There are several different ways to press botanicals. You can build your own press or buy one online. I am loving this Nature Press from Amazon. Another popular method is to place a leaf between the pages of a heavy book and wait 2-3 weeks for it to dry. However, if you are pressed(pun intended) for time like I was during the One Room Challenge you can use an iron.
HERE IS WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
- Iron-remove water and turn off steam feature
- 2 Pieces of Cardstock
- Hot Glue Gun
- Botanicals -thinner stems and flowers will be easier to press
Place the botanical on one piece of the cardstock. Then spread the leaves before putting the second sheet on top. After a few attempts, I actually found it to be easier when I placed the flowers and leaves face down on the first piece of cardstock.
Turn your iron to a low heat setting and slowly press an area for a few seconds and then press another area. Repeat this process until the botanical is about 90% dried.
If you are a framing the botanical, use a glue gun to attach it to the backing paper. Use the glue sparingly. I only needed to glue in a couple of places along the stem.
When placing the botanical in a frame, make sure the backing is tight. This will hold the botanical in place and insure it won’t curl as it completes the drying process. Then Enjoy!!!
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