Tag: pressed flowers

Pressed Flowers – Creating a Flower Farm

On By TimelessladyIn Pressed Flowers3 Comments

If you are a pressed flower lover, and garden with posies intended to become subjects for your flower presses, consider creating a flower farm in an out of the way spot in your yard. A repeat blog post of a good idea.

I love my gardens, and I love pressing flowers, within that statement lies my dilemma. If I pick from my gardens too extensively, I lose the appeal of their mass of colors. I’ve learned over the years to grow the flowers I press in separate containers in an out-of-the-way place. When I grow my pressed flowers this way I can lift the containers onto my potting bench for easy picking, and my gardens don’t begin to look like lush foliage without bloom. The flowers planted in containers also gather less soil on their petals in rainstorms or heavy winds. I buy most of my containers at the dollar store and fill them with inexpensive soil. They do great and having them all in one area saves time too.

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Plantings and Pressed Flowers – Growing Snow Peas

On By TimelessladyIn Planting, Pressed FlowersLeave a comment

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This beautiful blossom is not a Sweet Pea blooming in Springtime, it is instead the bloom of a Snow Pea blooming in my Square Foot Garden in mid-November. I planted the peas near the end of August and they are still producing pea pods for me. I love the fact that anything at all is still growing in the rapidly falling temperatures. The flower of the Snow Pea is quite attractive, a beautiful lavender and deep purple combination.

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What a bonus that the flower develops quickly into a tender, delicious peapod. They are such a welcome addition to my salad greens.

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Another bonus: the twirling fronds the snow pea uses for climbing are a perfect foil for my pressed flower compositions. They press within three days inside the pages of a book. They add the perfect delicate touch to a Victorian Pressed Flower Card.

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Quirkiness & Pressed Flowers – Mailings

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An interesting and very secure way to mail pressed flowers or pressed leaves through the mail is in a children’s board book. I usually can pick them up for a quarter or less at the public library donation table. A paperback novel or hardback book will also work, but will usually weigh a bit more. I enclose the leaves or foliage within the book, wrap in some type of paper to hold it flat and taut, slide package into a padded envelope, and mail. One of the perils of pressed flowers traveling through the mail is careless handlers. When I send flowers or leaves in a book I can be assured that no amount of bending will break or shatter what is inside. The bonus: pressed flowers store best inside a book.

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Happy mailing!

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Plants & Pressed Flowers – Angelonia

On By TimelessladyIn Plants, Pressed Flowers1 Comment

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A few years ago I bought my first Angelonia plant at a local nursery. It was expensive, a Proven Winner, but I was quite taken with it’s shape, the array of colors, and hoped it would also do double duty as a pressed flower. I wasn’t disappointed. The angelonia plant thrived and did press well for me.

Every year since my first purchase I have grown at least one angelonia plant. I was excited this year when I found angelonias being sold in peat packs. Now instead of just one plant, I have several lining my front walkway. O Happy Day!

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You can read more about angelonias here: Angelonia

Pressed flower tip: Press double or triple the amount of angelonia blossoms you intend to use. Some of the edges will brown. Also, the pressed flower is very fragile and thin and easily tears. The flower is still well worth taking the time to press since it is quite unique and interesting in appearance in pressed flower art.

Pressed Flowers – Miniature Leaves

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A gift of newly forming oak leaves fell into my front yard Sunday morning. The beautiful velvety pinks and greens of these small leaves demanded pressing.

Almost all deciduous trees have leaves that will press. The emerging leaflets are born wearing colors that shimmer and gleam. They are clothed in an ephemeral glistening that will disappear as the leaves begin to thicken. If you don’t begin to press these beautiful miniatures now, you will lose the window of time they are available.

Miniature leaves press well between the pages of non-glossy paged books. Using the microwave book method often destroys and browns their beautiful colors. Because the small leaves are thin-bodied, they will be ready in 7 -10 days for pressed flower crafting.

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Pressed Flowers – Cutting Pressed Autumn Leaves Part II

On By TimelessladyIn Pressed Flowers1 Comment

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A few months ago I promised a Part 2 to my Pressed Flower Post on how to cut Autumn leaves without shattering them. Mod-Podge works great to add a layer of stabilization to the leaves, watered down Elmer’s Glue will also work in a pinch. Brush the Mod-Podge onto the back of the leaf, let dry, and cut out your shape. You can find the full post here:  Cutting Autumn Leaves

Another way to cut Autumn leaves is to use Wonder Under. Wonder Under is a fusible web made by Pellon. Wonder Under can be purchased in any fabric store. Craft and hobby outlets also carry fusible web, but you usually have to buy a full package, a waste of money if you need only a quarter yard or less.

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Create a pattern. I am working with a bird house shape.

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Trace pattern onto Wonder Under and fuse with an iron onto the back of the leaf or bark. Remember, whatever pattern you choose will reverse itself in direction when fused to the back.

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Another technique is to fuse the Wonder Under directly to the back of the leaf, and then after tracing the pattern, cut out the shape you desire from the leaf.

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I am sometimes tempted to remove the Wonder Under backing and fuse the cut leaves to the card stock. This is not a good idea for two reasons, the removal of the backing often destroys the leaf, and the heat of the iron will usually warp the card stock to some degree. It’s a better idea to leave the Wonder Under in place permanently and glue the leaf to the card with the fusible web intact.

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It’s fun to create different shapes for your pressed flower work using the beauty of Autumn leaves and the thin bark of a birch tree. Have fun.

Pressed Flowers – Cutting Autumn Leaves

On By TimelessladyIn Pressed Flowers4 Comments

Autumn leaves are one of the easiest pieces of foliage to press. Collect them when dry, put each between the pages of a book, and usually in less than a week they are ready to use. The colors dull and fade a bit, but they still retain their resiliency and good looks. I use quite a few Autumn leaves in my pressed flower compositions. They are great for cutting into different shapes. I create many things with the pressed leaves: birdhouses, wagons, baskets, flowerpots and even small houses.

One problem that arises when cutting the leaves is their brittle nature when dried and pressed. To cut without treating them in some way usually results in shattered pieces or raggedy edges. I’ve found a few fixes for combating this problem by stabilizing the leaves with an added layer. Today I’ll share Fix #1.

Fix #1 – Mod Podge the back side of the leaves

Brush the Mod Podge on the back of the leaves with a soft brush. Let it dry completely. While it dries create a pattern out of cardboard for the shape you want to use. In my case it was a tiny house greeting card I call “Home Sweet Home.”

When the Mod-Podge is completely dry, I use a Sharpie marker to trace the house pattern onto the mod-podged side of the leaves. Use a marker that is as close to the color of the leaf as possible or it might show through to the front side. Make sure you remember that when you cut out the traced pattern it will reverse itself. For instance, in the finished card, if I use side one of my pattern to trace, on the finished house the door will be on the left of the house, not on the right.

To finish this card I choose small pieces of foliage and very tiny flower bunches to create the trees. I set these aside at the ready.

For everyone who wondered why I press seaweed….here is the answer: Pressed seaweed is perfect to make small trees. When dried and pressed the thick fronds of this type of seaweed shrink to delicate branches.

Small ferns, leaves and pieces of Queen Anne’s lace foliage, all look like small trees.

Small florets of flowers look like Crape Myrtle trees in bloom.

Here are a few of the finished cards. Four seasons of pressed flower houses.

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For those who wondered why in the world I would press pieces of an abandoned hornet’s nest, the answer is above: hornet’s nest paper, pressed and mod-podged, is easy to cut into shapes for unique additions to my pressed flower creations.

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Pressed Flowers – The Unpressables

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Wildflowers are abundant, even invasive sometimes. To see all this plenty makes my fingers always itch to press, but I have had little luck with many of them. Tops on that list of unpressables are chicory and white aster daisies. Chicory has a very thick calyx, and by the time you get it home, the petals are limp and shriveled. The asters have super thin, thread-like petals with a large, hard center. I managed to press a few recently, and had a bit of luck. I crushed the calyx of the chicory before I placed it in the pressing book. I did the same with the center of the aster daisies. In the top corner are a few petals of lantana, a whole other story I won’t get into today. I gave these wildflowers about 15 to 30 seconds of heat. The amount of time depends on how hot your microwave gets. I wanted the book to be gently warmed, not hot.

The bottom line on these two wildflowers is you must press three to five times the amount of flowers you want to use. As you can see from the chicory on the left, only one out of three worked out at all. The blue was retained, but there is also a little browning I will need to try to pull or cut away. Still, true-blue flowers are not abundant in the garden, and the daisies are unique and delicate. I will keep trying and press more than I think I need.

Pressed Flowers – Pressed Flowers 101

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If you are new to pressing flowers you might be inclined to use your own books for pressing. You will find that the flower petals and foliage will ruin some of the pages, and others could become warped by moisture inside the stems. Thick flowers also will cause dents and some flower colors will stain the pages.

To avoid ruining your own books go to thrift stores for old books, or do as I do and check out the public library. Large outdated periodicals or how-to books work best for pressing.

One thing to beware of is the ink on the pages. The moisture in the flowers sometimes reactivates it, and it can stain your petals. I’ve even had words imprint backwards onto my flowers. To remedy this, when first used, rub the page briskly with a paper towel and hard pressure and any excess ink will be removed.

For more pressed flower tips click on the catergory link at the bottom of this page. Thanks.

Place and Pressed Flowers – Pressing the Odd Item/Block Island Day 4

On By TimelessladyIn Place, Pressed Flowers2 Comments

Clayhead Beach on Block Island is probably my favorite beach. This past winter, storms and currents deposited extra sand on the shoreline. The stretch of sand along Clayhead has always been sensational, and now is better than ever. The large rocks just off the beach create amazing tidal pools. These pools capture hermit crabs, periwinkles, starfish, and this year I even saw a sea urchin for the first time. The pools are a big draw for beachcombers, young and old.

Seaweed is abundant on Block Island and grows in these pools. In the past it was farmed and sold. While I was researching the seaweed, I found this article about a present day forager of seaweed. You can read the article here: Seaweed Forager – Jen Lighty

Here are some photographs of the seaweed on the island.

I especially loved the look of the frondy seaweed in the picture above and decided to try to press it. Luckily, I had thought ahead and brought a few books for pressing along with me. I gathered up a cupful of the seaweed then soaked it in fresh water, changing the water several times. I then spread the clean seaweed on several layers of newspaper and left it in the sun. Within a matter of hours the seaweed had lost all moisture, but unfortunately was also rock hard. To press it in this brittle condition would have shattered it. I decided it was an impossible task. Happily, I didn’t throw it out right away, but forgot and left the hardened seaweed on the balcony overnight.

Hooray! Thank goodness for my occasional absent-mindedness. During the night the seaweed reabsorbed a bit of moisture from the dew and fog. It was not wet, but only sticky and damp, and a bit pliable. I put it between the pages of my book and in a few days it was hardened again, but now perfectly flat.

The dried and pressed seaweed held on to a bit of its pink color, but all the greens and whites faded out or darkened into browns and tan. The pieces, even though pressed, are still fairly thick. I don’t think I can use it in my usual greeting card artwork. One idea I have thought of is to use it as a stencil in my painting. I also could apply paint with a brush and use the pressed seaweed as a stamp. Any ideas for me? Please leave a comment. I’d love to get some input on how to use it.

Pressed Flowers – Bible Verses

On By TimelessladyIn Pressed Flowers1 Comment

I’ve been creating pressed flower greeting cards using some of my stored pressed flowers combined with favorite Bible Verses. I think the two go together well. The flowers on the card front are: florets from the top of a marigold bloom, magenta lobelia, vinca, ferns and other wildflower foliage.

 “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

 

Pressed Flowers – Queen Anne’s Lace

On By TimelessladyIn Pressed Flowers1 Comment

Although they appear to be the ideal subject for pressing, Queen Anne’s Lace can be tricky to press.  Because they radiate in smaller blossoms from a center stem, pressing the flower as a whole means the center stem will need to stay intact. I cut as close to the last floret petal stem as possible and then place the whole flower into a hard back book. I press under extremely heavy weights to crush the remaining 1/4 inch of stem flat. This usually works, and since the Queen Anne’s Lace is relatively dry, the flower presses well. I have also cut individual florets apart and these work great in smaller compositions.

You will find that Queen Anne’s Lace is loaded with bugs. There are microscopic bugs and then there are larger shiny black beetles. Be careful of squishing or handling the black beetles in any way…they put out a powerful and repulsive scent when scared or harmed. I usually work above newspaper and gently dump these bugs back outdoors.

A great article about Queen Anne’s Lace can be found here: Queen Anne’s Lace

Pressed Flowers – Using the Heat at Hand

On By TimelessladyIn Pressed Flowers22 Comments

We are having quite a heat wave here in the Mid-Atlantic states. I decided to take advantage of the heat at hand.

I picked quite a few of my hydrangea flowers last night. They are beginning to show streaks of contrasting colors as they mature. I have always had a hard time getting the hydrangea blossoms to dry without brown spots appearing. I have tried the traditional method of pressing in between pages of a book. I have experimented with the microwave. I have had no luck with either method. This time I am trying something new.

I pressed the hydrangea petals in between the pages of a book, and then I put that book in the back seat of my car, covered with another book and a weight, and backed up the car into the hottest part of the driveway. I’ll update the results in a day or two.

I also decided to use the heat to flash dry some parsley that is on the verge of going to seed. I lightly rinsed it and laid it upon a towel draped pizza sheet and put it in my trunk. The heat inside will quickly dry the herb, and the darkness will help retain the color…I hope.

I’ll update the progress in a day or two.

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Pressed Flowers – Pressing the Odd Item Part V

On By TimelessladyIn Pressed Flowers3 Comments

Another item I press throughout the year are lichen. Lichen grow on the bark of dead and decaying trees. They are varied in color and markings and press well in heavy books. They will leave deep indentations within the book, so be sure it is one you don’t mind losing for pressing. I also have used heated books to press the lichen, but don’t necessarily enjoy the smell that ensues from the microwave when I open the door. The lichens will retain a bit of thickness, so they are not necessarily good for greeting cards, but they can be used to make fairy furniture and other natural arrangements.

A good site to visit for more information of lichens can be found here: Lichens. Happy Pressing!

Projects and Pressed Flowers – Greeting Card Stockpile

On By TimelessladyIn Pressed Flowers, Projects7 Comments

I have quite a stockpile of pressed flowers ready to use for greeting cards and other projects. I love creating these unique cards. The heart in the photograph above has a small butterfly in the top left hand corner. I was pleased with the way it fit into the theme of the card.

I have several birthdays, some graduations and other events in the next few weeks that will need a card. I haven’t found a way to make these card appear masculine, so I bought two male-themed graduation cards instead. (Cringe…they are so overpriced and not unique in any way whatsoever…big sigh) If someone has ideas for masculine themes with foliage and flowers, please comment. I almost feel the card pictured below fits the bill, but not quite. Created with birch bark, ferns and subtle wildflowers, it is almost rustic, but is still a little flowery.

Flowery hearts are one of my favorite cards to make. They are also easy to create. Lightly sketch a heart shape, add foliage, and space flowers around the edges.

Every now and then I create a composition that disappoints me. I am not too thrilled with the card below, and I will probably peel off the layers and try again. I think it is the static placement of the dark flower, and the loss of the curving edges of the heart. This composition appears boxy and without grace. I should have been more careful to keep the edges of the petals inside the shape of the heart. Feathery, small pieces of foliage and twirly sprigs look fine escaping the confines of the heart, but large petals jutting out too far detract. I’m sure if you study the one I am unhappy with, you will agree.

Plants and Pressed Flowers – Buttercups

On By TimelessladyIn Plants, Pressed Flowers8 Comments

In the Mid-Atlantic States it is the season of the buttercup. I love these sweet yellow blooms. I thought the clump I photographed recently in a public park was a perfect specimen. I hope to paint it one day as a botanical watercolor. There is one problem with the photograph though. Buttercups reflect light so intensely off their petals, the details of the flower are a bit obscured in the brilliance. I found a great article that explains why buttercups reflect light. You can read it here: Why Buttercups Reflect Light.

Buttercups are one of the best pressed flowers for color retention. I have found I need to pinch away the hard green center before I press them in books. You can gently heat the book or just place it under weight for a few days.  I have many flowers to use throughout the year if I am diligent in picking and pressing them in the few weeks they are in bloom. I like to press most with their stems intact. If I chose to use only the flower it is easy enough to snip the stem away. Buttercups combine well with blue lobelia and ferns.

Pressed Flowers and Projects – Vintage and Classic Books

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I treasure my classic books: Little Women, Heidi, The Secret Garden, Grimm’s Fairy Tales and many others. Often, at yard sales, I will find copies of these tales, battered and dog-eared, but still holding promise. I can’t resist these old books. I buy them and take them home to use in craft projects. Recently, I bought a paperback copy of “Little Women.”  A page describing Jo and Meg’s outing to a ball was the perfect background for a pressed flower arrangement of Verbena and Forget-Me-Nots.

Pressed Flowers – Greeting Cards

On By TimelessladyIn Pressed Flowers5 Comments

 Johnny Jump Ups, moss, Vinca leaves, barberry leaf, violets & wild onion curls

I have several books of this seasons pressed flowers dried and ready to use. The batch of cards in this post is composed with spring-flowering pansies and wildflowers. I glue pressed flowers to white or eggshell cardstock with rubber cement. After they are dry I press the finished art inside a book with a weight for several hours or preferably overnight. I then check for any loose spots. If I find one or more I touch these up with rubber cement on the tip of a long floral pin, and after they are dry re-press in a weighted book. When they are completely dry I position them on a complementary piece of colorful cardstock cut into a standard greeting card size. Below each pressed flower photo I’ve listed the plant material I used.

Common celandine, johnny-jump-ups, honeysuckle leaves & wild onion curls

Butterfly: pansy petals, nandina leaf, maple bud, seaweed stems & unknown weed foliage

Wild rose leaflets, wild onion curl, wild mustard sprigs & johnny-jump-ups

Buttercups

Johnny-jump-ups, common celandine, honeysuckle leaves & wild onion curl

Wild onion curl, maple keys (seed pods) fern with fiddlehead, Vinca springs & unknown weed sprig

I thought this card has a definite heart shape, but my husband didn’t see it. He thought the maple keys looked more like wings. I guess it’s proof of that old cliché: “It’s all in the eyes of the beholder.” I like it though, it’s unique. I am going to try to make some dragonflies with the maple keys next. I’ll post the results soon. Here’s another maple key composition below.

Wild violet, fiddlehead fern, unknown weed foliage, common celandine bud maple keys & wild onion sprig

 

Pressed Flowers and Preparedness – The Maple Tree

On By TimelessladyIn Preparedness, Pressed Flowers3 Comments

I have been pressing hundreds of Maple seeds each day. The trees are at peak production at this time of year, although some varieties produce seed in the Autumn. The proper name for Maple seeds is Samara. They are also known as whirlybirds, helicopters and keys. I press Maple keys by cutting away the seed, and gently heating them in a book with porous pages.

Maple keys come in a large variety of sizes and colors. I pull some of the keys from the trees to capture their bright green, pink or apricot colors. The seeds quickly fade in color after their whirling flight from the mother tree, but these muted colors also have great uses in pressed flower compositions. Pictured below are a few ideas for using Maple Keys.

Two halves make a pretty heart shape.

Combined with other flowers and leaves, the keys create interesting effects as butterflies and dragonflies.

Maple keys make great fairy wings.

Maples are amazing trees. They provide us with many products. Maple is used for fine furniture, the sap makes amazing syrup, and new to me was the fact that you can actually eat the fruit of the tree. Remove the husks from the seeds and they can be boiled, roasted and even pounded into a flour. Amazing! God has given us so many beneficial trees in our world, and I am very grateful for the beauty and resource of the common Maple tree.

Preparedness Tip: How to use Maple seeds as a food source.