All About Pressed Flower Art

Wedding Invitation

Handmade invitations add a personal touch to a wedding. What is more romantic and natural than decorating them with real flowers?  Already-pressed flowers available in my website store make it easy for anyone to make their own pressed flower wedding invitations.

I will not go into details here about how to construct a wedding invitation. I am sure you can find a lot of information on this. Instead, I want to address the specifics about using pressed flowers on invitations.

How to attach pressed flowers to invitations:

The method you choose for attaching flowers to your invitations depends on what type of protection is required. If you are mailing your invitations through the regular mail, the best protection is lamination. If you do not want to cover the flowers with anything, then you will have to mail the invitations with protective envelopes.

The most simple and widely available lamination material is contact paper. You can get either glossy or matte surface. It is available in any stationery or craft store. Attach the flowers to the invitation with just a tiny dot of glue, using a toothpick to apply. Once the glue has dried, wipe the non-sticky side of the lamination film with a used fabric softener sheet (the kind you use in your dryer to get rid of static). Then apply the lamination film on top of the flowers, press out any trapped air, and trim.

Another type of lamination material is very thin paper or fabric. Japanese rayon Unryu paper (sometimes called Sanwa tissue) available from some paper suppliers is what I like the best among thin papers. Tulle is what I usually use for thin fabric. There are two ways to attach flowers:

1.    Attach flowers with just a tiny dot of glue, using a toothpick. Then spray a spray adhesive on the surface and flowers where the lamination paper will be applied. Cover the surface with the thin paper or fabric. Allow the surface to dry. Place the card into a heavy book overnight.

2.   Use Dry Mount Adhesive available in art/craft stores. Cut the Dry Mount Adhesive sheet to size, attach flowers, then cover the surface with thin paper or fabric.

If you would like to bring out more of the flower’s color and detail from behind the Sanwa tissue, spread silicon glue or dilute white glue (one part glue to one part water) and brush the glue directly on top of the tissue paper over the flower(s).  When it dries, the tissue will be more transparent, revealing the flower more.

If you do not want to cover the flowers with anything, there is still a way to protect them.

I like to use Perfect Paper Adhesive or Botanical Glue. Apply one coat on the surface of the card with a small soft brush. Attach the flower quickly. Make sure the flower is completely glued down. Apply one or two more coats of adhesive on top of the flower. (Allow to completely dry between coats.)  Note: some flowers/leaves are sensitive to glue. Test one or two first to be sure the flower you use will work with this method. This method works well if the flowers are small and soft.

Copyright 1998 - 2009 Kate Chu