The Book Pressing Method
If you are looking for an easy method to preserve flowers with the least amount of risk, you can try pressing up your flowers in a book. However, this does not mean that the process will speed up, it could easily take up to a month. But the amount of effort and work up front is significantly less. The results are consistently wonderful, and there is minimum upkeep and effort that goes into this task. The only drawback of this technique is that it works best when the stem is removed.
To begin, you will need a heavy book, such as a dictionary or a directory, a pair of scissors, and few sheets of paper. Start by removing as much of the stem as you possibly can, leaving the flowers down to the heads. Open the book to the center and place papers over the pages. Close the book to create a crease so that the paper does not move. Finally, place the flowers inside the book, close to the middle, close the book and press it flat.
The paper will absorb the moisture from the flowers eventually. You can monitor the progress every once in a while to see how much they have desiccated. You can also replace the paper to create a dry, fresh surface for the flowers. After about four to five weeks, you will find perfectly fried blooms that will last forever.
Microwave Pressing Method
The microwave pressing method is a slight upgrade over the book pressing method. The radiation emitted inside the microwave heats up the moisture in the flowers, which turns into vapor and escapes, leaving behind dried blooms.
While the method may seem scary and unusual to some, it is a perfectly quick way for people who want to save time and resources. However, since it is a shortcut, it has higher chances of producing unwanted results or mixed results that may not be the best.
So, if you want to give it a try, you will need two ceramic plates (microwave friendly), two coffee filters, and obviously, a microwave. Put the ceramic plate inside the microwave and place a coffee filter over it. Put the flowers on top and cover them up with another coffee filter. Finally, put the other ceramic plate on top. Set the timer for one minute. Once the time is complete, take it out to assess the dryness. Replace the coffee filters if you have to, and repeat the process until the blooms are completely dry.
Conclusion
The above techniques are quite simple and easy. They can easily turn any flowers into beautiful mementos. You can experiment with different techniques and figure out which of them provides the best results. The traditional air-drying method provides the best results, but if you want to save time, we suggest that you go with the microwave method.
