How to Preserve Flowers for Handmade Bookmarks and Art
Want to learn how to preserve flowers for handmade bookmarks and art? It’s a fun craft that lets you keep a special bouquet, dry your own flowers, or just get creative.

These bookmarks can hold your place in books while also adding a lovely touch to your reading space or coffee table.
There are several ways to preserve flowers, and we’ve put together easy steps and helpful tips on how to pick, prepare, and preserve your flowers.
Steps to Preserve Flowers for Handmade Bookmarks and Art
Here are the steps on how to preserve flowers for handmade bookmarks and arts;
1. Pick Your Flowers in the Morning

Go outside after the morning dew has dried, and choose flowers that are fully bloomed, not wilting or still budding.
For flowers with thick stems like roses, use pruning shears to cut them. If you want a specific color, pick a bright flower that will keep that shade when dried, like bright pink roses for pink petals.
2. Choose Flowers with Thin and Dry Petals

Look for delicate flowers like cosmos, pansies, and larkspurs, which don’t hold much moisture.
For flowers with thick centers, like dahlias or zinnias, remove the petals and dry them separately. Daisies and primroses work well for this method.
3. Air-dry Flowers 30 Minutes Before Pressing

Check the petals for any moisture. If they feel damp, lay the flowers on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area.
After 30 minutes to an hour, check to see if the petals feel dry. Once fully dry, you can proceed to press them. If you press a damp flower, it can get moldy over time. Don’t let the flowers dry for too long, or they won’t look fresh when you preserve them.
4. Trim the Stems Off Each Flower

Cut the flowers quickly so that no part of the stem is left attached to the blossom. For thicker, woody stems, use small pruning shears.
If you want, you can leave the stems on, but they will take up more space and reduce the number of flowers you can preserve.
5. Cut Thicker Flowers in Half

You can use scissors to cut thick flowers, like roses or carnations, down the center. This will make them easier to preserve. You can also keep both halves of the flower if you want.
6. Place Wax Paper Inside Book

Take a piece of absorbent paper and place it in the center of a large, thick book. The paper should be the same size as the book pages to fit all the flowers.
Make sure to use wax or parchment paper, not paper towels, as paper towels can leave patterns on the flowers.
7. Space Flowers on the Paper

Place the flowers on the absorbent paper with at least a small gap between them, and try to space them in a grid pattern.
Leave about an inch of space on all sides of the paper. Flowers will spread out when flattened, so spacing is important. If you’ve halved flowers, make sure the flat side is facing the paper.
8. Place Another Wax Paper Sheet

Tear off a second piece of absorbent paper, making sure it’s the same size as the first. Place it carefully over the flowers, aligning the edges.
It’s okay if the paper comes out a little from the book, it will be easier to find the flowers later.
9. Close Book and Add Weight

Place a heavy item, like a cinder block or another thick book, on top of the book to help flatten the flowers evenly.
Ensure that the weight is spread out across the whole surface. Leave the book in a safe place where it won’t be disturbed. You can stack more books on top for extra pressure.
10. Wait Two Weeks to Flatten

Leave the book closed for at least 2 weeks. While it might be tempting to check earlier, the flowers won’t be fully dried or flattened yet.
After 2 weeks, check to see if the petals are dry and flat. If they are, you can gently remove them.
Tips for Selecting and Preparing Your Flowers
Here are some of the tips for selecting, picking and preparing your flowers;
1. Choose flowers that are fully bloomed and free from blemishes or dark spots.
2. Ensure to pick flowers in the morning once the dew has dried.
3. Make sure flowers are completely dry, as damp ones can get moldy.
4. If you’re using a bouquet, keep it in water until you’re ready to press the flowers. (Tip: Cut the stems at an angle, put the flowers in a vase with flower food, and replace the water daily).
5. For large flowers with layers of petals, you might want to separate the petals before pressing and put the flower back together later if you wish.
Pressed flowers are great for different crafts. If you have a garden journal, you may choose to iron the flowers between two sheets of wax paper to keep them in your notebook.
You can also laminate flower petals on thin paper to make bookmarks, or use them to create homemade greeting cards.
Feel free to experiment with different flower types, colors, and styles to make your crafts unique.