Easy Steps To Making Your Own DIY Flower Press At Home

Ever found yourself pressing flowers, attempting to keep the splendor of flowers alive, only to be confronted by a faded and wilted reminder? Yup, I’ve been down that path too. But then, the art of flower pressing wafted its wonderful way into my life.

Picture this – your cherished blooms retaining their delicate forms and lively hues rather than wilting away. This article will guide you on how to put together your own DIY flower press right at home! Tempted much? Let’s plunge right in!

Key Takeaways

• You can make a DIY flower press using common materials like wood, bolts, wing nuts, washers, and absorbent paper.
• There are exciting alternatives to traditional flower pressing: use a microwave or an iron for quick results.
• For effective drying with your DIY flower press, you need patience. Drying takes about 2 – 4 weeks depending on factors such as humidity and temperature.
• Add personal touch by painting your DIY flower press in any color. It adds aesthetic value to this wonderful craft project.

Gather Materials & Tools

Crafting a DIY flower press requires careful collection of certain materials and tools. Here’s the list that you’ll need for your project:

1. Two pieces of wood of the same size from your local hardware store. Scrap wood works well.
2. Four bolts, four wing nuts, and eight washers. The length of the bolt depends on the thickness of your wooden boards.
3. A drill with a drill bit that matches the size of your bolts.
4. Sandpaper to smooth any rough edges on the wood.
5. Paint or varnish if you’d like to decorate your press.
6. Cardboard pieces cut to fit inside your wooden boards.
7. Absorbent paper such as blotting paper or watercolor paper, also cut to fit inside your wooden boards.

Crafting the Press

I start by choosing a piece of scrap wood from the local hardware store. I carefully measure and cut it into two equal-sized pieces of wood. Next, I mark spots for four holes in each corner of the pieces of wood.

Ready with my drill bit, I cautiously drill the holes following the markers. (A little tip, if you can, secure the two pieces of wood together with tape or a clamp before drilling.) After drilling, I smooth any rough edges using sandpaper to prevent splinters. Adding a personal touch, I paint my press giving it a natural look.

Now my homemade flower press is ready for action.

Choose the wood and cut it to size

Strong and sturdy woods like oak, maple, or thick plywood are ideal for creating the wood base of your flower press. It’s crucial to choose a type of wood that can withstand high pressure and last over time.

The size of your DIY flower press is completely up to you. This can be easily customized according to personal preferences.

Cutting the wood for the flower press is fairly simple with appropriate tools such as a table saw or a circular saw from a local hardware store. Always ensure safety while cutting by wearing appropriate protective gear like gloves and glasses. In the case of using a table saw, if you have never used one before, have someone with more experience do this step for you.

After cutting, make sure both pieces match in equal size to create an even pressure-effective pressing surface.

Mark a drill guide

Grab your pencil and let’s start marking the drill holes and guides on our wooden flower press. Positioning is key, so aim for each corner of your wood pieces, 1″ away from the edge. These marks serve as paths for your drill bit soon.

Accuracy matters here; an uneven layout will mess up the effectiveness of your DIY flower press. For consistency across both boards, use the first piece as a guide when marking the second board, piece, and board as one.

With precise pencil marks in place, we’re ready to power up that drill!

Drill the holes

I grasp my trusty drill, fitted with the appropriate drill bit. One by one, I bore holes into the corners of each wooden piece. To ensure their alignment and easy assembly later on, I have carefully marked the top and bottom of each board beforehand.

As I work through this task smoothly, I pay extra attention to make sure the bolts will fit effortlessly into these freshly drilled holes. After all, proper functionality is key in your DIY flower press project!

Smooth rough edges

Grab your handy sandpaper and get to work on the wood cut for the DIY flower press. A 120 or 220 grit sand paper will work fine. Keep in mind, that the lower the grit, the rougher the sandpaper. The rougher the wood, the rougher the sandpaper you want to use to take away more material. The higher the grit, the smoother the wood will be in the end, so there is nothing wrong with using a lower grit sandpaper to sand away more wood, and then cleaning it up with a higher grit paper.

It’s important that each piece of wood is smooth and free from splinters or rough patches. Applying a bit of elbow grease, start to grind down any uneven areas until you notice a clear difference in texture. This is how you know those tricky spots are disappearing! A perfectly smooth surface not only looks more professional but also ensures your pressed flowers slide out easily without damage.

Be sure to follow safety precautions while working with sandpaper, such as wearing gloves to protect your hands. This step might take some time and effort, but it drastically enhances the quality and usability of your homemade flower press.

Paint the press

Grab your favorite color of paint because it’s time to add a personalized touch to the wooden flower press. It doesn’t matter if you favor bright, vibrant hues or prefer subtler tones; all that matters is making the DIY flower press uniquely yours.

Sprucing up your homemade flower press with a coat of paint will not only protect the wood but also transform this craft project into beautiful decor.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the paint can for best results. Allow ample time for drying before moving to the next step in creating your own flower press, as handling damp paint might ruin its natural look and smooth finish.

Painting is an easy yet effective way to decorate, personalize, and preserve flowers while adding aesthetic value to this wonderful DIY venture. Maybe add your favorite washi tape too. The nice thing about this idea is you can change it up as you feel.

Pressing Flowers

Start by picking fresh flowers avoiding any with morning dew. Next, prepare them for pressing by placing between two sheets of absorbent paper or parchment paper. Arrange the flowers on one sheet of paper, ensuring not to overlap petals for a natural look. (If you want to learn more about flower pressing for bullet journaling check out this article)

Place the second sheet of wax paper over your arrangement and transfer this parchment paper sandwich into your wooden flower press. Make sure the wing nuts are tightened evenly to apply equal pressure. Too much force can ruin delicate blooms like Queen Anne’s lace or roses.

Wait patiently as it takes about 2-4 weeks for the flowers to dry completely before you start revealing their preserved beauty!

Select appropriate flowers

Picking the right flowers is an essential step to creating beautiful pressed flowers with your DIY flower press. You’ll want to choose fresh flowers that are in full bloom, free of morning dew or other moisture.

Lightweight, thinner blossoms like queen anne’s lace and roses dry completely and preserve beautifully rather than thicker flowers which may not be suitable for this technique. Keep in mind to pick flowers that have a flat profile for best results; intricate blooms might lose their natural look after pressing.

Different types of flowers will yield different results, so don’t be afraid to experiment!

Prepare and arrange flowers

Gathering fresh flowers for pressing requires careful selection. Aim to find flowers and blossoms at their peak, free of blemishes or wilts. The best time to pick your flowers to press is in the morning after any dew has evaporated but before the heat of the day has started to wilt them.

Once you’ve chosen desired blooms, prepare your flowers by gently removing any unwanted leaves and trimming the stems. You can arrange single flower petals or whole flowers between two pieces of parchment paper or absorbent paper towels according to your preference.

By arranging them carefully, you ensure that they dry flat and maintain a natural look.

In case you’re wondering about thicker pressed flowers, like roses, fear not! They might require more pressure as compared with other delicate ones but are just as beautiful when pressed properly. All it takes is a bit of patience and care while placing them inside the press.

Keep in mind, it’s always fun to create and experiment with different types of flora whilst preparing and arranging for your personal DIY flower press project!

Place in press and wait 2-4 weeks for drying

After carefully arranging your chosen flowers on the homemade flower press, it’s time for the next critical step: pressing flowers together. This part requires patience and a bit of faith in the art of flower pressing! Firmly close your handmade homemade flower press, with the blossoms inside.

With equal attention to each corner, tighten down all four wing nuts until they get snug.

This is where nature needs some time to do its work to dry flowers. The drying process can take anywhere from 2-4 weeks depending on factors such as humidity, temperature, and type of flowers used.

During this period, ensure that you keep your flower press in a dry location away from direct sunlight or heat sources which could potentially damage your preserved blooms.

While waiting may seem difficult, be assured that what awaits at the end makes everything worth it. Perfectly pressed dried flowers ready to be used in countless crafts projects or simply enjoyed for their natural beauty!

Alternative Pressing Methods

Explore other DIY options for pressing flowers, such as using a microwave or an iron. You can also try making a simple press with cardboard and paper. There’s always more to learn about the art of flower pressing!

Using a microwave

Starting to press flowers with a microwave is quick and efficient. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Gather fresh flowers early in the morning, after any morning dew has dried.
2. Choose the appropriate flowers for pressing. Petals that lay flat like roses or Queen Anne’s lace work best.
3. Arrange the flowers face down on a microwave-safe plate covered with absorbent paper.
4. Carefully cover them with another piece of absorbent paper.
5. Place a second microwave-safe plate or several heavy books on top of the covered flowers to apply even pressure.
6. Microwave the plates at a low power setting for about 30 seconds to a minute.
7. Check your flowers periodically to make sure they don’t overheat or dry out too quickly.
8. Once completely dry, remove your pressed flowers carefully as they will be fragile
9. Let the pressed flowers cool down before using them in any craft project.
10. DO NOT run the microwave for long. Only 30 second burts at most. Make sure any of the items you put in do not have any type of material on them that can not go in a microwave.

Using an iron

Let me share with you another innovative way to press flowers; using paper towels and an iron. This method to press flowers is quite easy and doesn’t require a lot of tools.

1. Start by picking the flowers you want to preserve.
2. Arrange the fresh flowers between two sheets of absorbent paper or parchment paper.
3. Place a heavy book or equal-sized object on top for a few minutes.
4. Now, prepare your iron by setting it on a low heat.
5. Make sure to turn off all steam settings because moisture can damage your pressed flowers.
6. Begin ironing over the top sheet of paper where your arranged flowers are lying, doing so for about 15-30 seconds at a time.
7. Please be patient and give them ample time to cool before removing from the paper.

Creating a cardboard and paper press

Let’s dive into creating a cardboard and paper press, an inexpensive and fun alternative to a traditional flower press. Here are the steps for making this DIY paper and cardboard flower press:

1. First, find a piece of sturdy cardboard that will form the base of your press.
2. For every flower you wish to press, cut two more pieces of equal-sized cardboard.
3. Cut white paper into sheets that fit on top of your cardboard pieces.
4. Begin layering by placing one piece of cardboard down first.
5. On top of the first cardboard piece, lay two sheets of absorbent paper.
6. Place your selected flowers or leaves on the paper in a single layer.
7. Cover your specimens with two more sheets of absorbent paper.
8. Top off the stack with another piece of equal size cardboard.
9. Continue this pattern until you’ve added all the flowers or leaves you want to dry out.
10. To apply pressure evenly across all layers, pile several heavy books on top.
11. Patience is key! Wait for at least 2 – 3 weeks before checking if the drying process has completed.

Conclusion

Immerse yourself in the joy of flower pressing with your very own DIY Flower Press. A simple, fun, and rewarding craft project that brings nature’s beauty inside. Start pressing flowers yourself today and uncover the endless creative possibilities pressed flowers can offer! Who knew preserving favorite blossoms could be this exciting and easy.

Bring your journal out with you the next time you head out to Mother Nature, find some pretty flowers, and enjoy the art of flower pressing! Myself and the community would love to see what you all come up with so if you decide to try this out for your bullet journal feel free to tag bujocenter on Instagram!

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below and I will get back to you as quickly as I can. If anyone else in the community has experience with flower pressing don’t hesitate to chime in!

**Affiliate Disclaimer: This website may contain links to affiliate websites. When and if you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase through that link, I will receive commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. Purchases you make through these affiliate links are at no additional cost to you. This means you will pay the same price for the purchase as everyone else.