Pressing flowers intimidated me a little bit at first and maybe you feel the same way. Let me reassure you—it’s easier than you think and doesn’t require much at all! You don’t need fancy flower presses or specialized tools. Just a few basic items can get you started and create stunning results.

To get started with flower pressing, all you need are fresh flowers, some paper (even newspaper will do!), and a stack of heavy books. That’s it!

Did you know this method has been used for centuries? Check out these flowers pressed from Abraham Lincoln’s grave to see how well this simple flower-drying technique holds up over time.

Now, let’s talk about the fun part—choosing which flowers to press! While some flowers press better than others, part of the joy is in experimenting. You’ll learn which flowers keep their beauty best when pressed, and that’s all part of the adventure. If you are exploring flower pressing because you are looking to preserve a special bouquet of flowers you recently received, or you’re looking to preserve flowers you collect from your yard, this method works for a variety of flowers.

Step-By-Step Instructions

My first attempt at pressing flowers when I was just getting started. If you look closely you may be able to tell the book it is pressed in.

What You’ll Need:

  • Fresh Flowers
  • Acid-Free Paper (or Newspaper)
  • Heavy Books
  • Roughly 2-3 Weeks

Step-by-Step Guide:

  1. Collect Your Flowers: Gather them from your garden, a bouquet, or anywhere you have permission to pick them.
  2. Prep Your Flowers: Depending on the flowers, you may need to trim the stems or cut them off entirely. This depends on whether you want a side or top view of your pressed flowers.
  3. Place Your Fresh Flowers/Petals In Between Book Pages: Open your book and line the pages with your chosen paper. You can use newspaper if that’s what you have on hand!
  4. Arrange Your Flowers: Lay your flowers on the paper. Make sure they’re not overlapping and close the book with a few other heavy books on top. Leave them in a cool, dry place.
  5. Check on Your Flowers Every Day for the First 3-7 Days: By checking on your flowers everyday, you can change the paper if it is wet from your flowers. If you don’t check on the flowers and change out your paper you risk them getting moldy. Once the paper is no longer wet when you check on them, you do not have to check everyday.
  6. Let Your Flowers Dry for 2 More Weeks: Depending on the flowers, an additional 2 weeks of drying should be enough. Just make sure your flowers are completely dry and crisp to the touch.

Helpful Tips:

  • Depending on the type of flower, drying can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks or more.
  • Store your pressed flowers between sheets of acid-free paper in containers like old Tupperware. My preferred storage method is in between cardstock in a magnetic photo album (I find these at my local thrift stores all the time!)
  • If you don’t mind your flowers leaving a bit of color residue on the pages of your book, forget about the paper altogether.

Once you’ve pressed your flowers, you’ll find endless ways to use them! From crafting to decorating, they’ll bring unique natural elements into your home. So, take a deep breath, gather your flowers, and enjoy the therapeutic process of preserving flowers with just a few materials you have on hand. Happy Pressing!