Wednesday 21 May 2014

Tips In Making Pressed Flower Art

By Arline Bradley


With their bright colors and intoxicating scents, flowers aid the plants in the process of reproduction. They attract nectar-eating insects such as bees and butterflies and allow pollen to stick to the bodies of their predators. These insects, in turn, pass the pollen on to other plants as they flit from flora to flora.

They are also quite beneficial to people. Bouquets top the list for fail safe gift ideas. They are even present in foods. Some floral varieties are found to have medicinal properties. They are also decorative, and you can make pressed flower art with them.

This is the creation of crafts using dried flowers. They can take all forms of crafts. There are pressed flower greeting cards, candle holders, decorative pictures and even adorned frames and sculptures. You can make this into a hobby or. For the business minded, turn it into a unique craft art for sale.

To be able to make this kind of art, naturally, you will need pressed blossoms. They are allowed to dry for about two to four weeks before they can be utilized. There are many ways to preserve, but three types are commonly used by craft aficionados. You can choose whether to use a big book, a microwave oven, or a flower press.

Whatever method you are planning to choose, you have to have the flower first. Flat ones such as forget me not are easier to press due to their shape, as slightly round ones like chrysanthemums are much harder to work upon. But, round or flat, you are at the liberty to choose the variety you like to use in your art. Just make sure that it is totally dry before working on it.

To use the traditional way, you can use any heavy book. A dictionary or an atlas is a very good example. Line a page somewhere in in the very center of the book with paper. You can use two sheets of ordinary paper. You can also use cardboard or even tissue paper. On top of the paper, put the flower on top, in face down position. It is easier to press it that way that to have it facing up which may give the petals a dirty, creased look. Put another sheet of paper on top and the close the book gently.

You can also use a flower press. You can make one by obtaining two equal pieces of flat wood bound together by screws on four corners. Unscrew to pry them apart. On top of one side of the wood, place a piece of cardboard that has been cut to fit. Place the flower on the cardboard and top it with another fitted cardboard piece. Place the other piece of wood at the topmost and screw the pieces together again.

You can speed up the process using a microwave oven. You will also need two ceramic tiles, pieces of cardboard paper, and rubber band. Turn the first tile so that it is lying face down. Place the first card board. Next, position the blossom. Put another cardboard on top and the ceramic tile as well. Use the rubber bands to tie them securely and microwave it for a minute. Let cool for a while and repeat until the drying process is done.

There are many things you can do with pressed flowers. You can use them to spice up old jars instead of throwing them away. You just have to mix together water and glue, position the blossoms on the jar then apply the glue mixture to keep them in place. These jars can now be used as candle holders or canisters for trinkets. You can either keep them to yourself, give them out to friends, or sell them to interested costumers.




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