Spring has been around for a while, and that means that April showers bring May flowers! Now that it’s May, more flowers are beginning to be sold in markets and growing all around. If you would like to preserve those flowers to put some color in your house and use as decorations, I’ll be writing about different ways you can press flowers or plants!
Books

1. Paper
2. Flowers/Plants
3. Multiple books or a couple of heavy books

If you are patient and have time, one way that you can press your flowers is with books. This method shows you how to create pressed flowers. First, choose the type of flower or plant that you would like to press. If the flower is thicker like a carnation, you probably have to cut it or else you will not be able to press it. Begin by placing absorbent paper, this can be printer paper, on a book. You will have to separate the flower from the stem and place it flat on the paper. Add flowers or plants on the paper, giving them some room apart from each other so that more water is absorbed. The more water absorbed the more color your pressed flower/plant will retain! Place another piece of paper on top of the flowers/plants and another book to press them down. Make sure that the books are heavy so that the water in the plants is properly absorbed into the paper. Leave for 10 to 14 days and check on them halfway through its drying process . If the paper has warped in multiple places, you may replace the paper with a new sheet for better results. Once 10 to 14 days have passed, you may take out your flowers! Be careful because flowers/plants become very fragile and brittle once they’ve become dried.

Microwave

1. Paper
2. Flowers/Plants
3. Tiles

Don’t have a lot of time? You can use the microwave! Repeat the same process of taking apart the flower or plant if it is too thick, and place between microwaveable tiles with paper on them. Microwave for 60 seconds at a time, allowing the tiles to cool between the intervals. Check on the flowers to see if they are dry and ready!

Hanging

1. Paper
2. String

If you would like to keep the shape of a flower like a rose, you can use the hanging method. Take the flower and tie it to a string. Tie the string somewhere in a room that is well-ventilated and out of direct sunlight. Remember to keep the flowers/plants upside down, and wait a couple of weeks to see a dry, vintage hued flower!

If you ever would like to make dried flowers, you can put them around the house or in frames to give as gifts! These are often used for holidays like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, or one that’s an unofficial holiday, your birthday!