Have you ever pressed flowers or
greenery? It’s really quite easy and
doesn’t require too many supplies. I
happen to have a patch of clover in my front yard and in one area there are
usually some of the four-leaf variety. If you don't have any clover, you can choose a small flower or bud
to press. Flower presses are available in most craft stores and are quite inexpensive, or you can make
your own. You can even just use a heavy book.
(Make sure it’s a book you wouldn’t mind the pages getting a bit stained
in the process)
To make a flower press you will need to cut two rectangular
pieces of wood the same size. Drill holes in all four corners of both
boards matching them up. Purchase long screws that fit in the holes
leaving enough protruding to tighten the boards together with wing nuts.
Cut corrugated cardboard to fit in between the boards and newsprint paper to
put between the cardboard. That’s all there is to it!
Supplies:
Small
pressed four leaf clover or flower
Flower
press or heavy book
Unprinted
newsprint paper
Cardboard
ModPodge
bezel pendant
Clear
dimensional ModPodge
Tacky
craft glue
1/8” wide ribbon or ball chain in a length of your choice
To use a flower press:
1.
Choose a
small flower or clover. Use the freshest
flowers you can find and dry them completely.
When they are pressed they will become thinner and semi-transparent but
will retain most of the original color.
2.
Open the
press and place a piece of cardboard on the bottom board. Lay down a piece of equally sized newsprint
placing the flower or clover on top. Lay
another piece of newsprint paper on top of the flower and a second piece of
cardboard on top of that.
3.
Attach the
top board and tighten with the wing nuts.
Lay aside for at least a week depending upon the thickness of the flower.
To use a heavy book:
1.
Open a
heavy book to the center. Sandwich your
flower or clover between two pieces of newsprint paper and close it in the
book.
2.
Place some
more books or weight on top and set aside for a week or so.
3.
After the
flower has dried carefully remove it from the book.
To make the pendant:
1.
Gather your supplies. After your
flower or clover has dried carefully remove it from your pressing device.
2.
Add a tiny
dab of tacky glue in the center of the pendant.
This is just so that the flower or clover stays stationary while you are
working.
3.
Do not
shake the ModPodge dimensional glue, as it will cause bubbles to form. Begin adding the glue so that it fills up the
pendant to the edges. It will go on
cloudy but will dry clear.
4.
Set aside
and let dry several hours or overnight.
5.
Loop a
piece of 1/8” wide ribbon and insert into the top loop of the pendant; pull the
other two ends through to knot at the top.
Tie a knot with the other ends to finish. Or you may optionally use a ball chain.