12.03.2009

DIY: Pressed Flower Print

I have had tons of questions about the origin of this print in several of my photos so I thought I would post a DIY. I made it a couple of years ago with some violas I had planted in the garden. I planted them in the fall and then had them blooming until spring when I picked them, although you should be able to purchase them now to use for your print. When I was head of the plant and floral department we grew hundreds of thousands of violas and pansies (which can work too, they just have a larger flower head) for winter planting, they are one of my favorites!



step 1. Find several viola plants in the color you are looking for. Pick all the flower heads. You can still pot up the plant and it will continue to produce new flowers. Most garden centers should carry violas and pansies this time of year.

step 2. Press your flowers in a flower press or heavy book, making sure each flower is completely flat. Wait several weeks until your flowers are completely dry. Carefully remove each flower from the paper.

step 3. Arrange your flowers on a sheet of heavy pound cardstock cut to fit your frame. I just kind of threw mine down and then made sure each one was face up. Don't be afraid of white space, it can really enhance your composition.

step 4. Mount your flowers on your cardstock. I used thinned tacky glue and a brush to paste the bottom and tops of each petal so they would stay in place.

That should do it. Send me a picture of your pressed flower prints, I would love to see them!

5 comments:

  1. LauraDecember 4, 2009 at 8:16 AM

    So beautiful! Thanks for sharing your DIY and I can't wait to try it! I used to press flowers YEARS ago at summer camp, but nothing as beautiful as this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownDecember 8, 2009 at 4:56 PM

    Thanks for the tutorial.. I thought this was a print originally! It's lovely. I'll have to try my hand at making one soon! xo.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Emily IdeDecember 10, 2009 at 9:51 PM

    I also thought this was a print. I will be picking viola's this weekend, thank you so much for the post. All of your photo's on your blog are beautiful, and I look forward to your future posts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. EmmaDecember 14, 2009 at 1:21 AM

    I have so many different shades of purple violas and pansies in my garden - I will now be pressing them and making some beautiful artwork for my home! Thank-you. Flower pressing reminds me of being a little girl.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownNovember 27, 2019 at 9:54 AM

    Do u use mercury chloride after sticking???

    ReplyDelete

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