Have you ever been given flowers for your birthday or any other special occasion and thought to yourself, do I ever have to throw these away? Well, the good news is you don’t always have to throw them away! You could try your hand at propagation, make some edible treats from flowers, replant a plant from a flower trimming – or you could have a go at DIY pressed flowers.
There are so many reasons you could receive a carnation bouquet, whether it be for your graduation, Mother’s Day, or just because someone thinks you’re real rad. If you want the memories to live on, you should learn how to press carnations! Once you have your pressed flower, you can either display it as a keepsake or you could use it for pressed flower art.
Pressed flower art is a really great way to create a keepsake, from potpourri to DIY pressed flower cards. Homemade cards are always a stellar way to show someone you love them, but imagine giving them a card with a pressed carnation from last year’s Valentine’s Day… So romantic!
The best thing about DIY pressed flower art? It’s the easiest DIY craft you could possibly do. Let’s get started!
Supplies Needed for DIY Pressed Flowers
- Two heavy books
- Two pieces of paper
- Carnations (or any other flower you want to press!)
How to Press Carnations
- The first step in your DIY pressed flowers is to open your book about three-fourths of the way and slide a sheet of paper onto one of the open pages.
- Cut the stem off the carnation. Place the carnation stem side down on the piece of paper you have placed in the book. Smooth the petals out, this way they will not curl up and stick or bunch together when you press them in the book.
- Place the second piece of paper on top of the carnation and shut the book. Place your book in a dry area, so that it will dry out properly. Place your second book on top of the book with the carnation in it. Let the flower sit for approximately three weeks so it will get properly pressed.
A Few Tips and Tricks
When it comes to learning how to press carnations properly, there are a few things you should know ahead of time and the process will go much more smoothly! If you are looking to spend some time pressing flowers, you should remember:
- The fresher the carnation is, the better. If the petals are wilted, they will get stuck together and won’t press flat.
- If you want to press them quickly, you can try microwaving them. Press the flowers between two paper towels, then microwave them for about thirty seconds at a time, or until they are dried out. You can also buy special flower presses at most craft stores if this is something you are looking to do frequently.
- Another quick way to press your carnations is to place the flower between two pieces of wax paper and iron them.
Pressing flowers is a really fun and easy hobby, and, as you can see, you don’t need a lot of expensive materials. All you need is a love for flowers and books, and your DIY pressed flower hobby is on its way. There’s no end to the ways you can make pressed flower art, either – if homemade cards aren’t your bag, you can get creative with potpourri, bath bombs, or even coasters.
Whether you want to buy some carnations to press or you just need fresh flower delivery, The Bouqs, your favorite online flower shop, has you covered with hand-crafted, sustainable flowers for any occasion – happiness guaranteed! And if you need some tips on caring for carnations, we got you covered there too.
Shop All
