Pressed flowers how long

Thanks so much,. Stacy L Dear Stacy, For the most part pressed flowers are able to maintain their natural color for a very long time, but eventually some amount of fading is inevitable typically after years on average. Some may begin to show fading sooner, while others may last longer.

But even when fading does occur it is usually minor -- I've never seen a flower completely lose its color or even come close to that. From my experience I've found that red and yellow flowers normally have a longer expectancy as far as maintaining their original color.

Greenery and leaves on the other hand tend to begin showing signs of fading earlier. One way to help preserve a pressed flower's color is to dye it. The flowers should be finished drying in a day or two. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

Save Pin FB More. Credit: Adam Albright. The goal is to dry flowers as quickly as possible to prevent browning. Avoid paper towels because their textures can get imprinted on the petals. You should also avoid waxed paper because it retains moisture.

Experiment with pressing techniques to discover which one works best for you and the flowers you choose. Trial and error will also show you how to place the blooms on the paper so they look their best when pressed.

Left: Credit: Brie Passano. Center: Credit: Brie Passano. Right: Credit: Brie Passano. Like the book method, start by pressing the flowers between two pieces of absorbent paper. ByDeb Wiley. Comments 1 Add Comment.

View Comments. October 19, I took flowers from my garden, pressed in heavy books between wax paper, left for a week and they are beautiful, I then arranged them in a picture frame, with glass and hung, this way all winter we can enjoy our garden. Great gifts for xmas too.

Love your site. Back to story Comment on this project. Tell us what you think Much like the book-press method, a homemade or store-bought wooden flower press can give you fabulous results.

Drill a hole in each corner of the boards, about 1 inch from the edge. Make sure you match the size of your bolts and line up the holes on both boards. Cut the cardboard to fit inside the plywood or MDF, working around the four holes where you will insert the bolts.

Lay a piece of blotting paper on top of the cardboard, and arrange the flowers on top as desired. Again, you will place the flower between two pieces of blotting paper. Then place a piece of cardboard on either side, followed by the wood or MDF. Insert the bolts, and tighten the wingnuts until secure.

Drying times will again depend on the thickness of the flowers used. Compared to book pressing, the pressure is more evenly distributed with a wooden press.

Perhaps my favorite method of pressing flowers for framing is using a microwave. I wrote extensively about how to use one of these in my post on DIY pressed flower art. Go visit that post to for a detailed tutorial using my favorite press, the Microfleur Max.

Click [HERE] to redeem. Always try to group similar flowers together. Continue to microwave your specimen in second bursts until the flowers feel paper-thin.

Always air out the plates in between bursts to prevent browning or scorching. If scorching occurs, you can always reorder refill packs. Ask me how I know. Note: Using succulents or flowers with fleshy petals may cause scorching when microwaving. Take care when you remove flowers, since petals may stick to the inner liner.

It helps to stretch the fabric liner in opposite directions or use nylon tweezers to help release the flower. You can also use a book in the microwave instead of a press. Just please make sure there are no metal accents on the cover that might create a fireworks show! You can also apply heat to dry flowers using a household iron.

I used parchment paper to sandwich the flowers and position them into place before ironing them. A good hard surface with a thin towel underneath also helps. The wax paper will seal itself around the flowers, and you can staple thick cardstock as a frame for display. Turn off any steam settings, and iron the flowers for about seconds at a time on low heat.

Let the flowers cool briefly before attempting to press again. Once the petals have partially dried out, you can choose to finish drying using the book or wooden press method above.

The parchment paper tends to wrinkle, which causes ripples in the petals of the flowers as well. The best technique to press flowers and keep the color and texture was the book method. The microwave flower press is a close second and definitely wins in terms of convenience. If you want another method for preserving flowers, try drying flowers with silica gel. Now that you know how to make pressed flowers, you can preserve flowers from any occasion. Consider preserving flowers from your wedding, vacation, or other life events.

I have a tutorial on making wedding table numbers with pressed flowers if you need inspiration. Talk about gorgeous! Stay tuned for more, my friends! Each method has trade-offs between the time required and the quality of the finished pressed flowers.

The best method for preserving flowers and keeping texture and color is either the book press or DIY wooden press , followed closely by the microwave method. Given the convenience and quality, microwaving is my preferred method of pressing flowers for craft projects, resin jewelry, and pressed flower art. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.