Pressing flowers is one of the oldest and gentlest nature crafts there is. Victorian naturalists filled whole albums with pressed specimens, and many of us first tried it as children with a heavy book and a handful of daisies. It needs almost no equipment, costs next to nothing, and turns a fleeting summer afternoon into something you can keep for years.

What You Need

• Fresh flowers and leaves
• Absorbent paper: blotting paper, plain printer paper, or unscented tissue
• Parchment paper, which stops delicate petals sticking
• A heavy book (an old telephone directory or dictionary is ideal) or a wooden flower press
• Extra weight, such as more books or a brick
• Small scissors and tweezers

Step 1: Pick at the Right Moment

Moisture is the enemy of good pressing, because it causes mold and browning. Pick on a dry day, late in the morning once the dew has evaporated. Choose flowers that are freshly opened and unblemished rather than fully blown. Press them as soon as possible after picking, ideally within an hour.

Pick responsibly: gather from your own garden or with permission, never take protected wildflowers, and only take a few blooms from any one plant so pollinators still have plenty.

Step 2: Choose Flowers That Press Well

Naturally flat flowers with thin petals give the best results for beginners:

• Pansies and violas: perhaps the easiest and most rewarding, holding their faces and colors well.
• Cosmos, larkspur, and cornflowers: bright colors that stay vivid.
• Forget-me-nots and lobelia: tiny but charming in small arrangements.
• Ferns, herb leaves, and grasses: essential for greenery and structure.
• Hydrangea florets: press individual florets rather than the whole head.

Thick or bulky flowers such as roses, daffodils, and peonies hold too much moisture to press whole. Press their individual petals instead, or slice the flower in half lengthwise to press a profile.

Step 3: Arrange and Press

Open your book near the back so the weight of the pages sits on top. Lay down a sheet of absorbent paper, then parchment, then arrange the flowers face down with space between them. Take your time here, because whatever shape you set now is the shape they will keep. Cover with parchment and another absorbent sheet, close the book gently, and pile on extra weight. With a wooden press, sandwich the layers the same way between the cardboard sheets and tighten the screws evenly.

Step 4: Wait Patiently

Leave the flowers somewhere warm and dry for two to four weeks. After the first few days, you can carefully replace the absorbent paper, which speeds drying and reduces the risk of mold. Resist the urge to peek too often; moving half-dried petals can crease them. The flowers are ready when they feel papery and come away from the sheet without bending.

Common Problems and Fixes

• Brown or moldy petals: the flowers were too wet or the paper was not changed. Pick drier blooms and swap the paper after a few days.
• Faded colors: some fading is natural, but storing finished pieces away from direct sunlight slows it considerably. Blues and purples usually hold best.
• Petals stuck to paper: use parchment next to the flowers, and lift them with tweezers rather than fingers.

What to Make with Pressed Flowers

• Framed botanical art: arrange on cotton paper and frame behind glass, or float them between two panes for a lovely see-through effect.
• Bookmarks and cards: fix with a dot of glue and cover with clear sticky-back film.
• Phone cases and candles: popular modern projects that keep a sprig of summer close.
• A nature journal: label each flower with the date and place, just as Victorian collectors did.

If you decide to frame your work, our guide to cottagecore wall art has ideas for where to hang it, and you can discover what your flowers once meant in the secret language of wildflowers.

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If you love the look of pressed botanicals, you may enjoy our watercolor flower prints, available in our Etsy shop, NaturalEMNB.