How do I Press Fresh Cut Flowers to Keep?

Harvest flowers in the afternoon on a bright and sunny day. This will ensure that the flowers petals are open and not wet from either rain or dew. Look for blemish-free flowers that are clean and have no loose petals. Take your flowers home immediately before they wilt.

Place a heavy book, like a phone book or encyclopedia, on a table or another flat working surface. Set your scissors and two sheets of clean white paper next to the book.

Snip the ends of the flower stems so they are slightly shorter than the length of the pages in the book or, if you prefer, snip the stems at the base of the flower. How long or short you leave the stem depends on the look you want to achieve.

Arrange the flowers on one sheet of white paper. Place them so they aren't crowded or overlapping.

Open the book about halfway. Place the sheet of paper with the flowers inside the book. Set another sheet of the white paper gently on top of the flowers. Close the book.

Carry the book to a location where it will not be disturbed. Stack several other heavy books on top of it. Leave the flowers inside the closed book, undisturbed, for one full week. Handle the pressed flowers carefully when you remove them from the pages of the book.