The Simple Joys of Flower Pressing

I used to love picking a few flowers from my walks and bringing them home to press in between two sheets of waxed paper and some heavy books. It was something I did on the regular as a kid growing up in Connecticut, especially when the spring would bring an abundance of blooms that disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived. I loved preserving them. The translucent white and purple crocus flowers looked like fairy wings when they dried flat. Flower pressing was something I hadn’t done in such a long time until something I saw online recently reminded me of my love for it. This time around I considered getting myself a real flower press, or even making one of my own.

Flower presses consist of two covers like a book. In between are “pages” of cardboard with two layers of waxed paper between each page. The waxed paper is essential because your flowers and other plants will stick to the pages otherwise and they might rip or be impossible to remove. Most flower presses are quite tiny, with only room for one flower per layer, but some are like a big book and those are my favorite.

It takes up to six weeks for flowers to fully dry. If you remove them too soon they will wilt and the colors will turn brown. I have always loved flower pressing because it preserves the colors of the flowers so beautifully and you can create art out of nature. When your flowers have been pressed and harvested from your flower press (or stack of heavy books) you can use them to decorate any number of things from letters and cards to windows and sun catchers. You can make your own flower art or even jewelry. Keep them safe for a winters day when you’re missing flowers and want to brighten someone’s day with a handwritten letter and a pressed flower decoration at the top. In the autumn you can also use your press to preserve leaves.

When making or choosing a flower press you will want to consider the purpose first. Do you plan to bring your press with you on walks? Will it go with you on travels? Is it going to be used for many flowers or just once in a while for a very special plant you find? Knowing the purpose will help you determine what size you want your press to be. Small ones are convenient for travel and larger presses are of course better for larger quantities of flowers as well as for larger plants.

At the end of March I found my flower press on Etsy. In fact, Etsy has so many of them that I had a hard time choosing at first. So many small businesses and creators make these presses on Etsy for numerous purposes and aesthetics. I knew that I wanted a press that could handle a seasons worth of flowers for this spring so I wanted to go with a larger size. I also preferred the presses that screwed shut instead of with straps because I thought it would be less likely to shift and move the flowers. I also wanted a flower press that was natural looking so when I found one with a wooden cover that was engraved, I knew it was perfect for me. The flower press I went with was made by a man named Dmitriy from the Ukraine and his shop is named OlaDiClock. You can find it by clicking on the name.  It is a beautiful press that also has my name engraved on the front and a flower quote I love from Disney’s adaption of Alice In Wonderland on the back. It comes in a natural light wood finish or stained a darker brown. You can find the link to my flower press by clicking right here or on the photograph above. Dmitriy was delightful to work with and he also sent a proof of the press before making it.

Eventually I hope to also purchase a mini press to bring with me on our long distance travels. Something that can fit into a small bag or purse while we are traveling far from home.

I saved my favorite flower presses in a folder named “Flower Presses” on my Etsy profile, which you can see by clicking right here on this link or by clicking on the photo below. I saved a variety of flower presses that I really adore so that I can go back and perhaps purchase that mini travel press soon.

There is just something so joyful and mindful about pressing flowers, especially in the springtime. Collecting blooms on my walks keeps me present in the moment and pressing them gives me something slow to appreciate. Have you ever flower pressed or wanted to? Tell me in the comments below.

This post does contain affiliate links to Etsy where I found and purchased my own flower press.