Beautiful spring wildflowers are everywhere! Take some home and keep them forever. Press and dry them! And then, oh, all the things you can do–including decorate the wonderful, the inimitable, the endlessly versatile, the sweetly simple canning jar.
(Aren’t canning jars amazing? What can’t you do with a canning jar?)
You can decorate a jar for all sorts of purposes, from holding your pencils to an actual jar of preserves to dress up a gift of jam, but flowers and candles go together like….flowers and candles! (I am SO PROFOUND.)
The simplest way to press flowers is the same way you did it when you were a kid. Separate flowers from the stems and carefully lay them down on a sheet of paper, cover with another sheet of paper then press between the folds of a book. Stack up more heavy books on top. Most light, delicate flowers will press flat in a matter of hours or overnight, but you’ll need to keep them pressing longer to thoroughly dry out. How long it takes flowers to dry varies by the flower type, but you can speed it up by drying them in the microwave. (Press the flowers at least a few hours or overnight before drying in the microwave.)
To dry flowers in the microwave, place the pressed flowers between sheets of paper on a microwave-safe plate. Place something else, microwave-safe, on top.
I’m going to ask you to excuse me for using a dirty bread pan here. I just want to show you how I press the flowers while drying them in the microwave while being a real person who sometimes uses a dirty bread pan as a weight.
Heat them in short bursts, 15-seconds on high, until dry. Let the flowers cool completely between bursts of heat. Light, delicate flowers will dry quickly by this method and you can get on with the fun!
To adhere pressed, dried flowers, use a clear craft glue.
Thin the glue with water. This isn’t rocket science or brain surgery–don’t worry too much about how much water and how much glue. I filled the bottom of this small container with water then squeezed some glue in and stirred it up with the brush.
Place a dab of the thinned glue on the jar where you want to place the flowers. Transfer the flowers carefully–tweezers are a good way to move them.
Place each flower as you want it and press down lightly with the back of a spoon. (It’s better not to use your fingers.)
Once you have each flower placed, brush lightly over each flower with the thinned glue mixture to seal.
The nice thing about this method, as opposed to using a varnish, is that if you ever want to do something else with the jar, you can simply wash it with hot water and soap to remove the flowers.
You can apply the flowers in any design you like, all on one side of the jar or wrapping around the jar. Get as creative as you like. You could add all sorts of other dried materials including leaves if you want.
I’m using a candle here in a very pale, barely there eggshell blue (you can’t even see the blue, it’s so light, in these pictures) with a “rain” scent.
For more on making your own candles, see how to make container candles.
Or see all my candlemaking posts here.
Go get some wildflowers and press them–we have to trap Spring and keep her here FOREVER!!!
claudia w says:
Good Morning Suzanne! That is such a great idea to do with candles and spring flowers! The whole time I was reading this I was thinking “What a great way to keep Spring around!” And that’s exactly what you were thinking. I love your pale, pale blue rain candle…very pretty!
On April 19, 2010 at 1:44 am
Julie says:
A very pretty and easy idea! I LIKE easy!
On April 19, 2010 at 3:13 am
Thunja says:
love this
On April 19, 2010 at 4:50 am
carsek says:
So pretty and sounds easy!!
On April 19, 2010 at 4:54 am
Carmen Smith says:
What a great idea! Those look wonderful:D
On April 19, 2010 at 7:18 am
Barbee' says:
That turned out really nice! Good choices. My mom used to press flowers and arrange them in small oval shaped frames. Amazing what artistic people can do… that I never would have thought of. I love seeing your spring wildflowers. My little treed area is too dry for most kinds.
On April 19, 2010 at 7:26 am
CindyP says:
That is simply beautiful! It has been sooo long since I pressed flowers, probably when I was kid!
On April 19, 2010 at 7:30 am
Kacey says:
That is so pretty, Suzanne! What a great idea!
On April 19, 2010 at 9:40 am
Susan at Charm of the Carolines says:
Lovely! I never would have thought to do this or know it’s possible! Now I have another project to add to the list.
Susan
On April 19, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Imogene Burdette says:
Suzanne, I know this is off the subject, but do you know if there’s such a thing as miniature sheep, and where might we find two? Imogene B.
On April 19, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Imogene, there are some mini sheep called Babydoll Southdown sheep. You can find out more about them here: https://www.nabssar.org/
I don’t know where you would buy them, but you could probably find breeders by an internet search.
On April 19, 2010 at 3:51 pm
DonnaTN says:
I took a couple of botany classes in college and loved collecting and pressing flowers. It might be time to try that again.
On April 19, 2010 at 5:16 pm
melissa says:
What a sweet idea. I have a copy of my wedding invitation framed with pressed flowers attached much in the same way. It was a gift from my cousin. She saved the invitation she received in the mail and then paid a woman to attach the flowers and frame. That would be a great little side business for someone.
On April 19, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Runningtrails says:
I used to make dried pressed flowers all the time, years ago! I had forgotten all about doing that! Hmmmm…I think I will have to get a book ready. We are a few weeks behind you here, not many flowers blooming yet.
On April 19, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Amber says:
I love it!! I can’t wait to try this. :happyflower:
On April 19, 2010 at 8:25 pm
SuzzyQ says:
I use canning jars to contain leftovers in the refrigerator. I like using glass much more than plastic and you can see exactly what you have in there for lunch/dinner.
On April 19, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Sandy says:
Oh SO lovely. I should have my Balcony Girls group do this!
On April 21, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Jane says:
This is a great idea for the kids to do during the summer. Then I will take them to the open market and let them try to sell the ones that they will not be giving away for presents. I love the way you are able to live the life that you always wanted too. I think your kids are great, too. They seem to have adapted to the country life very well.
On July 13, 2010 at 12:35 am