Garden Flowers Add Interest To Craft Projects
If you're like most gardeners you can't wait for the first flowers to bloom in the spring. Throughout the summer months you eagerly slip into your garden every chance you get to see what is blooming or maybe just to savor the scent of the garden. You know fall will arrive way too soon, then winter, so you want to get as much out of your garden as possible now. There are many ways to preserve the harvest this summer so you can continue to enjoy the scents and colors of your garden all winter long. Drying flowers is a technique that has been happening for many years and is a great way to preserve flowers. In addition to hanging the flowers to dry, try making your own flower press with instructions you can find in my new book "101 English Garden Tips." Other great ideas include making potpourri with flowers and botanicals right from your own garden. Choose fragrant rose petals, pine cones, acorns, straw flowers, citrus peels and herbs. Dry these and combine with a bit of essential oils or make a moist potpourri by layering the individual scented material with layers of salt and sealing in a jar. After several months the scents will blend and you will simply have to remove the jar lid to release the aroma. If potpourri is not your cup of tea, try using pressed flowers to make bookmarks or lamp shades. Then again, if you are drying edible flowers and herbs, why not try combining them to make a unique cup of tea or herbal vinegar? The ideas are endless!
In This Article
Turning Garden Flowers Into Craft Supplies
Fresh flowers are wonderful while they're blooming, but drying or pressing some of them gives you materials to enjoy long after the growing season has ended. I like that a garden can provide more than food and a beautiful view. Flowers, leaves, seed heads and herbs can become part of bookmarks, cards, table decorations and other handmade projects. It is one way to carry a little of the garden into the colder months.
Choose your preservation method based on what you want to make. Flowers hung to dry often keep a more three-dimensional shape, making them useful in wreaths or arrangements. Pressed flowers become flat enough to use under transparent covers, on suitable paper projects or as decorative elements in framed pieces. Some flowers hold their color much better than others, so the results can vary with variety, maturity and how quickly the plant material dries.
Drying Flowers for Arrangements and Potpourri
Harvest sound flowers when they are dry rather than covered in dew or rain. Strip away unnecessary foliage, make small bundles and hang them in a dry, shaded place with moving air, or use a method suited to delicate blooms. Avoid packing large wet bundles together because trapped moisture can damage the flowers. Once completely dry, store the material carefully so the petals and stems won't be crushed before you need them.
For a dry potpourri, combine fragrant botanicals that you enjoy, such as rose petals, properly dried herbs and suitable citrus peel. A small decorative bowl can hold the mixture, while a covered jar protects the rest from dust until you are ready to use it. Essential oils are optional and can overpower the original fragrance if too much is added. Keep potpourri away from animals and children who might mistake the botanicals for something edible.
Pressing Flowers for Paper Crafts
Pressed flowers are especially useful for greeting cards and bookmarks. Select flowers that can lie relatively flat and arrange them between suitable absorbent sheets so their petals don't overlap excessively. Use a flower press according to its instructions, check for complete dryness, and handle delicate petals with care once they're ready. If you attach them to paper, choose a glue or protective covering suited to the craft material, and keep the finished projects away from high humidity.
Flowers you grow for crafting should also be clearly separated from any flowers you intend to eat or brew. A blossom that is attractive in a card or potpourri is not necessarily suitable for tea, and craft supplies may contain materials meant only for decoration.
Printable Flower Pressing Tutorial
Pressed flowers are lovely in handmade cards and bookmarks. Here is a practical printable guide to arranging, pressing and storing flowers for later paper crafts. Keep decorative flowers separate from edible ingredients.
How to Press Garden Flowers for Paper Crafts
Preserve small blooms and foliage as flat pressed flowers for bookmarks, greeting cards and other projects.
Materials
- Fresh garden flowers and leaves
- Absorbent paper sheets
- Flower press or heavy books
- Optional acid-free storage envelope
- Compatible paper-craft adhesive for finished project
Instructions
- Gather sound, dry flowers and foliage from plants you know, preferably after surface dew has evaporated. Avoid thick, wet or damaged blossoms.
- Remove excess stems or bulky pieces so the flower can lie relatively flat. Arrange petals and leaves in the shape you want to preserve.
- Lay the flowers between sheets of clean absorbent paper. Space the specimens apart so they do not overlap.
- Place the paper in a flower press or between the pages of a suitable book with enough weight to keep the flowers flat. Protect books from moisture with additional absorbent layers.
- Keep the press in a dry location. Check the specimens periodically and replace damp absorbent sheets when needed to prevent mold.
- Continue pressing until all parts feel completely dry and papery. The time varies with the type and thickness of the flower.
- Lift the finished flowers gently to avoid tearing their petals. Store them flat in a clean, dry envelope or between protective sheets until ready to use.
- Attach the pressed flowers to greeting cards, bookmarks or other paper crafts using materials compatible with your project; keep them away from humidity and direct sunlight.
Notes
This printable card builds on the methods described in the original article. Use only fully dried and safely identified botanical materials. For decorative crafts, do not mistake flowers for edible plants.
Ideas for Using the Preserved Garden Harvest
Try a set of handmade gift tags decorated with pressed flowers, a seasonal wreath using dried seed heads, or a small sachet filled with suitable fragrant dried herbs. Some of these projects can use materials you already have in the craft area instead of requiring a special shopping trip. If you want more ideas, my book 101 English Garden Tips includes seasonal projects such as poinsettia trees and succulent wreaths.
Looking for other cool craft ideas? Check out "101 English Garden Tips" for great ideas on creating poinsettia trees and succulent wreaths.
