This DIY flower press can be a plant press too! It’s incredibly simple to make and use. Get ready for some beautiful pressed botanicals to use in all of your crafts!
The kids and I discovered the joy of pressing flowers in 2020, early in the period when we were all staying at home. It was such an easy and lovely pastime, and we really got into it!
In those days, we would use the old method of smashing flowers in heavy books. And while that definitely works, it’s just not as effective as a real press.
So we created a very simple and quick DIY flower press to use with all of our pressed flowers or pressed plants.
Why Press Flowers With Kids?
Making pressed flowers or pressed plants is such a satisfying craft idea!
It has a sense of excitement about it because you are never exactly sure how the flowers or plants will turn out after they’re pressed. The big reveal of taking a flower out of the press is such a cool moment.
It’s a great craft idea for families and kids for lots of different reasons.
- There is an element of patience that’s involved while the flowers are being pressed, and it helps to teach that some things are worth the wait.
- It’s extremely affordable, especially if you forage for botanicals or get them from friends and neighbors.
- You can find many teachable moments within the project, from naming and learning about the flowers that you chose to discovering the why and how of the drying/pressing process.
- There are so many things you can create from the flowers or plants that you press.
Other Family Friendly Craft Ideas
While you’re exploring your DIY flower press, be sure to try some other family friendly craft ideas with your family! We have a huge library full of great ideas.
Check out a few of our most popular craft projects for families and kids:
- Egg Carton Rainbow Craft for Kids
- Make a Wooden Toy for Kids
- How to Make a Cactus Slingshot
- How to Make a Painted Pineapple Ukulele
- Make Stuff: A Crafting eBook for Kids and Families!
- DIY Battleship Sweets Game
- DIY Chinese Checkers Game
What Can You Do With Pressed Flowers or Pressed Plants?
I love this DIY because there are so many parts of it to enjoy!
First, it’s a nice quick little intro to woodworking as you make the DIY flower press. Next, there’s the fun of gathering and pressing the flowers.
And finally, you’ll have plenty of pressed flowers or pressed plants to use in your creations once you’re done! There are plenty of different ways to use your pressed botanicals.
Bookmarks. Make our Bookmarks with Pressed Flowers! It’s a super simple and quick project, and a great idea for an easy gift to teachers, grandma, or classmates.
Art. Add your pressed flowers to frames and hang them to enjoy as art in your home.
Resin Creations. Use the technique we teach with these DIY Resin Coasters to create some beautiful botanical resin creations! You could make coasters, jewelry, paperweights, and more.
Botanical Candles. Add your dried flowers to candles to make them extra special.
Which Flowers and Plants are Best for Pressing?
When you’re collecting flowers or plants for pressing, there are a few things to consider to get the very best result!
Size. Note that some flowers will flatten out and be quite large, while others are pretty tiny. Be careful to choose flowers that are the size you desire. If you pick flowers that are overly large, you can always dry single petals from the flower as a substitute. It’s fun to try a variety and mix it up.
Shape. Flowers that are easily flattened will probably work best for this project. Thicker or more rounded flowers may not flatten as easily, and may not yield the best result. But always try things — you may be surprised!
Color. This one is more subjective, but as you collect flowers and botanicals it’s a good idea to envision how you want your final project to look. It can be fun to stick with a color palette, or try to make a rainbow, or use only leaves. Let your kids help decide on their own designs!
Botanicals. You can use your DIY flower press for more than just flowers! Leaves, herbs, plants, blossoms, and all kinds of other botanicals will also work really well.
Materials You’ll Need
The materials for this project are very basic! Chances are you have most of what you need in your garage or craft cabinet.
Two wood pieces. You’ll need two equally sized pieces of wood. I happened to find these wooden heart plaques for super cheap at my local craft store. You could also use scrap wood! Something around 3/4″ or 1″ thick works well.
Drill. A simple drill will do. You just need a drill bit the same size as your bolts.
Long bolts. You’ll need long bolts so that you can stack lots of layers of flowers in your press simultaneously. I used three bolts because of the shape of my heart press. If you’re making a square or rectangular flower press, use four bolts and place one at each corner.
Washers and wing nuts. The wing nuts make it nice and easy to tighten your press and flatten the flowers.
Cardboard. By stacking cardboard, you can press multiple layers of flowers at the same time.
Tissue paper. Stacking tissue paper in between the layers of cardboard helps to pull the moisture out of the flowers and dry them more efficiently.
How to Make a DIY Flower Press
Let’s make a DIY flower press!
Materials
- Two wood pieces of equal shape and size
- Drill
- Optional: clamps
- Long bolts
- Washers
- Wing nuts
- Cardboard
- Tissue paper
- Stack your two wood pieces evenly on top of one another. If you have clamps, clamp them in place.
- Mark the places where you’ll drill holes. If you have a heart like we show here, drill three holes. If you have a square or rectangular shape, drill a hole at each corner.
- Drill through both wood pieces at once to ensure that the holes line up.
- Insert the bolts into the holes, from the bottom upwards, through one piece of wood. Stack the other wood on top. Then place a washer and a wing nut on each bolt. Your DIY flower press is done!
- To press flowers, place a layer of cardboard, then a layer of tissue paper on the bottom piece of wood.
- Carefully place your flowers down in the exact shape you want them to dry.
- Layer another tissue paper and another piece of cardboard. You can continue to add layers of cardboard, tissue, and flowers to dry multiple layers at once.
- When you have all your layers ready, place the top piece of wood on the bolts and tighten it down with the wing nuts.
- Allow the flowers to sit and dry for a few days, then remove. If they’re not dried to your liking leave them another day or two.
Have Fun!
I hope you try and love this DIY flower press! Rate our DIY below or leave a comment to let me know if you try it out. xoxo
DIY Flower Press
A DIY flower press is a fun and easy budget craft idea to try with your family! Make beautiful pressed flowers at home.
Materials
- two equally sized flat pieces of wood
- long bolts
- washers
- wing nuts
- cardboard
- tissue paper
Tools
- drill
- clamps (optional)
Instructions
- Stack your two wood pieces evenly on top of one another. If you have clamps, clamp them in place.
- Mark the places where you'll drill holes. If you have a heart like we show here, drill three holes. If you have a square or rectangular shape, drill a hole at each corner.
- Drill through both wood pieces at once to ensure that the holes line up.
- Insert the bolts into the holes, from the bottom upwards, through one piece of wood. Stack the other wood on top. Then place a washer and a wing nut on each bolt. Your DIY flower press is done!
- To press flowers, place a layer of cardboard, then a layer of tissue paper on the bottom piece of wood.
- Carefully place your flowers down in the exact shape you want them to dry.
- Layer another tissue paper and another piece of cardboard. You can continue to add layers of cardboard, tissue, and flowers to dry multiple layers at once.
- When you have all your layers ready, place the top piece of wood on the bolts and tighten it down with the wing nuts.
- Allow the flowers to sit and dry for a few days, then remove. If they're not dried to your liking leave them another day or two.
Notes
When you're collecting flowers or plants for pressing, there are a few things to consider to get the very best result!
Size. Note that some flowers will flatten out and be quite large, while others are pretty tiny. Be careful to choose flowers that are the size you desire. If you pick flowers that are overly large, you can always dry single petals from the flower as a substitute. It's fun to try a variety and mix it up.
Shape. Flowers that are easily flattened will probably work best for this project. Thicker or more rounded flowers may not flatten as easily, and may not yield the best result. But always try things -- you may be surprised!
Color. This one is more subjective, but as you collect flowers and botanicals it's a good idea to envision how you want your final project to look. It can be fun to stick with a color palette, or try to make a rainbow, or use only leaves. Let your kids help decide on their own designs!
Botanicals. You can use your DIY flower press for more than just flowers! Leaves, herbs, plants, blossoms, and all kinds of other botanicals will also work really well.
