Preserve the beauty of your beautiful blooms by pressing them into two-dimensional decorations. It's a lasting reminder of their color and charm long after the blossoms fade.

Pressed-Flower Basics

A wonderful way to keep the memory of flowers from fading is to press them into two-dimensional decorations.

Some of the best flowers for pressing include:

• Pansies
• Violas
• Hydrangeas
• Delphiniums
• Phlox
• Roses
• Queen Anne's Lace

The classic method of pressing flowers between the pages of a heavy book is still effective. Arrange the flowers between sheets of absorbent paper, then place the sheets between the book pages. This helps reduce the moisture even more.

Once the flowers are completely pressed, store them in airtight containers until you're ready to use them.

Flat flowers, or those with only a few petals, are the easiest to press whole. For best results, separate sprays into single blooms and remove the petals of the fuller blooms to press individually.

Pressed-Flower Picture Frame

Follow these few easy steps to make a pressed-flower picture frame:

1. Gather materials:
   
   • Wooden frame
   • Pressed flowers
   • Tweezers
   • Decoupage medium (thick, glue-like substance)
   • Paintbrushes: fine tipped and 1"-wide
     
2. Arrange the flowers as desired on the frame.
   
3. Lift the first flower with the tweezers. Using the fine-tipped paintbrush, apply a small amount of the decoupage to the back of the flower. Position the flower on the frame and gently tap with your fingers to adhere. Continue in the same manner until all the flowers are glued in place. Let dry.
   
4. Using the 1"-wide brush, gently apply the diluted decoupage medium over the entire decorated frame to seal. Let dry.

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