Pressed flowers are whimsical, vintage, and preserve a moment in time Unlike a bouquet of dried flowers, pressed blooms are perfect for framing, DIY projects, or creating your very own handmade cards.

Here are two different methods for pressing flowers.

All you'll need is a few supplies from around your house and some blooms.

Newspaper; Blotting Paper; Flat cardboard; or Plain Facial Tissues to absorb moisture and aid drying. Your goal is to dry flowers as quickly as possible to prevent browning. Avoid paper towels with texture because that can get imprinted on the petals.

Pick flowers that have a single layer of petals like the pansy, echinacea. Eucalyptus and fern make for some amazing pressed leaves.

This is the easiest way to press flowers!

You can start by placing the flowers between two layers of absorbent paper, then placing heavy books on top.

OR

Place the flowers between the pages of the book itself. Some flowers might stain so add a layer of blotting paper between the page and the flower. Weigh down the top of the book with a brick or other heavy item.

Let the flowers dry for a week before checking on them. The process might take a couple of weeks.

Like the book method, start by pressing the flowers between two pieces of absorbent paper.

Heat iron to a low setting with no water. Remember, we are trying to get rid of the moisture.

Place the flowers between two sheets of absorbent paper and press the warm iron on top of the sheet of paper for 10 to 15 seconds. Just pressing. Repeat the process till the flowers look dry.

For the most part pressed flowers are able to maintain their natural color for a very long time, but eventually some amount of fading is inevitable.

Frame them, place them on greeting cards, or take your gift wrapping skills to the next level.