Basic Techniques
If this is your first-time flower pressing, this section is really for you. After you read this portion, I want you to feel confident about using your flower press. Throughout this whole guide, if there is ever a moment that you are confused or would like more clarification, please don't hesitate to contact me. Hit the 'let's chat' button. I'd love to meet you!
Let's Unbox Your Flower Press Kit!
Let's Talk Through How to Use Your Press Kit.
Harvesting Flowers
The most important part about choosing flowers is ensuring they are at their peak bloom. If you are picking them, you will want to harvest them in the morning after the dew has dried but before the heat of the day. This is when flowers typically have the highest moisture content. When pressing flowers, moisture is our enemy. We want to keep it at bay with everything that we do.
Dry Flowers
Along with keeping moisture at bay, you want to ensure the flowers are dry before placing them in the press. Moisture will more than likely lead to mold during the pressing process. If blooms are wet from dew or from watering, lay them on a paper towel and gently pat them dry if needed.
Remove Excess Foliage
I always do a once-over of my flowers before I press. I try to pick the best of the best blooms. If I find any that need a little love, I'll trim excess leaves and foliage from the stems before placing the flowers in the press. Clean stems with minimal lines will help achieve a flatter, more visually appealing result. However, leave just enough stem for handling during the pressing process.
Larger Flowers
I stuck to small, little petal flowers when I first started pressing. They take minimal prep and are the easiest to press. If you are pressing larger flowers like roses or carnations, you must prep the flower first. With these flowers, you must dissect the flower petal by petal. You will evenly space out the petals on the lining paper, and once they have been pressed, you will reconstruct the flower with glue or Mod Podge.
Helpful Blog Posts
I dive a bit deeper into flower selection and more tips and tricks on using your wooden flower press.