Pressed Flowers By Preserved Gardens

Pressed Flower Information
Flower Examples
Foliage Examples
Grass Examples
Herb Examples
Natural Materials
Glue and Seal Pressed Flowers
About Matting
Framing Pressed Flower Pictures
Saving Funeral Flowers
Shipping Fresh Flowers
Book Reviews

Flower Preparation
Conditioning Fresh Flowers
Pressing Simple Flowers
Press Full Open Roses
Fruit and Vegetable Preparation
Dying Flowers and Foliage
Preserve Foliage with Glycerin

Projects
Pressed Flower Magnets
Pressed Flower Book Box
Pressed Flower Luminaries
Marbleized Papers
Sticker Glue
Examples of my Work

Gluing Your Pressed Flowers

Use an acid free glue stick or glue pen to apply a tiny amount of glue to the paper, then place the ferns, foliage and flowers the glued paper. If that doesn't stick, try just a tiny dot of white glue, like "Elmer's" or Aleen's Tacky glue, applied to the back of the flower with a toothpick. Put pressure on your picture while it's drying by putting it in a press or placing books on top. Before framing the picture, make sure you let the glue dry completely and then seal your picture to protect it.

I prefer either of these two types of glue, depending on what I'm working on.

Sealing Pressed Flowers

For sealing the flowers I like Perfect Paper Adhesive. It's an acid free transparent adhesive and sealer with a UV inhibitor. Using the matt formula, you can't see it on the flowers, the gloss will give a shiny finish.

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DMP (dried material preservative) a pump spray available at most craft supply stores, like Michael's. DMP seals and makes the flowers more pliable and offers a slight amount of UV protection.

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Krylon makes an anti-UV clear acrylic sealer in a spray can that will probably be available at any store that carries the DMP. It should also be available at stores that sell spray paint.

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Other options include cold or heat lamination if you don't mind plastic on your project. For some things, such as bookmarks this can be desirable.

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I also use a spray called "Clear Coat"...it's a plastic paint that's used on playground equipment, usually sold in a can to be brushed on. It comes in bright colors which is easy to find, but also clear which is harder to find.

Clear Coat is also available in a spray can which is harder to find, and even harder to find in clear. They DO make it, I've been told at stores that they don't... if anyone tells you this, don't believe them; just keep looking. When you find it, buy as much as you can and horde it.

My favorite, however is a non-water based polymer that I mix up myself. I like it because it doesn't discolor the flowers or react with other chemicals such as resins.

It also serves to seal the flowers and doesn't show at all when it's dry. I prefer not to share that formula though, because it contains a chemical that requires special handling.