| Issue #33, November 10, 2006 |
Pressed For All Time
First, they were green, suspended from the trees, basking in the summer sun. Then, they were green with orange tips, as the summer swiftly turned to the early days of fall. Before you knew it, leaves were every color of the rainbow, hanging weakly from the trees, in fear of the next big rain storm or wild wind. So, before they drop into piles of brown, catch them and turn them into wonderful crafts. The colors are so spectacular, only nature is capable of having created them.
Autumn flowers and fall leaves are simply beautiful. If you’re like me, you love working with what only nature can provide. During the summer months I dabble in crafts using shells and beach sand. During the winter, I take all the found materials and combine them with pressed flowers, leaves and dried grasses. So, put a pot of hot chocolate on the stove and get down to creating some fun, homey craft projects.
Pressing leaves and drying flowers is not that complicated, but it does take a little planning and skill. Home Depot or any other hardware store will have the basic ingredients for making a flower press. You essentially need two pieces of plywood smaller than 9”x12”, a drill for making holes, four screws and four wingnuts. The wood should be larger then the paper that you are using to press the flowers. Drill holes in four corners of the wood, then place flowers, leaves, or grasses on the paper. Add another layer of paper over them, and screw the boards together. This is the easiest and simplest type of press. If you find that your flowers are getting squished, or mold is creeping in from too much moisture, you need to revamp, readjust and add a little bit of polyester fiberfill. Placing the fiberfill on the boards and sandwiching the flowers between them will allow them to be properly dried without fear of the elements getting to them, as the fiberfill will absorb the moisture.
The amount of fiberfill you utilize will depend on the type of flower that you are pressing. Heavier flowers, such as zinnias, dahlias, mums, and hydrangeas need thick padding. Lighter, more delicate flowers will need just a thick layer of the fiberfill. In four or five days, or less, depending on the humidity levels.
Now that your flowers are dried out and you have a beautiful bouquet of craft-ready flowers, what to do with them? Framing your flowers can be a simple and elegant craft project that can hang on your den wall, providing a little bit of sunshine on even the gloomiest day. Simply purchase a wooden picture frame in your desired size. Remove the backing and line it with contact paper, wallpaper, or craft paper. Apply rubber cement or tacky glue and arrange the flowers on the paper. It’s often fun to take wicker pieces or wood chips and arrange them around the flowers, in a vase or planter-like shape. Colored felt pens or colored pencils can be used to shade the areas around the flowers for a more dramatic effect. Replace the frame, making sure that the flowers are centered, and you are ready to hang your display.
Dried flowers and leaves are also wonderful materials to use when making stationery. Remember the days before e-mail, when a good letter was the norm? Bring back that heartfelt tradition of writing a beautiful letter to a friend or loved one with hand-made stationery. It’s easy – follow the same procedure as the picture frame, applying the flowers to the heavier stock paper with rubber cement or tacky glue, let dry thoroughly and top with a clear sheet of contact paper. The contact paper will ensure that the leaves and flowers don’t become separated when placed in an envelope. If you have a few extra flowers, cut off a strip of the card stock and make a bookmark. Cover both sides of the bookmark with clear contact paper after applying the flowers, punch a hole in the top, add a tassle and you are set to get out a good book and enjoy your craft project.
Hang on to the fall colors just a bit longer by pressing them and using them in some fun crafts. The results will keep that spring in your step, and sunshine in your heart, for days to come.
–Jessica Gold
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