All About Pressed Flower Art

Sealing and Displaying Pressed Flower Art

Finished pressed flower art needs to be sealed before displaying. The purpose is to keep flowers away from moisture in the air. Always allow the picture to completely dry before sealing. The best way is to put the finished picture into a large box along with silica gel. However, if the picture is too big to fit into a box, see instructions for framing below. You would need to change the silica gel more often the first few months.

There are several ways to seal pressed flower art.

If the art work is not too big, and the flowers you have on the picture are thin, you can laminate it. Some stationery or copy centers offer this service if you do not have a laminating machine. This method is especially good for small items such as bookmarks.

You can also buy self-laminating sheets (found in office supply stores) and apply on both sides to seal the art work. Self-laminating sheets are very adhesive. You have to make sure that the sheets are applied flat, without wrinkles, the first time. This method is used for greeting cards and small pictures.

Another way is to use iron-on plastic film used for fabric projects. Follow instructions on the package. This method can be used for some relatively thick flowers.

My favorite method is to seal the artwork during framing. This way, you can see the flowers are still somewhat three-dimensional.

Instructions for Framing Pressed Flower Art Pictures:

• Allow the picture to completely dry.

• Cut a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil (Mylar is a better alternative) with the same measurement as the frame’s glass.

• Cut a piece of desiccant board the same size, or wrap several small packages of silica gel with white table napkin. The packages need to be flat. Pre-packaged silica gel can be used instead.

• Using scotch tape to secure desiccant board or silica gel packages (add a package or two of oxygen absorbers are optional here for retain better freshness of pressed material) on the backside of the foil.

• Lay the frame glass down. Use anti-UV glass or acrylic for maximum color retention.

• If you use a mat, secure the picture on the mat first, then place face down on the frame glass.

• Place foil on top of the picture (picture's back side)  with the desiccant board or silica gel packages next to picture.

• Seal the four sides of the stack (glass, mat, picture, desiccant, foil) with aluminum tape (found in hardware stores). Make sure the corners are completely covered and there is not a big air bubble trapped inside. Now the picture is sealed between glass and foil. The desiccant board or silica gel packages will continue to absorb any moisture that seeps in. If you live in an area where humidity is high, you should change the desiccant board or silica gel packages every year for best results.

• Place the glass with picture into frame to finish.

Copyright 2004 - 2007 Kate Chu