Pressed Flower Possibilities

Pressing flowers is a popular craft, and it’s no surprise why. It’s a simple way to preserve the beauty of flowers, even those you grow in your own yard. The coasters described here are just one of many ways to use pressed flowers, so if you and your friends enjoy this project, look for other ways to utilize these beautiful blooms.

Before you start, it’s important to note that pressed flowers can take up to a month to completely dry. Perhaps you’ll want to share the following instructions for pressing flowers with your fellow Home Mavens a month before your party, or maybe you can start on this project at one party and finish it at the next one.

Step 1: Pick your flowers.

Whether you pick your flowers from your own garden or purchase them, try to get them before they reach their full bloom stage. If you cut them from your garden, do so on a dry day. Press your flowers the same day you cut them.

Step 2: Press your flowers.

Cut the cardboard, newspaper and tissues so they are all about the same size as the book you’ve chosen to do the pressing. Set out a piece of cardboard, and place pieces of newspaper, followed by tissue on top. Spread out your flowers on the tissue so that none of them touch each other, and then cover with tissue, newspaper and cardboard.

Continue building in this order, until all of your flowers are in the stack. Top them off with a heavy book and a brick. Then let the flowers sit for 2-4 weeks. You’ll know they’re ready when they’re flat.

Step 3: Arrange your flowers.

Clean the edges and faces of your glass panes with Mr. Clean ^® Antibacterial Multi-Surface Spray. Place the flowers against the glass in different arrangements, until you find the one you like.

Step 4: Press your flowers, again.

Place the other pane of glass on top and line up the edges. Remove some of the backing from the aluminum foil tape then lay it, glue side up, on your work surface.

Holding your unfinished coaster tightly, carefully line up one corner of it with the foil tape, then press it down the length of the tape. Continue pressing the foil against the sides of the coaster until you’ve surrounded all four sides. Cut off extra foil edges to make a tight seal around the coaster. Now, your homemade flower coaster’s done!

Clean Up

Your pressed flowers tend to dry a bit and crumble onto the carpet. Pick these small bits up quickly and easily with Swiffer ^® CarpetFlick™. Clean the panes of glass with Mr. Clean ^® Antibacterial Multi-Surface Spray before you glue the flowers to the glass.