Pressing flowers.

I pressed flowers some years ago Mage, but must have thrown the press out at some time,

I use to do it with the children many years ago ..

Nice idea for Autumn days. Thank you. Will have a go.

I used to do this craft very often in the past making cards and gifts, , you have reminded me just how enjoyable it was, Harry made the flower presse's fror myself and our two Grandchildren when they were young, we used to enjoy our trips to the meadows and woods collecting materials, Thanks for this blog and the lovely memories it has awakened, might just have another go at this lovely craft;0))

Think the last time I did this was at school - thanks for bringing back memories :)
Personalized gifts and cards are special :)

I remember pressing flowers when I was a kid, thats when one was allowed to pick the wild flowers.......

did this alot when the girls were small, but not lately. I think I might re start. I'd forgotten the fun in this. thanks for the blog.

Very attractive cards - you will have started us all off grandmage!

Lol everyone!! As I started reading your comments I began to feel rather old!! you all mentioned......'bringing back memories', 'years ago', 'when the kids were young' etc. I know its a very 60's, 70's thing isnt it but to tell the truth I have only just started to do it again and yes it is relaxing and enjoyable, also you take a look around your garden more often, looking for little flowers and bits to press, i love it. I am glad I have stirred your memories and if you start up the hobby that is great also. Thanks all, Yorks, Amy, Diane, Pp.Scottish, Lincs,Sbg. Hb.& Stera, you are all so kind.

How lovely, and an interesting hobby. It's nice to do something artistic :o)

when the kids were young isnt that long ago. the youngest is 15 next week. so not that long ago. didnt mean to make you feel old :o)

I was only joking Sb. they say you are as old as you feel!! My youngest is 30 now, so some days I feel ancient Lol.
Thanks Hywel, its nice to share our hobbies isnt it? Are you making any pots at the moment?

Not yet lol ... There's always something else ... I'm doing lots of drawings though :o) I can put those down when needed ... but with pottery I need a whole day, because it's so messy :D

Pressed flowers are so important. I would love to have a free pass in the Kew archives & have a look at the specimens that historical plant hunters collected.
I have an orchid that I pressed & framed years ago. Odontoglossum Grande, cannot get that orchid now but the flower is on the living room wall as a reminder. Must be 22 years old now & faded but it's special.
I'll try & get a photo up if I can Grandmage.

Brilliant Bampy, maybe you should get in touch with Kew and tell them you have a rare specie on your wall! I had forgotten about the pressed flowers @ Kew, wouldnt it be wonderful to take a peek? Would love to see a photo Bampy.

Good for you, not done it for years, hands not up to it now, only good for gardening and cake making lol

Well Dd. thats enough to be going on with, must admit its fiddly when glueing and you need tweezers and glasses, strong lamp, magnifying glass etc...............Lol

Good blog :o))) Great ideas.

Thanks TT. just something to while away the dark nights!

That bought back memories, Grandmage. I made myself a flower press some years ago and made several flower collages, etc. I wonder if it is still up in the loft somewhere but think it may have 'gone' during my last move. I've just used a large book to press the corsage my daughter gave me for her wedding.

It was a very 70's thing isnt it Gee? but suddenly thought of starting up again! Lovely idea to press your corsage, it will be a nice memory for you of a lovely day.

is this as simple as it looks, i dont have a press but have plenty of big heavy books and greaseproof paper, would that work too, what are the best flowers to press, would it just be ones that are naturally flat like dasies or could y press any flower like a snapdragon or lupins, i think its a great thing, would be lovely to make xmas cards xx

Oh how lovely Grandmage, and what a gorgeous card! A really enjoyable blog my friend.. Have added it to my Favourites\0/x

Hello Andrea, yes this is really simple, pick the flowers you like the best, as you say flatish ones are easier to press and blue flowers especialy hold their colour well, I think you could disect lupins etc. and press smaller parts, also leaves and other bits too. Now I am not sure about greaseproof paper?? Blotting would be better if you can get some because it takes the moisture out of the flowers nicely and of course heavy books are just the job. I do hope you enjoy making your cards, it is a very relaxing hobby.

Dearest Flori you say the sweetest things x thank you.

thanks grandmage, yeah blotting paper i will get x

:) hope you find some Andrea.

Very pretty yes I have in between books then when I open the book little insects alive are in the page lol.

Hilarious 6d. hopefully squashed though!!!

The flowers squash but the little insects alive and running hehe. Use to watch my mum press the flowers in books.

Yes this craft does go back years doesnt it 6d. When my uncle died and we cleared his house we found pressed flowers galore, in books and old cards going back some sixty years and more.

Yes it does and would be a shame for it to ever die out, I wonder if you could put them into furniture like they do the paper flowers then varnish over.

Lovely blog g'mage. The answer to your question is yes 6d. My mother had an old 3 leaved draft excluder which she decorated with scraps - does anyone remember them, dried flowers and photos. It was then varnished. she still had it at her last move but dk where it is now. My aunt decorated a chest of drawers using scumble and then dried flowers before covering with yacht varnish. It is lovely.
I can go back 60 years to doing flower pressing. . Life was so uncomplicated then. Pansies pulled apart are good subjects for drying this way. Making rag rugs was another winter pastime. I don't think we would have had time for tv and computers we were busy from dawn to dusk.

Thank you Scotsgran , yes I too have pegged rugs, counting cross stich, tapestry, knitting, crochet, now painting when I feel up to it, not many youngsters want to learn nowadays, which schools don't have as many lessons on these like they use to, no wonder the kids turn to other things, not taught to occupy their mind with no jobs out there for them and no money to keep them not affording any of these things to occupy them, my mum always said the devil makes work for idle hands and she was right.

Lovely to see this again G......I used to make and sell pressed flower pictures years ago, I really loved it and main flowers would be voilas and anything flat, and that reminds reminds me I've some flowers pressing from last year....now which book were they in???.......:))

Lol, Janey I used to put mine in books but found sometimes they spoilt the pages :( I don't think folk do this craft anymore, do they?

No I think it must be out of fashion right now, I used to enjoy stencilling too, our old house was covered in it....lol!
It is coming back in fashion, maybe more subtle colours, so who knows, flower pressing here we come....:))