Pressed Flower Displays

Materials needed:
watercolor paper
pre-cut mat in an oval shape
white craft glue (that dries clear)
toothpick
tweezers
pink roses, larkspur, Queen
Anne's lace and leaves

• Begin with watercolor paper and a pre-cut mat in a gentle oval shape, which provides a definite pattern that's easy to work with.

• Begin with dark green leaves. Pick up a leaf stem with tweezers and use the toothpick to apply a tiny amount of glue on the backside of leaves in strategic spots such as the joint of stem and leaf (figure B). Some of the natural materials will be sensitive to the glue, which might discolor them, so use as little as possible.

• Position the leaf at the rim of the mat, overlapping both the mat and the paper for an unstudied, free look.
  
• Fill in the bottom half of the frame, overlapping leaves and placing them in different directions.
  
• Define the upper arms of the U using the passionflower vines.
  
• Place flowers, beginning with pink roses. Use just a dab of glue on the flower’s center. Line up roses, overlapping slightly, along the bottom of the U-shape.

• For contrast, add the blue larkspur, tucking it under some roses, and place it on top of others for a layered look (figure C).

• Fill in the picture with Queen Anne's lace.

To frame the picture:

• Use UV-treated glass.
  
• Place the picture face-down on the glass and cover with paper treated with silica gel, which will continue to absorb moisture.

• Cover the paper with a piece of aluminum foil and seal the edges with foil tape (figure D).
  
• Place in frame.

Other tips for pressed flowers:

Try using them in innovative ways for gifts and décor. Add pressed pansies to stationery or the underside of a clear plate (for display only) (figure E). Affix larkspur to a pillar candle or wrap it around taper candles for a delicate touch.