Easy and Quick Pressed Flowers

Do you have little patience to wait for dried flowers to be ready to frame? Me too! This is my quick and easy version. From picking the flower to ready to display, you will need less than 30 minutes!

First, find a flower you'd like as a keepsake or to give as a present! Try to pick one in the afternoon, long after the morning dew, so that it isn't damp.

Secondly, you will trim the flower of excess leaves or unsightly flowers and insert into a folded piece of parchment paper. This is the best way, I've found, as dainty flowers will stick to wax paper, etc.

Next you will want to put the flower (inside of the parchment paper) in the microwave. Place microwave safe heavy objects that will help press the flower while it dries in the microwave. All flowers are different therefore the time it takes to dry them and not burn them (!) varies. For this very thin petaled Plumbago flower it took a total of 2 minutes and 20 seconds. I allow them to "cook" for 30 second intervals, checking on them in between zaps to see how quickly they are drying out. Remember the items on top of the flower are hot, so be careful when removing those objects.

When the flower is done, frame it! You can embellish how you like. For this flower I added it to others I had previously pressed for a larger presence. Others, I use frames that you can see through on both sides because the backs are often as striking as the front. I've added poems, titles, dates, other flowers, background scenes... go crazy with that creativity!