Create a pressed flower artwork - Butterfly Ranunculus

Pressed Flower Projects

Create a Pressed Flower Artwork - Butterfly Ranunculus

There are many different ways you can use your pressings to create something decorative for your home. One option is to turn a single stem into a pressed flower artwork.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Butterfly Ranunculus pressings
• Acid-free, off-white mount board
• Scalpel or scoring tool
• Scissors
• Scrap paper
• Glue - we use Mod Podge in the matt finish
• Small paint brush
• Pins
• Tweezers

FLOWERS USED:

• Butterfly Ranunculus

Pressed Flower Artwork

Step 1: Score a border onto your mount board using a scalpel or scoring tool - we like to do this as it helps to frame the pressing and gives the artwork an elevated feel.

Step 2: Next, it's time to play around with composition. If you have a perfect specimen, this could be placed straight onto the board and look beautiful as it is. Or, you can reconstruct a flower by delicately placing parts onto the board and experimenting with different compositions.

Tips for Composing a Pressed Flower Artwork

• Start with one central hero stem that fits within the frame nicely, and build from there
• Think about how the flower grows naturally
• Embrace and encourage the natural curves
• Slow down and take your time to try different things
• Overlap several pressings to create a more interesting look
• Give space to each element of the specimen
• Make use of extra elements you have pressed and add them in
• You can trim stems to suit the composition you want
• Hide the intersection of multiple stems with a leaf that you've pressed separately

Step 3: Once you're happy with the composition, take a picture to use as a reference and to help you remember where each element sits on the page.

Step 4: Carefully lift off the top layers of your composition and put to one side, until you reach the very first layer on the board.

Step 5: Use pins to mark exactly where the pressing lies on the board.

Step 6: Pick up the pressing and lift it out of place using tweezers, being careful not to move the pins, and place it upside down on a scrap piece of paper ready for glueing.

Step 7: Moving quickly and precisely, apply glue to the pressing using a paintbrush. Start in the centre of the flower and gently brush outwards, and then brush upwards as you move down the stem.

Step 8: Place the pressing back onto your board with tweezers, glue side down, using your pins to ensure the placement is correct. For larger specimens, you can use the end of a paintbrush to help you lower it down into position.

Step 9: Use your finger to lightly press and secure it, then put a clean sheet of paper on top and press down firmly with your hand to make sure it is firmly glued down.

Step 10: Repeat this process for each element of your pressed flower artwork.

Step 11: Once each specimen is glued into place, check for any loose petals or leaves. Use a pin to gently lift the loose parts and apply glue using a paintbrush directly onto the board, then press the specimen down onto the glue.

Step 12: When you are finished, lay a clean piece of paper over the top of the entire artwork then weigh it down with some heavy books and leave it to dry overnight.

Step 13: We like to write the name of the specimen in calligraphy style onto the artwork, and then place it into a thin black frame for a modern look. Opting for UV protection art glass helps to slow the process of fading.