Flower Gardens

» Cottage_Garden - Dried Flower Instructions -- General

Here are some overall instructions on drying flowers from the University of Missouri extension site. It includes suggested types to dry.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - How to Dye Dried Flowers

Here are directions on dying dried flowers. This web site from Preserved Gardens offers a lot of helpful information.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - Seal and Frame Pressed Flowers

Preserved Gardens also has detailed directions on how to seal and frame pressed flowers.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - how to seal pressed flowers details

Prize winning pressed flower artist Kate Chu offers terrific instructions on how to seal pressed flowers.

She is a member of the Worldwide Pressed Flower Guild.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - Recommended Dye to Use on Dried Flowers

You may want to use specialty floral dyes. Please visit the web sites for more information straight from the manufacturer.

Here is one brand of floral dyes, Design Master. I have seen them recommended numerous times.

Koch also makes floral dyes and is often recommended. The web site includes helpful information and also refers readers to some more detailed technical bulletins for commercial operations.

Rit dye is also suggested occasionally. This is a widely available and relatively inexpensive fabric dye that is used in many craft projects.

Please understand I have not personally used these products to dye flowers. I am listing them because I have seen them widely recommended by many different sources.

I hope this helps!

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - Watercolor Paint & Pastels

Pat Smith of sonshinecrafts (and a founding member of the Worldwide Pressed Flower Guild) mentions using watercolors to color dried flowers as well as pastels. For those who want a more natural shading or gentler coloring, one of these may be the way to go.

Pat also talks about different ways of microwaving pressed flowers and maintaining the natural color.

If you are interested, email Pat Smith directly and ask her to please send you her pressed flower information. (It's free.) Her email address:

mailto:pat@sonshinecrafts.com

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - Bouquet Preservation

Now bouquet preservation is not really what the original question was about, but in researching the options available for drying flowers I did come across mentions of vacuum sealing and freeze drying flowers -- using professional equipment, of course.

One of the most detailed descriptions of the process is offered by Heller and Reid. Even if you have no bouquet to be preserved at this very moment, you may enjoy their description.

Disclosure: I have never seen this done or seen a bouquet preserved by this company, and I am afraid to ask how much it would cost to have it done. But I love love love the concept as we say in Hollywood. Enjoy!

Heller and Reid Bouquet Preservation Process.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - Watercolor Paint & Pastels

In response to Watercolor Paint & Pastels posted by Cottage_Garden:

When I asked for any hints, Pat stresses "The main thing with watercolors is to add a drop of liquid detergent to the watercolor paint, or it may just bead on the petals or leaves."

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - Color with Chalk

Here's another suggestion from a Clemson publication on how to color dried flowers with chalk (pulverize it and apply with a brush, then seal with hairspray or other sealant)....

This is also a good, detailed general reference on how to dry flowers.

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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» Cottage_Garden - Use Chalk to Color Dried Flowers

In response to Color with Chalk posted by Cottage_Garden:

In rereading this, am not certain whether the above actually means to use chalk or to use pastels -- to an artist, these are different products. (Pat Smith, above, is using pastels.)

I would love to hear from anyone using these successfully. Thanks!

-- posted by Cottage_Garden

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