The Art of Pressing Flowers: Creating Botanical Masterpieces in Your Journal
Welcome to the enchanting world of pressing flowers! It doesn’t matter if you’re a pro or just starting out as a nature enthusiast. Pressing flowers in your journal is a delightful way to preserve the beauty of the outdoors and create timeless botanical masterpieces. I’ve always enjoyed the beauty of flowers. It is the reason I’ve spent hours sketching, painting and drawing them. My love for flowers has even become books! Today, I want to bring the art of preserving flowers for you. From the materials you’ll need to the step-by-step process, I hope to inspire you with some of my favorite creative ideas. Let’s see if we can elevate your floral journaling experience.
Gather Your Supplies
Before we dive into the magical process of pressing flowers, let’s gather the necessary supplies. Here’s what you’ll need:
Fresh flowers: Choose flowers with vibrant colors and flat petals. It’s essential to pick them during their prime, either early in the morning or late in the evening, when they are well-hydrated.
A flower press or heavy books: Flower presses are specially designed for this purpose, but heavy books will do the trick too.
Parchment or absorbent paper: This is to protect your flowers and prevent them from sticking to the press or the pages of your book.
Journal or sketchbook: Select a high-quality journal or sketchbook with thick, acid-free pages that won’t yellow or damage your pressed flowers over time.
Tweezers: These will help you handle delicate flowers without damaging them.
The Pressing Process
Now that we have our supplies, let’s embark on the magical journey of pressing flowers.
Prepare your flowers - Remove any excess leaves or stems from the flowers, as they can lead to mold during the pressing process. Keep in mind that thicker flowers may need to be split in half to ensure they dry thoroughly.
Set up your press - If you’re using a flower press, arrange the flowers between layers of parchment paper inside the press. If you’re using books, place the flowers between parchment paper, making sure they are evenly spaced and not overlapping.
Apply gentle pressure - Once your flowers are placed inside the press or books, add more books or weights on top to apply gentle, even pressure. Avoid pressing too hard, as it may damage the delicate petals.
Patience is key - Now comes the most challenging part: waiting! Depending on the flowers’ thickness, it may take one to two weeks for them to dry completely. Be patient; the outcome will be worth it.
Unveiling Your Botanical Masterpieces - The moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived! Carefully open your press or books and take out your dried flowers. Using tweezers, gently lift them and arrange them on the pages of your journal. The colors may have changed during the pressing process, becoming more subdued and pastel-like, adding an ethereal touch to your floral masterpiece.
Get Creative
Now that your flowers are beautifully pressed, it’s time to get creative! You can use these ideas in your journals, personal diaries, and scrapbooks. So put your brainstorming cap on. I’ve got some interesting ideas for you.
Create Floral Compositions: Arrange the pressed flowers in artistic compositions. Play with symmetry or create a wild, free-flowing arrangement. Add small notes about the flowers or your feelings when you collected them.
Botanical Illustrations: Use colored pencils, watercolors, or even markers to add illustrations of leaves, stems, or additional botanical elements around your pressed flowers.
Poetry and Musings: Let the beauty of the flowers inspire you to write poems, haikus, or short reflections about the wonders of nature and the fleeting beauty of life.
Pressed Flower Collages: Combine your pressed flowers with other materials like postcards, photographs, or ephemera to create unique collages that capture the essence of a moment or a specific memory.
Using pressed flowers for DIY home decor
From home decor to DIY crafts, pressed flowers can be beautiful to have around. There have been moments when I’ve taken one pressed flower frame and designed my entire wall around it. Including the furniture! The sky’s the limit. Here are some of my favorite ways to use this carefully preserved natural wonder in my DIY home decor projects!
Pressed Flower Wall Art: Imagine walking into a room adorned with a breathtaking display of pressed flowers arranged in an intricate pattern. You can create stunning wall art by framing pressed flowers in glass or transparent frames, allowing their natural colors and textures to shine through. Experiment with different layouts and designs to create a unique piece that complements your interior decor. The result is a timeless masterpiece that brings the beauty of nature indoors.
Pressed Flower Greeting Cards: Upgrade your greeting cards with a touch of elegance by incorporating pressed flowers. Whether it’s for a birthday, anniversary, or just to say hello, your handmade cards will surely delight the recipients. Select vibrant and well-preserved pressed flowers, and attach them delicately to the card using adhesive or Washi tape. Combine with your heartfelt messages, and you have a personalized keepsake that will be cherished forever.
Pressed Flower Jewelry: Wear the essence of nature close to your heart with pressed flower jewelry. From delicate pendants to stylish earrings, the possibilities are endless. Encase pressed flowers in resin or glass lockets to create stunning statement pieces that capture the beauty of the great outdoors. Each accessory will be a wearable work of art that complements your style and celebrates the wonders of nature.
Pressed Flower Candles: Elevate your candle game by incorporating pressed flowers into the wax. Whether you buy ready-made candles or make your own, pressing flowers into the wax creates a mesmerizing effect when the candle is lit. The warm glow illuminates the delicate petals, casting beautiful shadows on the surrounding surface. It’s an artistic way to add ambiance to any room or create a thoughtful gift for a loved one.
Pressed Flower Phone Case: Turn your phone into a botanical masterpiece with a pressed flower phone case. You can purchase clear phone cases that allow you to customize the design, or you can create your own using decoupage techniques. Arrange the pressed flowers on the back of the case, and seal them in with a clear sealant for protection. Now, every time you pick up your phone, you’ll be reminded of the beauty of nature.
Pressed Flower Bookmarks: If you’re a book lover, then you’ll adore using pressed flower bookmarks. Not only are they practical, but they also add a touch of elegance to your reading experience. Select small and delicate pressed flowers to create these bookmarks. Laminate or cover them with clear adhesive to ensure they last for many reading adventures to come. You can even gift them to fellow bookworms for a unique and thoughtful present.
Pressed Flower Coasters: Impress your guests with pressed flower coasters that double as functional art pieces. You can create your own coasters using cork or resin molds. Arrange the pressed flowers in a visually appealing pattern and seal them with resin for a glossy finish. These coasters will not only protect your furniture but also add a touch of nature-inspired charm to your home.
The art of pressing flowers in your journal is a captivating and meditative practice that connects you with nature’s beauty and preserves it for eternity. Through patience and creativity, you can bring that beauty into the world around you. So, grab your supplies, head outdoors, and let’s play with flowers!
If you’re interested in seeing how I’ve been using flowers in my art, check out my Amazon Author page for some ‘how-tos’ and guides I’ve created. I do botanical Zentagling and Line drawing. I also have video guides and inspiration on m website, so check it out and remember to drop me a line!
Amazon Author page: https://amazon.com/author/mzcreates
Website: https://mzcreates.com/
Happy botanical journaling!