Pressing Daffodils

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Sent: 4/22/2011 7:52:02 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time
Subj: Pressing Daffodils

Dear Niels,

  Your request was forward to me by my son, Drew, as I have been pressing flowers to make note cards, gift enclosure cards, and book marks which are currently sold in a local gallery.  Let me see if I can explain the process.

  Some daffodils press well, others turn brown or are too tissue thin to show well.  Even some of the ones which turn brown can be used for certain occasions.  The blossom must be dry or will mold.  I have found those which hold their color best are small yellow or orange miniatures.  Have been pleased with a few larger ones but only those with short cups.  Cut the back off before pressing to make as flat as possible.  Another tiny flower can always be used in center when displaying if it leaves a hole.  I have only had luck pressing face-on, not the side as it is too thick.  As yet, have not tried slicing in half before pressing to overcome that problem.  It is generally a matter of chance as to how they turn out, but that is part of the interest.

  I have had flower presses made, but determined that large phone books really work easier and better.  Go to an artist supply center and get plain newsprint.  It comes bound together in book form.  In the past I had large pad of this which I cut into phone- book size sheets, but have only found smaller pads of it lately.  You do not want waxed paper or any thing shiny as it must be absorbent and the reason you use it within the phone book is so the ink does not transfer to your blossom.  These sheets can be used over and over.  Open the phone book, place a sheet of the newsprint inside, lay your blossoms out on this paper (none touching each other) and then another of the newsprint sheets on top.  Turn several sheets of phone book, repeat the process, until the book is filled.  Put heavy weights on top and as a general rule, would allow about two weeks to process.  When I get busy, they often stay in the book longer so see what works best for you.

  When storing, I use large envelopes for the pressed blossoms.  It is best for me to store them by color for quick reference as I do many flowers and leaves, not just daffodils.  These I have standing up in a box for quick retrieval.

  Some use watered-down glue to adhere to card surface, but except for intricate edging, I just lay my blossoms out on the card and move about with a dry thin stem until I am satisfied with my design.  I then carefully place a clear laminate over all, smooth it out, and trim the edges.  The laminate is 2.5 mil which comes from Gaylord Bros., Inc.  Anything thicker had a magnetic ability to pull the flower up as I tried to lay the laminate down.  Has occasionally been a problem even with 2.5 mil so have to be quick and precise.  On a folded card, I overlap on back an inch or so, but trim the other three edges.  Then again after folding the card, put a weight on for awhile to keep it flat.

  Have recently started laminating some flowers as bookmarks which I attach to front of plain note card with a dot of removable glue that I purchased in scrapbooking section of shop.  Punch a hole in top, insert ribbon, and it is sold as a gift/card at the gallery. 

  Found that some of the blossoms which looked good before laminating, were too thin and faded away in the process and not really noteworthy.  Some of the daffodils were in this category, but again, the little yellow or orange miniatures made great centers for larger flowers.  I’m still perfecting this process so am open to suggestions as to how to improve.

  Would also like to point out that one should not overlook leaves of all descriptions.  Some of the “pictures” come to life with the right leaf combinations.  I have even used the bark from my River Birch to make “baskets” filled with tiny petals.  These are time consuming so not much profit involved if for sale.  Was also pleased with petals from magnolia which turn a nice brown and make pretty background for daffodil blossom etc.

  In closing, since I started pressing flowers, leaves etc. I see all flora with a different eye.  Now I see the veins, variations, striations etc. that nature has provided.  I hope you will find it the same.

  Best wishes, and please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

Barbara McFarland