Being showered with flowers during Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and a birthday can make any one feel special. If taken care of; a typical flower bouquet will last anywhere from 7 to 12 days. There are a few tips to keep your flowers lasting longer, but typically they will only last for a short period of time. Have you ever felt like you just want your flowers to last forever? Maybe there is a memory tied to them or they are just too beautiful to watch wither away.
Here are a few ways to re-purpose or preserve your flowers to give them a second life.
Press Flowers
This is the easiest way to preserve your flowers and only takes a a few bulky books to make it happen. The process takes a few days, but the results look beautiful and are around forever.
You will need:
Flowers and Leaves
Heavy Books
Bricks (optional)
Water
Paper Towel
Sheets of Paper
Scissors
Collect the flowers and leaves you would like to preserve. Spray with water and gently wipe any dirt or moisture from them. For flowers, remove the stems and any leaves. For thick flowers you may consider cutting the flower by splitting it down the middle.
Choose a book you don't mind getting damaged as the moisture from the flowers may make the pages crinkle. Great options are old thick text books, phone books or even a smaller book and bricks.
Place the flower in between two sheets of paper and insert into the book. You will want to change these "blotter" sheets of paper every few days.
It will take leaves about a week to dry and flowers two to three weeks to completely dry
When removing the flowers and leaves; use a pair of tweezers t remove the delicate dried flower.
Dried flowers can be used around the house as decor or when writing notes or wrapping gifts.
Potpourri
One of my favorite ways to re-purpose flowers is to make potpourri. I have so many fond memories of my mom making potpourri when I was a child, that it's one of the things that I actually look forward to doing with bouquets that are coming to the end of their life. In fact, my mom use to create potpourri and fill it into a sachet bag. She placed these in our closets and draws to make our rooms smell good.
you will need:
Flowers
Sheet pan
Parchment Paper
Scissors
Essential Oils
Spray Bottle
optional: citrus fruit, fresh herbs, or whole spices
Any type of flower can be made into potpourri, however flowers with strong scents are ideal. Select your flowers and cut the flowers from the stem right below the head. Remove any petals that may be hanging or fall off separately. Preheat your oven to 200ºF.
Cover a sheet tray with parchment paper. Place flower heads onto parchment paper. To add more fragrance to your potpourri, you can add in citrus fruits like oranges or lemons, fresh herbs like springs of rosemary, lavender or thyme or whole spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves or allspice. If you are adding in any citrus fruit slide the pieces very thin to ensure optimal baking.
Mix 15 drops of your favorite essential oil to 1 tablespoon of water in a small spray bottle. Spray onto your potpourri mixture.
Place tray into oven. Typically this process takes a few hours, however to ensure no burning, set your timer to 1 hour and 45 minutes. You will want to check that the flowers are rigid but are not browning or burnt. It is okay for the citrus fruit or fresh herbs to brown. Remove from oven.
Let potpourri reach room temperature before arranging in a bowl or sachet bag. You may want to spray the essential oil onto the potpourri to enhance the smell.
Floral water aka Rosewater
The beautiful aroma of fresh flowers is a scent we all want to capture. A great way to capture the scent of flowers is to create a fresh batch of floral water. This can be used to freshen linens, as a natural perfume or air fresher. If you are using roses; rosewater is a natural way to tone your skin or refresh your face.
you will need:
Roses ( 1 dozen)
Distilled Water (3 cups)
Large Pot and Glass Lid
Foil
Sealable Glass Container for Storing
Ceramic Bowl
Strainer
note: if you want to make Rosewater for face toner you will need these additional items:
4 tablespoons of distilled water
2.5 ounce spray bottle
Remove rose petals from stems. Place into strainer and run them under warm water to remove any dirt. Do not add any stems, leaves, or buds.
Add petals to a large pot. Mark where the petals rise up to in the pot and pour in distilled water. You will only want to pour in enough water to barely cover the petals.
Cover the pot with the glass lid. Place burner on medium-low heat. The water should be set to simmer.
Let simmer for up to 1 hour (petals will loose color and water will be tinted)
Strain the mixture into ceramic bowl for cooling
Once room temperature, pour into glass container for storing. Liquid will be tinted.
For Rosewater Face Toner
Follow steps above and combine 1 tablespoon of mixture above with 4 tablespoons of distilled water. Add to spray bottle and shake
To apply: spray directly on face or spray on cotton pad
Rose Petal Bath Salts
There's nothing like self care this year, so why not re-purpose your roses into a luxurious bath salt and spoil yourself even more!
you will need (makes 2 cups of Bath Salts)
Dried Rose Petals (1 cup)
Rose Water (with this recipe or store bought) or essential oil
Epsom Salts (1 cup)
Baking Soda (1/3 cup)
Powdered Milk (2/3 cup)
Sealable glass container
Paper towel
Bowl
Spoon
Scoop
Twine Rope (3 inches)
Remove petals from roses and place on paper towel. Spray with rose water or essential oil of your choice. Let dry overnight ( 8 hours).
Mix Epson Salts, Baking Soda and Powdered Milk in a bowl.
Add mixture into sealable glass container and layer dried flower petals. Continue until container is full. Seal container and let sit for 3 days. The longer the ingredients sit together the stronger the scent.
Bath salts will last approximately 1 year. You may consider writing date on the bottom of the container or creating a label to identify expiration date.
Take twine rope and loop onto scoop. Tie onto sealable glass container.
When ready to use, add 1 scoop to warm to hot bath water. Epsom Salts will sooth muscles, while baking soda and powdered milk will soften your skin.
Wall Art aka Botanical Art
If you have tried to buy wall Botanical wall art you've probably like the concept but have been scared by the price tag. Why not create your own art piece with those left over flowers?
you will need:
Flowers
Blotting Paper
Clear hanging frame or frame of your choice
Tweezers
Toothpick
All- Purpose Spray Adhesive
Optional: Mounting Paper if you do not want to glue onto glass clear frame
Follow directions for pressing flowers
After flower is fully dry, use tweezers to delicately remove flower
Arrange flower on glass frame
Apply and spray glue onto the back of the flower and stick on to the glass frame
Let frame sit open for at least 10 minutes
Close frame and hang
Make your own Sage Smudge Stick
Smudge sticks are derived from Native America Culture where they are used in ceremonies to cleanse and bless people and places. These sticks are usually made up of dried sage but can be made by combining flowers and herbs. Today, people use smudge sticks to cleanse their home, for meditation and yoga, to clear the air of bugs and bacteria, treat anxiety or depression and soothe stress. Cleansing your home using sage is a great way to lift one's spirits and banish negativity from the home. It is also a great way to set intention and practice mindfulness. Re-purposing certain flowers into a sage stick is a great way to gift mindfulness to someone else or store for your own use.
you will need:
Floral Sheers
Flowers
Herbs
Hemp Cotton Twine
Loose White Dried Sage
Trim greenery to size
Collect greenery with a few pieces of loose white dried sage
using short piece of twine secure pieces together.
measure an arms length of twine and cut. Tie around base of smudge stick. Begin to cross back and fourth up the smudge stick. Make sure to tie it very tightly so that that flowers and dried sage stay bound.
Tie once you've reached the top and trim excess twine.
Allow to dry for at least 2 weeks before use or gifting.
Wonderful Sage Smudge Stick Combinations:
Eucalyptus, Lavender, Acacia, Sage
Garden Rose, Acacia, Dusty Miller, Sage
Rosemary and Sage
Lavender, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Cinnamon
Preserving Flowers in Resin
While this is the most lengthy of all, preserving flowers in Resin is one of the most beautiful ways to conserve flowers. You can make jewelry, coasters, paper weights or even a tray and have your flowers preserved forever.
Note: this method is for preserving dry flowers. If you are interested in preserving fresh flowers visit acrylgiessen.com
you will need:
Pro Marine ProArt Epoxy Resin (for small molds)
Incredible Solutions Deep Pour Clear Casting Resin (for big molds)
Silicon Resin Mold - depends on what you are looking to create but there are some amazing molds out there
Dry flowers - use this method - (make sure your flowers are completely dry)
Plastic mixing cups
Protective Gloves
Popsicle sticks for mixing
Toothpicks
Hair Dryer
Fine Sandpaper (with high grit)
Safety goggles
Plastic table cloth for protecting your surface or table
Put on your gloves, goggles and plastic table cloth to protect yourself and the surfaces you will be working on
Mix resin per directions from manufacturer. Let it stand for a few minutes to remove bubbles. If bubbles do not disappear use toothpick to remove.
Spray flowers with sealant
Clean mold and make sure it is free from any debris or dust
Lay mold flat. Pour two layers into your mold. Remove any air bubbles with toothpick
Place flowers in resin. Using Popsicle stick or toothpick arrange the flowers how you want them. You can pick up the mold to arrange
Lay the mold onto flat surface and pour the top layer. Completely cover the flowers. Use toothpick to remove any bubbles.
It will take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours for the resin to cure depending on the type you have selected.
Once cured, take resin out of silicon mold. Use sandpaper to remove fine marks or rough surfaces.
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