As handmade things represent the most popular trend nowadays, my mother decided that she wants to have something handmade of her own. She spent some time thinking of what she could make, and what she would like to make and she got to the conclusion that pictures made of dried pressed flowers are what she was looking for. Since the result is pretty amazing, I thought it would be a good idea to show you how you can make a picture using pressed and dried flowers. Here are the steps you should follow in order to make your own picture wit pressed dried flowers.
Handmade Picture with Dried and Pressed Flowers
The first thing you need to do is to pick the flowers. Pick flowers with large petals and with small petals too. Pick all kinds of flowers you can get your hands on, such as tulips, lily, snowdrops, pansy, chrysanthemum, carnations, daffodil, orchids and any other flowers you can find in shops or in nature. You also have to pick some ornamental plants like ferns or leaves from the flowers you already picked.
The next step is to dry and press all these flowers. The drying and pressing process requires a lot of patience. In order to do this you need a lot of paper sheets, or old newspapers, or old magazines. You take each newspaper (for instance) and you start arranging the flowers between its sheets. You have to be careful and put the flowers in the right position otherwise you risk pressing them the wrong way, and not being able to use them later. Just imagine how you want that flower to look like after it’s pressed and dried and position it right. Do this with all the flowers you have.
After arranging all the flowers between the paper sheets you have to put all the paper sheets under something very heavy. My mother uses my books from school because they are many and heavy enough. You let the flowers there for 24 hours; in this time the pressing and drying process begins. After 24 hours you take the paper sheets out and you move all the flowers into other clean and dry paper sheets. It is very important for the new paper sheet to be dried, as you don’t want to risk your flowers to mold. You continue this paper change till the flowers are totally pressed and completely dried. You will notice that the flowers change their color, due to dehydration, and they become light and uniform.
Next step is to get all the materials you need for your picture: glue, colored paper sheets, pressed and dried flowers, pencil, ruler and a lot of imagination.
You will have to decide the vase style. In order to decide what kind of vase you want, and what kind of floral arrangement you would like you can do some research on the internet, or you can just let your imagination work.
Pressed and dried flowers picture
After deciding the style of the vase, it’s time to make it. Before actually drawing your vase keep in mind that dimensions are important. If you are going to make your picture on an A4 paper sheet, your vase shouldn’t be more than 3 or 4 inches tall. Having these dimensions in mind, draw the vase with a pencil on a white piece of paper.
Pressed and dried flowers picture
After the drawing is completed cut the vase out.
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Next step is to decorate the vase. You have to choose the largest petals you have among all the dried and pressed flowers. Take each petal at the time, apply some glue on one side and stick it to the cut out vase. You have to put each petal near, under or upon the other one, so that no area remains uncovered.
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Pressed and dried flowers picture
After you finished covering the entire vase, cut out the parts of the petals that are over the edges. Now you have the nice decorated vase.
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Next step is to choose the color of the underground paper. You can choose simple white, but my mother says that is better to go with a more colorful choice. Keep in mind de colors of the vase, and the colors of the flowers you are going to use, and choose a color that works well with them.
Pressed and dried flowers picture
So you have the decorated vase, and the underground paper; next step is to glue the vase to the paper. The position of the vase on the piece of paper is important. Your vase should have equal distances to the right and to the left, and not more than 2 inches on the bottom. It is very important not to use too much glue, because your paper will get wet, and will influence the final look of your picture. Apply just a little glue on the edges of the vase and stick it to the paper.
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Next step is to actually create the floral arrangement. There are no rules regarding the flower combinations you use, and the way you position them on the piece of paper. My mother chooses to mix flowers that are common to the same season. You take each flower, and you apply a little glue, using a needle and you put it on the paper in the position you like. It is also important to try to avoid putting a flower on top of another one, as you would obtain a layer to thick and it will also influence the final look of your picture. Remember to use decoration plants to in order to make your pressed and dried floral bouquet fancier.
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Pressed and dried flowers picture
When the arrangement is done, so is your picture. My mother chooses to foliate each of the pictures, so that it won’t get destroyed, or lose any of the flowers.
Pressed and dried flowers picture
The last thing you need to do is buy a matching frame and give your handmade favors to your wedding party.
Here are some other examples of such pictures:
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Pressed and dried flowers picture
Tags: handmade wedding favors, pictures with pressed dried flowers, pressed dried flowers
wonderful tutorial!:-)
thank you so much for letting us see:-)
rebekah:-)
I am trying to find somewhere that will make a framed arrangement of dried flowers from the flowers saved from an occasion. Any leads?
Hi,
Unfortunately I can’t help you with this information. I know my mother makes them, but I am from Romania, and it would take a while to send you one. Have you tried eBay?