How to Press Flowers Easily to Create Beautiful Keepsakes?

Editor: Laiba Arif on Sep 26,2025

Flowers have feelings instilled in them that very little else has. One bloom may remind you of a wedding day, a date, graduation, or strolling around the garden on a sunny afternoon. Alas, flowers do not live forever—unless you're privy to the secrets of pressing flowers. If you know how to press flowers, you're able to keep those feelings safe and turn them into permanent keepsakes.

Whether you're pressing flowers with books, or using newer methods like microwave pressed flowers, this article will walk you through it all. We'll also give you beginner tips on flower pressing, ideas for using your blooms, and advice on how to keep your pressed bouquets looking their best for years to come.

Why Learn to Press Flowers?

Flower pressing is more than a craft. It's a means to treasure memories and turn them into something special. Think about making the roses from your wedding flowers into pieces of framed art, or saving wildflowers from a road trip in your memory book. With each flower pressed, it's as if it creates a time capsule of feelings.

The US people have been pressing flowers for centuries. During the Victorian era, it was all the rage. Nowadays, it is not only a retro thing but also an eco-friendly, thrifty method to create art from nature. Rather than discarding bouquets once wilted, you can preserve them and have reminders that speak of your story.

Step by Step - How to Press Flowers

At its core, pressing flowers is about removing moisture without losing color or shape. The process may vary depending on the method, but the principle is the same. Let’s break down the most common ways:

Method 1 - Pressing Flowers with Books

If you’re starting out and don’t want to buy supplies, pressing flowers with books is perfect. Here’s how it works:

• Pick flowers that are naturally flat, like daisies, violets, or pansies.
• Place each flower between two sheets of parchment paper or absorbent paper.
• Put the paper in a large, heavy book such as a dictionary.
• Weigh it down using additional books placed on top.
• Let them dry for two to four weeks.

It is a slow but effective process. Many find it fun because it's antiquated and tangible, much like the way past generations dried flowers.

Method 2 - Microwave Pressed Flowers

Other times patience is not your strong point, and that is when microwave pressed flowers save the day. This technique provides results within minutes rather than weeks.

• Put your flower between sheets of parchment.
• Place them in a microwave-safe dish or flower press.
• Heat in brief 30-second increments with low power.
• Monitor to prevent flowers from burning.
• When flat and dry, let cool first before handling.

Microwave technique is ideal for crafters who want instant materials for tasks like greeting cards or resin jewelry. But it requires some practice to yield perfect results.

Method 3 - Wooden Flower Press

If you are going to press flowers on a regular basis, a wood press is an investment worth making. It contains layers of cardboard and screws to provide equal pressure. It provides similar results quicker compared to pressing flowers between books.

How to use:

• Put flowers between sheets of blotting paper.
• Stack with cardboard.
• Screw tight and leave for 1–2 weeks.

This process is cost-effective when you need to dry a large amount at once, such as when saving pressed wedding or anniversary flowers.

Method 4 - Silica Gel Drying for Thick Flowers

Some flowers, such as roses or tulips, are too heavy to press flat out. Then drying them first with silica gel is effective. After drying them, you can press out the petals on their own. Not quite the old-fashioned way, but it leaves you with more space to work with the hard-to-press flowers.

Beginner Flower Pressing Tips

When you are a beginner with flower pressing, the thrill of it all sometimes results in errors. These are some tips for flower pressing beginners to help the process run more smoothly:

• Select flowers that can be cut into thinner sections or are flat.
• Press flowers immediately when they are cut. Too much time causes them to wilt or mold.
• Use blotting paper or parchment paper rather than glossy paper—it absorbs moisture more readily.
• Dust and oils will stain the petals, so clean your workspace.
• Tweezers should be used when working with dried flowers because they are delicate. 
• Try a variety of blossoms. Some will change color, but others will surprise you at how beautifully they retain their color.

With practice, you'll find out which flowers in your garden or neighborhood market press most satisfactorily.

Pressing Flower Crafting Ideas

Once you know how to press flowers, the job is to craft with them. There are just so many pressing flower craft ideas you can try, ranging from tiny mementos to big house decor pieces. Some of the favorites are:

• Framed Wall Art: Pressed flowers arranged in a design or plain pattern and framed. Ideal for home decoration.
• Bookmarks: Laminate pressed flowers on cardstock and create thoughtful, homemade bookmarks for book enthusiasts.
• Greeting Cards: Include pressed flowers in thank-you notes, invitations, or Christmas greetings to make it personal.
• Jewelry: Pressed flowers are coated in resin and turned into pendants, earrings, or rings.
• Candles: Pressed flowers can be affixed to candles and topped with wax for a warm appearance.
• Journals & Scrapbooks: Pressed flowers can be placed in individual diaries or memory books.
• Phone Cases: Clear resin phone cases can fit small pressed flowers for a fashionable accessory.

These crafts not only celebrate creativity but also save your flowers in useful, meaningful ways.

Saving Pressed Bouquets

For all of us, flower pressing begins with a bouquet from some celebration of life. A wedding bouquet, anniversary flowers, or funeral flowers from someone you love are all possibilities. Keeping pressed bouquets is a gentle way to keep the memory near.

Here's how you can do it:

• Disassemble the bouquet and remove the flowers.
• Press the flowers separately using the method most suitable.
• When they're completely dry, reassemble them into a replica arrangement of the original bouquet.
• Frame the pressed bouquet in a shadow box or between glass panes.

That way, rather than sitting there and watching flowers turn into mush, you can save the memory in a piece of art that will last for decades.

Mistakes to Avoid When Pressing Flowers

Even once you've perfected pressing flowers, there are some pitfalls that will spoil your finish. Most common errors are:

• Attempting to press heavy flowers without being sliced.
• Pressing in non-absorbent paper, such as glossy magazine pages.
• Rushing and checking too early.
• Not putting enough pressure when using books.

By keeping away from these mistakes, you will have beautiful, clean finishes every time.

Conclusion 

Flower pressing is a hobby that goes beyond a craft—indeed, it's more of an art, science, and memory preserver. Thanks to the flower pressing beginner tips, you are protected from errors and colorful results.

Then the magic starts: creating those flowers into works of art in pressed flower design or in framing pressed bouquets. Each item that you make is a tale to be told, one of love and loss, of celebration, or just the simplicity of a summer afternoon.

In a busy world, pressing flowers encourages us to slow down, notice the details, and preserve moments before they slip away. And the best thing? After you learn the fundamentals, you will never see a flower in the same light again. Every flower presents a chance to make a memory that will last forever.

This content was created by AI