How to Press Flowers for Art

Learn how to turn fresh garden flowers into beautiful, flat pressed art pieces using simple household items. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Prepare your flowers. Pick flowers that are fresh and dry. Use your scissors to trim the stems so they are short, or remove them entirely if you only want to press the petals.
2. Layer your press. Open a large, heavy book. Lay a piece of white paper on the page. Arrange your flowers face down on the paper, making sure they don't overlap. Place another piece of paper on top of the flowers.
3. Seal and weight. Carefully close the book. Place your extra heavy object or more books on top of the closed book to add extra pressure. Leave it in a quiet, dry spot for at least one week.