An easy practical way to store dried pressed flowers

I have been pressing flowers for over a year now. During this time, I have emassed an impressive collection of dried pressed flowers. Having so many flowers you suddenly realize it’s difficult to manage and organize. Ok, so how did it come to this you may ask? Here, I share my journey and show you an easy practical way to store dried pressed flowers.

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

If you are like me, you start pressing some flowers and don’t think too much about the entire process. You look for ways to use your beautiful flowers and you continue pressing more flowers. When I started pressing flowers, my preferred method was simply the ‘book’ method. I placed my flowers on printer paper and then placed that paper in a book with more books on top. You can check out my post on ‘Pressing flowers the old-fashioned way’. With this method, I just left the flowers in the book when I was not using them right away. No problem.

Then I started using a microwave flower press called Micofluer. This is a game changer. Now, I can press flowers anytime and they are instantly ready. Well, ready in about 1 minute. That’s a lot faster than the book method which takes 3-4 weeks. Well, suddenly, I accumulate a lot of flowers. No problem, I simply continue to place those flowers between the pages of books.

While the flowers keep quite well between the pages of books, it’s a horrible organizing system. I found myself going through all the books looking for the flowers I needed. A very time consuming process. Therefore, I studied a few methods online and came up with my preferred method.

Video How To

Materials Needed

There are three primary materials you will need:

• Acid-free heavy-weight paper (paper used for water coloring or markers). Paper weight of at least 110 lb. I like the 8.5 x 11-inch size. Here is a link to the paper I use.
• Acid-free, heavy-weight clear sheet protectors in the 8.5x 11-inch size. Here is a link to the sheet protectors I use. These sheet protectors fit a three-ring binder.
• Acid-free Glassine paper. Glassine is a smooth, glossy, and transparent paper. In addition, it’s air, water, and grease resistant. I bought a roll of this paper and cut it to the size that I need. Here is a link to the glassine paper I use. I originally bought this paper to wrap up an oil painting.

The easy practical process to store dried pressed flowers

Here is the process:

1. Cut the glassine paper to 8.5 inches wide and 12 inches long. In other words, cut the glassine paper to the width of the heavy-weight acid-free paper you are using. Add 1-2 additional inches to the length.
2. Take the glassine paper and place it on top of the acid-free heavy-weight paper. Line up the bottom of the glassine paper to the bottom of the acid-free heavy-weight paper. You will have an additional inch (or two) at the top to fold over.
3. Turn over the acid-free heavy-weight paper. Tape the glassine paper on the back side of the acid-free heavy-weight paper.
4. Turn the acid-free heavy-weight paper back to the front. Lift the glassine paper and place the pressed dried flowers on top of the acid-free heavy-weight paper.
5. Place the packet into one of the acid-free clear sheet protectors.
6. If using, place the sheet protector into a three-ring binder.

Because the glassine paper is transparent, you will be able to see exactly what is in your packet. Some people advocate writing the date and name of the flowers on the heavy-weight paper. I do this when I must look up the name of a new flower. However, I recommend that you write in pencil. Why? Well, once you use the flowers in a particular packet you will likely place different flowers in that packet. Yes, the packets are reusable.

In closing, after your flowers are safely stored in these packets, keep the packets out of direct sunlight. That’s all there is to this easy practical way to store dried pressed flowers. Good luck and I would love to hear your comments if you try this method.

Additional Gardening Information

You may want to check out the following post for more gardening ideas:

• DIY: Press flowers the old-fashioned way
• DIY resin coasters with dried pressed flowers