How to Dry Sunflowers & Place Them in a Clear Frame

Drying the Sunflower

• 1

  Pull away the excess, brown or damaged foliage from around the sunflower’s head. Cut the sunflower’s stem to approximately six inches in length. Choose a sunflower bloom that isn’t oversized and fits inside your shadow box.

• 2

  Cut off a six inch chunk of yarn. Tie one end of the yarn around a hanger and the other around the sunflower’s stem. Hang the sunflower in a dry, dark place for at least two to three weeks. A closet, unused room or attic is an ideal environment.

• 3

  Remove the sunflower from the dry, dark space and cover the head with a light coating of hairspray. The hairspray preserves the head without discoloring the petals.

Mounting the Sunflower

• 4

  Remove the back of the shadow box and cover it with decorative items. Use wallpaper, decoupage glue and decorative paper or photographs to decorate the backing of the shadow box.

• 5

  Mount the sunflower’s on the back of the shadow box with straight pin. Place a dab of hot glue on the back of the sunflower’s head and hold it against the back of the shadow box for 30 seconds.

• 6

  Add more decorative elements to the shadow box, if desired. Otherwise, secure the back against the frame and display your shadow box.