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How to Make a Flower Presser

Whether you have a scientific interest in botany or you want to preserve a corsage or bouquet from a special occasion, pressing flowers properly can help you create a beautiful, long-lasting piece of art directly from nature. Flower presses are widely available in craft stores, but they can be costly. Making your own flower press at home is simple and inexpensive, and it only requires a few common tools and materials.

Things You'll Need

2 wooden boards,1/2-inch thick and 7 1/2-inches square
Sand paper
Pencil
Straightedge
Drill
4 bolts,1/4-inch diameter by 4 inches long
4 wing nuts
4 washers
Cardboard, 7 inches square, with 3/4-inch trimmed off of each corner
Blotting paper or newsprint, 7 inches square, with 3/4-inch trimmed off of each corner
Plain white paper, 7 inches square, with 3/4-inch trimmed off of each corner

Instructions

- 1
  Sand any rough edges from your wooden boards.
- 2
  Draw two diagonal lines from corner to corner, intersecting in the middle, on each of the boards. Measure and mark a spot 1/2-inch in from each corner on each of the lines on each board.
- 3
  Drill a 1/4-inch-diameter hole at each of the places you marked on each board.
- 4
  Place a piece of cardboard, a piece of blotting paper, two pieces of white paper, another piece of blotting paper, and another piece of cardboard on top of your first board. The flowers you press should be placed between the two pieces of white paper, leaving space between each flower you place on the page. Repeat this order of materials to stack as many flowers as desired, then place your second board on top and close your press with the bolts, washers and wing nuts.

Nature