Learning how to press flowers can be a fun and rewarding project for children. Chrysanthemums, marigolds and even late zinnias are just a few of the autumn flowers that can be pressed for later use. Use pressed flowers in greeting cards, paper making or just about any other craft. Here are a few tips to help your kids press some autumn flowers.
Choosing flowers
Send the kids on a fresh flower hunt. Flowers that have just bloomed are best for pressing. The colors are still vibrant and the flower is healthy. It just makes a better pressing flower. Make sure the kids gently check the flower for any critters before you press them. You wouldn't want to have any pressed insects or critters in the flowers, would you?
Choose flowers that don't have any moisture. This can be hard. Wait until the flowers have had a few days of sunshine only. This helps to deter mold that can grow on the flowers while being pressed.
If the kids want to add some green, like stems and leaves, to the pressed flowers, that is fine. So that the green parts don't fade over time, rub a little glycerin over the stems, leaves or greens. Glycerin can be found in most craft stores, or take a small paintbrush and paint the greens with fabric softener that contains glycerin.
Make your own press
You can take two thick pieces of wood and make a flower press. Get some plain butcher paper or newsprint. Place the paper on the wooden blocks, then place a regular piece of white copy paper. Arrange the flowers on the white paper. Make sure the flowers aren't touching each other. This will help them dry faster. Then place one more sheet of newsprint on the pile. Place the other wooden block on top and put a heavy item on top of the stack. Check the flowers every other day to see how they are progressing.
You can also press flowers in books. Do it the same way as with the two wooden blocks, using newsprint and copy paper. Be sure the book doesn't get ruined and the flowers don't leak through the pages. Thoroughly dry the flowers before you press them. Put extra books on top of the book you are pressing the flowers in.
Is there enough pressure?
The problem with most flower presses is whether there is enough pressure to press the flowers down flat. Be sure kids add on enough weight. Find some heavy objects, such as a set of glass mixing bowls or heavy books, to put on the press.
Professional flower presses are great gift ideas for kids. This takes the guesswork out of pressing flowers because all the equipment is there. Check in craft stores and home and garden stores for flower presses.
Use in crafts
Once the flowers are pressed and dried, use them in a variety of crafts. Use rubber cement or other clear glue to glue them onto holiday cards or other special-occasion greeting cards. You can also add them to stationery for a gift. Decorate a book cover with pressed flowers. Add some pressed flowers to a memory garden scrapbook. The possibilities are limited only by the imagination.
 | Children love to garden but can become discouraged by criticism or failure. Choose projects that are easy to accomplish and praise your children's efforts. The added confidence they gain will help them to become better gardeners and happier little people. |
 | Scarecrows aren't just for scaring crows anymore. They can be a lot of fun, putting an accent on the garden. |
 | The gardens are gone. The kids may be sad. After all, it was their time and effort. But it's time to preserve those memories by creating a kids' garden scrapbook. |
It's autumn and the leaves are starting to turn vibrant colors. Soon the New England landscape will be ablaze with hues of red, gold, and green and the leaves will begin to fall from the trees, carpeting the land with easily attainable specimens for a curious child to examine. |
Some gardeners keep journals. Kids can keep journals, too, even if they cannot write yet. Here's a few tips on how to get kids to keep a garden journal. |
