All About Pressed Flower Art

How do I attach pressed flowers onto projects?

There are several ways to do it depending on the project surface.

Paper or fabric surface for framing:

Any general-purpose glue that will dry clear can be used for these pressed flower projects.

Before gluing down the flowers on projects, you should sketch an outline for your design. Glue should be applied only when you are sure where to place the flower, because once glued down, it would be relatively hard to remove it without destroying the flower.

Some flowers and leaves are very sensitive to glue. Using a toothpick, apply only minimum amounts of glue (just enough to hold it) on the back base of the flower and joint positions of leaves. Do not apply glue all over the back surface.

Since glue contains moisture, always allow pictures to be completely dry before framing or sealing. The best way to dry is to put the finished picture into a large box that contains silica gel. The picture should be dry in one day.

Candles:

There are many ways to attach pressed flowers to candles. These are some of the methods I use.

Mod Podge-

1. Apply one coat of Mod Podge on candle, attach flowers before it is dried.
2. Apply two more coats of Mod Podge on top of the flowers. Allow to dry between coats.

Glue and wax-

1. Apply one coat of thin glue (one part glue, one part water) onto candle; attach flowers.
2. Wait until the glue is dried. Dip the candle into melted wax quickly for a thin surface coat.

Glass/ceramic:

1. Apply one coat of Mod Podge on glass or ceramic surface; attach flowers before it is dried.
2. Apply two more coats of Mod Podge on top of the flowers. Allow to dry between coats.
3. Apply one or two coats of acrylic sealer on the top, once Mod Podge is fully dry.

Wood:

1. Mix 2 parts clear resin*. Pour a thin layer onto the wood. Allow to dry.
2. Attach flowers to dried resin surface with glue.
3. Pour another thin layer of clear resin on the top.

* Make sure you pour resin in a well-ventilated area. Follow the directions on the label.

Tips about pressed flowers:

This is a two-dimensional art form with flowers. You can hide small imperfections in the back. For example, if you do not have long enough stems, you can use several shorter pieces and hide the joints with leaves or small flowers. If petals fall off, you can repair with glue. If you have a small brown spot on your main flower, you can hide it by gluing a small flower in front of it.

Copyright 2004 - 2007 Kate Chu