Pressed Flower Crafts: 13 Pretty Ways to Save Summer Blooms for Winter

Pressed flower crafts are blooming all over the internet right now. One little pressed flower pendant reel passed a million views in about a day this week, and you can watch the magic in this pressed flower pendant reel. It is easy to see the appeal. A flower you picked in July can sit on your Christmas tree in December, or turn into a card that makes someone cry happy tears. Pressing flowers costs nothing but time, and the results look like tiny works of art. Here are 13 ways to use pressed blooms in your home and your holiday gifts this year. Start pressing this weekend, and in two or three weeks you will be ready to make every one of them..

Pressed Flower Crafts to Make This Season

This is what one jar of pressed blooms can become: glass ornaments, cards, gift tags, a floating frame, bookmarks, coasters and a suncatcher. Every piece holds a little bit of summer. The best part is that pressed flower crafts need very few supplies, and most of them take less than an hour once the flowers are dry. Pansies, violas, daisies, ferns and small leaves are the easiest to start with. Pick a few favorites below and get pressing..

You will need: fresh flowers and leaves, a heavy book, parchment paper, clear glue, tweezers, cardstock, glass frames.

How to make it: 1. Press a mix of flat flowers and leaves. 2. Store them between paper in a folder. 3. Pick a craft and arrange the blooms with tweezers before you glue.

How to Press Flowers in a Heavy Book

Every one of these pressed flower crafts starts here. Pick flowers on a dry day, after the dew is gone. Lay them flat between two sheets of parchment paper inside a big heavy book, then stack more books on top. Leave them alone for two to three weeks and keep the book out of the sun so colors stay bright. Thin flowers like pansies and violas press best. Thick ones like roses can be split in half first. Which flowers grow near you?

You will need: fresh flat flowers, parchment paper, a heavy book, more books for weight.

How to make it: 1. Lay flowers face down on parchment inside the book. 2. Cover with parchment, close the book and stack weight on top. 3. Wait two to three weeks, then lift them out with tweezers.

Pressed Flower Crafts for the Tree: Glass Ornaments

Flat glass ornaments made of two clear panes are perfect for pressed flowers. Arrange a few blooms and a fern on one pane, set the other on top, and the flowers float inside like a little window. Tie on a velvet ribbon and hang it where the tree lights shine through. They make a sweet gift with the date written on a tag. Would you use flowers from your own garden or from a special bouquet?

You will need: flat clear glass ornaments that open, pressed flowers and ferns, tweezers, a velvet ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Open the ornament and clean both panes. 2. Lay flowers on one pane with tweezers. 3. Close it, check the layout and tie on a ribbon.

Pressed Flower Crafts for Christmas Cards

Of all the pressed flower crafts, a card with real blooms feels so much more personal than one from the store. Fold heavy cream cardstock, glue a few small flowers and a fern in a wreath shape on the front, and add a simple greeting inside. Red and white blooms feel festive, but any color works. Use a tiny bit of clear glue on the back of each petal so it lies flat. These are cards people keep for years. Who is on your card list this year?

You will need: cream cardstock, pressed flowers and ferns, clear craft glue, a toothpick, envelopes.

How to make it: 1. Fold the cardstock in half. 2. Arrange flowers in a circle on the front. 3. Glue each one with a toothpick dot of glue and press flat to dry.

Pressed Fern Gift Tags

Simple brown paper gifts look beautiful with a pressed fern tag. Glue one small fern and a tiny flower on each kraft tag, write the name with a white pen and tie it on with twine. It costs almost nothing and makes plain paper look rustic and lovely. You can make a whole stack in an evening. Ferns press very well and keep their green for a long time. Would you wrap everything in brown paper this year?

You will need: kraft paper tags, pressed ferns and small flowers, clear glue, twine, a white pen.

How to make it: 1. Glue a fern down the center of each tag. 2. Add a tiny flower at the base. 3. Write the name and tie the tag on with twine.

Floating Frame With Wildflowers

A floating glass frame shows off pressed flowers like a museum piece. Arrange wildflowers in an arch, a circle or a loose line between the two panes, and hang it where the light hits. Flowers from a wedding, a birthday or a garden walk turn into a memory you see every day. Keep it out of strong direct sun so the colors last longer. Which special flowers would you keep forever?

You will need: a floating glass frame, pressed wildflowers, tweezers, a soft cloth.

How to make it: 1. Clean both glass panes. 2. Lay the flowers on one pane in an arch. 3. Close the frame carefully and hang it on the wall.

Pressed Flower Bookmarks Sealed With Tape

Bookmarks are one of the quickest pressed flower crafts and a lovely gift for readers. Lay small flowers on a strip of cardstock, cover the whole thing with clear self laminating sheets or wide packing tape, and trim the edges. Punch a hole and add a ribbon tassel. Teachers, grandparents and book club friends all love them. You can make ten in an hour. Who in your life always has a book open?

You will need: cardstock strips, pressed flowers, clear self laminating sheets or wide clear tape, scissors, a hole punch, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Arrange flowers on a cardstock strip. 2. Seal both sides with laminating sheets or tape. 3. Trim, punch a hole and tie on a ribbon.

Pressed Flower Suncatcher for a Window

When the sun shines through pressed petals, they glow like stained glass, which makes this one of the happiest pressed flower crafts for winter. Sandwich flowers between two clear sheets of contact paper, trim the circle and set it into a wooden embroidery hoop. Hang it in a sunny window and enjoy the colors on gray winter days. Kids can help make these, and each one turns out different. Which window in your home gets the best light?

You will need: a wooden embroidery hoop, clear contact paper, pressed flowers and leaves, scissors, ribbon.

How to make it: 1. Lay flowers on the sticky side of one contact paper sheet. 2. Press a second sheet on top and trim to fit the hoop. 3. Set it in the hoop and hang it with ribbon.

Pressed Flower Crafts for the Coffee Table: Coasters

Glass photo coasters are made to hold a little picture, which makes them great for pressed flower crafts. Slide a small arrangement inside each one and you have a set that looks like it came from a gift shop. They are easy to wipe clean and the flowers stay safe behind the glass. Make a matching set of four for a hostess gift. What colors would match your living room?

You will need: glass photo coasters, pressed flowers, a square of cardstock for the backing.

How to make it: 1. Cut cardstock to fit inside each coaster. 2. Arrange a few flowers on the cardstock. 3. Slide it into the coaster and close the back.

Pressed Flower Jar With an LED Glow

A plain glass jar becomes a glowing lantern with pressed flowers on the outside. Brush a thin layer of decoupage glue on the jar, press on flowers and leaves, then brush another thin coat over them. When it dries, drop in a battery LED tea light. The petals glow softly in the evening, and it is completely safe since there is no real flame. It makes a lovely nightlight or table glow. Where would you set yours?

You will need: a clean glass jar, decoupage glue, a soft brush, pressed flowers and leaves, a battery LED tea light.

How to make it: 1. Brush a thin coat of decoupage glue on the jar. 2. Press on the flowers and smooth them with the brush. 3. Add a top coat, let dry and add the LED light.

Pressed Leaf Place Cards for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and pressed leaves make the prettiest place cards. Fold small cards from cream cardstock, glue one pressed autumn leaf and a tiny flower on the front, and write each name by hand. Guests can take them home as a little keepsake. If you love working with leaves, try our fall leaf crafts too. How many seats will be at your table this year?

You will need: cream cardstock, pressed autumn leaves and small flowers, clear glue, a fine pen.

How to make it: 1. Fold small rectangles of cardstock into tents. 2. Glue a leaf and flower on the front. 3. Write each guest’s name underneath.

Pressed Flower Lamp Shade

A plain lamp shade gets a soft garden look with pressed flowers. Glue ferns and flowers around the shade with a thin layer of decoupage glue, then seal with one more coat. When the lamp is on, the flowers show up as soft shadows. Use an LED bulb, which stays cool, and keep the flowers away from the bulb itself. This is one of the most surprising pressed flower crafts in the list. Would you put it in a bedroom or a reading corner?

You will need: a plain fabric or paper lamp shade, pressed ferns and flowers, decoupage glue, a soft brush, an LED bulb.

How to make it: 1. Plan your layout around the shade. 2. Brush on glue, press each flower down and brush a coat over it. 3. Let it dry fully before using the lamp with an LED bulb.

Pressed Flower Pendant in a Glass Locket

The pendant that went viral this week inspired the last of our pressed flower crafts. Instead of pouring anything, use a small glass locket that opens. Tuck a tiny pressed flower inside, like a forget me not or a sprig of baby’s breath, and close it. It is a sweet keepsake from a wedding bouquet or a memorial garden. It makes a meaningful Christmas gift that takes five minutes. Which tiny flower would you keep close?

You will need: a small glass locket that opens, tiny pressed flowers, tweezers, a chain.

How to make it: 1. Open the locket and clean the glass. 2. Place a tiny flower inside with tweezers. 3. Close it and add the chain.