden flower press.
Get Pressing
Place a large sheet of blotting paper on a flat surface and arrange your flowers carefully so that they don’t touch each other. Position them face down to keep the delicate petals flat. Carefully place another piece of blotting paper over the top so that the flowers are sandwiched between two layers. If you’re using a press, set the sandwich between two pieces of cardboard, close it, and tighten the screws, or close your book/magazine and stack lots of other books or a heavy object on top to weigh it down. You can continue and repeat the process on a different page in the book/magazine or in the press.
Wait at least two weeks before opening your press to have a peek. If your flower stems were on the thick side, you may need to leave them even longer than this to fully dry out. Once dry, use a pair of tweezers to very carefully lift the flower from the blotting paper. Pressed flowers can be stored on a layer of acid-free tissue paper in a dry drawer or box, or used to make beautiful handmade cards and gifts like these bookmarks.
TIP
Not all flowers take kindly to pressing. Bulkier plants are trickier to render, as they hold more moisture and can mold. If you want to press roses, for example, you may get better results by pressing individual petals rather than the whole flower head. Smaller flowers work better, like forget-me-nots and violas. Pick your flowers on a dry day and press them as soon as possible. If you’ve been keeping them fresh in a jar, make sure you dry the ends well.
Punch a hole at the top of the bookmark in the very center about an inch away from the edge.
Cut an 8 inch piece of ribbon and fold it in two. Push the folded end through the hole to make a loop. Pull the two loose ends of the ribbon through the loop so that they hang free.
Pick up a small amount of acid-free glue on a fine paintbrush and carefully dot a tiny amount onto the back of the flower stem and petals.
Using the tweezers, carefully pick up and place the flower on the bookmark, glue side down. Very gently press it into place. Leave the bookmark somewhere flat and warm to dry. Repeat until you’ve used all your flowers or have the desired number of bookmarks.
TIP
For the bookmarks pictured, a local printer blind-embossed a short quote into the paper. Alternatively, you can buy a hand-embossed stamp at a craft store or write the flower and date it was pressed in pencil.
Lucy Hunter invites us to join her on a personal journey to the places and spaces that she loves best, and which inspire her work as a creative floral artist and garden designer.
Have you tried your hand at pressing flowers? Share your creations with us @mollymymag.
