flowersandhomes.com
Make a beautiful home with dried flowers
Archive for May, 2008
“Making a dried flower bouquet is a real enjoyable experience. I just love making one! So, why don’t you try it with me?”, Craftslove.
Dried flower bouquets are very pretty pieces of adornment that can be very easily made out of a little imagination and an eye for the art.
Start of with implanting a flower bed with plenty of flowers that look great when dried. Pick on those species and types that generally dry well, dry faster and yet look pretty. Some good ones that dry easily would be baby’s breath, straw flower and statice.
Now pick up an assorted bunch of blooming open flowers.
While drying the live flowers don’t cut of the stems. Better leave them attached, they will help in hanging. Put the flowers clipping them on a string and live them hanged upside down to dry. The inverted p[position will make the flowers strong the stems more straight. That way the flowers will last even longer.
Now take the dried flowers, arrange them in an array with single colour flowers in the centre and the foliage and leaves surrounding making a nice dried flower bouquet arrangement. Now put the entire thing in a vase and set it somewhere on the mantelpiece or on a center table and enjoy the sleek beauty.
read comments (0)
Hi guys! Here’s Craftslove once again at your creative service! You must have got a rose bouquet as a Prom Queen or carried a nice poppy bouquet on your wedding day. But after some time you find it shedding the petals and all, and you feel sad as your treasured bouquet starts decaying. So why not find some ways of keeping it for some more time making something chic out of it.
So follow us. Firstly, if you have a nice, big and sturdy bouquet you can’t just leave it to dry like that as that will make it look just like a bunch of dead and decaying flowers. So that won’t work, you have to find some other way out.
The first trick is to make a nice centerpiece with some of the dried rose blooms stuffing them neatly inside a glass vase, a see through one.
So how do you do that?
• You dry the full open blossoms with silica gel powder before they can actually start drying on their own. If the later happens then it can lead to the petals turning too brittle for an arrangement. See that the flower buds dry in whole.
• Next, find a nice crystal or glass vase, a transparent one and add a little creativity. Insert the roses into the vase one after the other or if you have an open vase, then arrange the petals accordingly in symmetry with a glowing candle at the center.
That makes your dried rose centerpiece ready featuring the flowers of one of your most cherished and treasured fresh flower bouquets.
Dried Flowers: Preserving the dried flower arrangements
Author: admin
Imagine of one advantage of dried flowers over fresh flowers…simple, dried flowers tend to be there forever whereas the fresh ones just dry out and fall of as brownish mesh after some time. I personally prefer dried flowers very much. They not only look good, rather great but I cherish the entire idea of actually drying flowers and making nice stuffs out of them.
But then the key to dried flower arrangements is how do you preserve them, the dried blossoms require good care to retain the beauty. Why should just let your hard-earned rose or hydrangea blossoms dried with such care to wilt off and decay? So let me tell you some easy ways of how you can store your dried flowers well to cherish their out-of-this world beauty over and over again.
One of the greatest nuances of storing dried flowers is the occasional attack the florals may face from insects like museum beetles, roaches and silverfishes. These insects love chewing at the soft tissues of the plant centers leading to shattering of the petals and leaves and ruining your entire dried flower arrangement. It might be that they don’t infest in the flowers but visit them time to time from outside, get into the box or plastic you are storing and teethe it.
• So for the first place, keep an occasional eye on the boxes. In case you find any insects just pluck the destroyed parts, I mean the infected blooms and foliage and throw them off.
• In order to prevent this unwanted invasion ensure a tight sealing of the container.
• In you are using a particular container that was previously infested by insects wash it well before using it again.
• A few naphthalene flakes may yield some good help repelling the insects. You can also use any other insecticide for the purpose. But my experience says once a place, I mean a box or a container, if infested by any of these insects it’s the best to completely destroy it because full-proof abolition is not really possible.
• When it comes to dried flowers the best remedy from pest attack are perseverance and cleanliness.
• Dried flowers are not really everlasting. But with good care they may remain intact and beautiful for a long time.
• But even the best of dried flowers are destined to fade away sometime or the other, so it’s better to replace your floral arrangements with new ones as the older ones start fading away.
• In case you see your blooms fading a bit of colours you may tint the petals with a bit of aerosol paints for a little more durability. A little care and you see how cherishing your blooms look!!
Sounds weird right? But it is actually possible to adorned a nice fragrant soap with some dried flowers and make it look special. Come on let’s make one.
Here’s what you’ll need,
• Soap
• Some dried flowers and leaves
• Brush
• Decoupage Solution
This is how you decorate your soap:
1. Dry your flowers and foliage by air drying or the microwave method.
2. Now coat the soap on the side you intend to decorate on with a few coats of sealer with a paint brush. Allow the sealer coats to dry in between. This is necessary as this prevents the soap from discoloring the blossoms you use.
3. As the soap dries apply another coat of sealer and place the blossoms on the soap.
4. Again make sure that there are no air bubbles trapped amidst the petals or below them.
5. Again while it is still wet apply another coat of sealer.
6. Now as the entire thing dries up apply another 3 coats of sealer allowing drying them in between. The final coating ensures that the flowers stay on the soap even when in use.
So, you’re designer soaps ready!!
It’s really very hard and heart-stanching to see the slow and steady wilting if a favorite bouquet or a precious bunch of flowers someone special gave, isn’t it? So why not make something unique with the wilting leaves and the falling petals and preserve them for an extended period of time. You can make some very attractive dried flower placemats with the tips we give you, after some time the original colours of the petals will fade giving way to an exotic brown tinge.
Requirements:
• Dried flowers and foliage
• Clear contact paper
• Scissors
Now how do you precisely make one, here’s how…
1. You will need to cut two pieces of contact paper measuring about 12”X18” for every place mat.
2. Now take one piece and peel of the cover backing. Place it on a flat surface, a tabletop maybe, with the sticky side facing up.
3. Now break a few flowers and leaves from the stem arranging them on the sticky surface of the contact paper.
4. Press the florals well with your fingers to lay them flat. With some big blossoms you may remove the petals and use them individually for a better effect.
5. Now take the second piece of paper circle, remove the cover and place the sticky side on the arrangement you prepared right now.
6. In case you are unable to label the edges exactly, don’t worry, the wrinkles won’t mind as the florals will already produce a few. You just try your best to press all the florals as flat as you can. That’s enough to make your placemat look good.
7. Now trim around the edges a bit and cut off the extra bits and pieces. You can make the edges look embellished by cutting scallops or putting some coloured tape.
8. You can experiment a bit with the shapes of the placing mats or you can even try making a mobile one to hang up in the window.
Okay, you are done! Just have a look and appreciate your own creation. You can very well gift a few of these to some friend or relative on a visit. What do you say??
Imagine a mirror all adorned with nice dried flowers and foliage! Why make one or anyone else, make one for your self! It’s too pretty, believe me! You will surely love to have one and flaunt it at your look at times!
What all do you need,
• First, you need a hand mirror
• Secondly, some dried flowers and foliage (I personally prefer to do it with a small sunflower and some evergreen leaves, preferably eucalyptus)
• Some decoupage solution
• Finally, a brush
Instructions for you:
1. Again, start off with drying the flowers and foliage you intend to use in the traditional air drying procedure or with a microwave.
2. Now cover the back of the mirror with a coat of gloss sealer using the brush.
3. Now before the gloss sealer coating dries off place the leaves on the back of the mirror and coat it with another layer of the sealer.
4. As the coat dries, give another coat of the gloss sealer and this time place the flowers on the flower back.
5. But you have to place the flowers a little carefully, see that no air bubbles lay trapped below the flowers or the flower petals.
6. Now place another layer of sealer on the flowers with the brush.
7. When it all dries up apply three another coats of gloss but allowing drying in between the individual coats.
8. The final coats are necessary as they enhance the final design projection while the mirror is used to later on.
Wow!! There you have the dried flower adorned mirror, isn’t it pretty?
How about making something special for mom this time on Mother’s Day? We have a nice tip for you. We can guide you to make some unique coasters with dried flowers which will surprise mom like anything. The sheer beauty and elegance of this dried flower craft item is immense making them resemble some expensive gifts that cost a lot. So what do you say, let’s give mom a nice unbelievable surprise!
Here are some of the things you will need:
• An assorted bunch of dried flowers and leaves
• Natural colour plain vinyl placemats
• Scissors
• Twine or rope
• Clear contact paper
• Toothpicks
• A large glass or a small glass bowl
• Some tacky glue
• Felt
• Hot glue gun (low temperature)
• Marker
Instructions for you:
1. First dry the flowers and leaves by the traditional air-drying method or using the microwave.
2. Take the large glass or the glass bowl and trace four 5” circles on the back of the vinyl placemat you have.
3. Now cut out the circles.
4. Place one of the circles on the felt, mark and cut out matching felt circles. Use these to cover up the bottoms of your vinyl circles.
5. Take the circles and turn over. Arrange your dried flowers and leaves on the right end sides of the vinyl.
6. Apply a few swabs of glue with a toothpick so that the flowers and foliage remain in place.
7. Now cover the coaters with clear contact paper and spruce the out ends accordingly to the size of the coasters.
8. Now use the hot glue gun and attach a sturdy twine all around the edge of the coasters.
That’s it! The coasters are all ready! Mom will be overwhelmed!
A pressed flower weight is again an item very easily made-able and looks just too beautiful as well. Take our adept tips and make one of this one-of-its kind item to make an outstanding gift. Just follow…
You will need:
• A large rock with a smooth surface
• Some dried flowers and leaves
• A foam brush
• Decoupage solution
Instructions for you:
1. Dry some nice, fresh and open blossoms using the traditional air-drying method or else use the microwave.
2. Wash the rock you have selected thoroughly.
3. Once the rock is clear coat it with a layer of decoupage solution.
4. Now before the solution gets dried place an assorted collection of flowers and leaves on a flat surface of the rock.
5. Now again put another coating of decoupage solution on the flowers and foliage and leave it to dry.
6. As the rock is about to dry completely cover it with a few more coats of the solution. But between each of the coats don’t forget to carry individual processes of drying.
Once the rock is finally dried your dried flower paper weight is ready. Gift it to any one and we assure you a hearty appreciation.
A sunflower pencil is one unique dried flower gift that both requires just a little amount of time to make and is a very beautiful piece of hand-made gift indeed. And the way we will guide you, you will soon be potent enough to make not just one but an entire bunch. So, are you ready??
You need:
• A nice, strong pencil
• Green Pipe Cleaners
• Fall Flower or dried flower petals
• Pony Bead
Instructions for you:
1. Take a few flower pieces and poke through with the end of a pipe cleaner.
2. Now, tie it with a string to the pony bead and push the pipe cleaner end back through the flower pieces.
3. Wind around the string to secure a firm hold.
4. Wind the rest of the pipe cleaner around the entire pencil placing the flower head stuck up.
Isn’t that too easy? What will make you even happier is a nice warm smile on the face of your little bundle of joy when he glances at these unique presents just the first time. Good Luck!
Before you can start pressing some blooms there are a host of things you require having at hand. Here’s a list of all those necessities,
• A bunch of fresh delicate flowers
• A sheet of good quality paper for making cards (I personally prefer hand-made paper)
• Coffee filters
• The phone book
• Tweezers
• Glue
• Scissors
• A firm brush
Now the process begins.
- First, take your bunch of fresh flowers, sturdy with nice open blooms and leaves. Don’t go for too thick ones, applicable both for flowers and leaves as they take a lot of time to dry well. A few good examples of plants that dry very well and comparatively faster are, Buttercups, tiny daisies, California poppies, ferns, pansies and clovers.
- Next, press the flowers and the leaves carefully into a thick telephone directory. Be careful, see that none of the petals get destroyed or overturned. Some of the blooms may leave a slight yellowish tint on the pages amidst which they are pressed, so better use a book that is not that important. In case you want to protect the pages from discoloration, you can press them between flattened coffee filters which absorb the moisture in the bloom while they get pressed. It will take around two weeks for a nice pressing.
- Once the flowers and the foliage have dried remove them gently form the book with a lot of care. Now arrange them artistically on the sheet of paper. If you find some stems have gone array then you may trim a few with the scissors.Now remove the foliage and the flowers from the sheet of paper but remember exactly how you had placed them. Now brush a nice thin layer of glue onto the paper just in the places where you had placed the pressed flowers and foliage.
- Now with a very soft hand places the blooms back onto the places where they were placed previously. This may be a little messy. A tweezer may prove real handy.
- Now place all the blossoms and the foliage nicely stuck to the paper, see that each one lies flat on the surface of the paper touching the glue firmly. Now leave them entire array to dry.
So, the basic is ready for you. You can cut the paper into deemed shapes or fold into cards making nice accessories all together.