DIY Framed Pressed Flowers

Today I am featuring my hip friend, DeMia Keppel and her beautiful project from the Craft Exchange. DeMia has the best coffee maker in the world, is a big deal with MAC cosmetics and just about the nicest person you’ll ever meet. This was such an unexpected craft, and the simple elegance of it became an instant favorite.  How gorgeous would this be in a collection on the wall?

Here’s what and how she made her project, in her words.

What did you make?
Glass pressed flower designs

Why did you choose it?
I’ve always been a nature lover and want to bring the outdoors in, through unique design esthetic.

What materials did you use?
Glass frame, flowers, leaves, stems, tacky glue, toothpicks, stack of heavy books and electrical tape.

Where did you get your materials?
Michaels & Home Depot

Cost of materials:
$10 each

How did you make it?

First, I carefully cleaned the glass, set the glass on a white sheet of paper to see the design come to fruition. Then I systematically cut only the needed elements from my 3 plants I purchased for the designs (I still have the plants in my garden). Once I decided on the design that worked best for the recipient, I used a toothpick to add a drop of Tacky clear glue under the petal, leaf or stem. Once the design was in place I added the top layer of glass and set a stack of heavy cookbooks to press the glass together and seal the design in place. I allowed the books to sit for ½ hr. Once set, I used electrical tape to clamp the edges of both pieces of glass together and put them back into the frames I purchased.

How long did it take per item?
Approx. 1 hour.

If you made it again, what would you change?
I would investigate more about the water content of certain plants. I found that once I pressed certain plants, I needed to remove the glass and clean around the design as water escaped during the pressing process.

Would you make it again and why?
Yes, it was a very cathartic craft. I put on music and was very relaxed and calm while making them. Additionally, I would make different sizes of frames for more impact on the overall design.