Framed Pressed Flower Artwork

 

Materials:

Pressed flowers in various colours (such as pansies, violets, daisies, forget-me-nots)

Rose leaves (fresh or pressed)

Sturdy artist paper or watercolour paper

Craft glue or white glue diluted with water (decoupage medium is ideal)

Fine-tipped paintbrush

Scissors (optional)

Picture frame with a mat (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Pressed Flowers: Ensure your pressed flowers are completely dry and brittle. If using fresh rose leaves, press them between the pages of a heavy book for a few weeks.
2. Design Your Artwork: On a clean sheet of paper, lay out your pressed flowers to create a pleasing composition. Consider colour combinations, shapes, and negative space. You can use a pencil to lightly sketch an outline of your design if desired.
3. Attach the Rose Leaf Border: Arrange the rose leaves around the perimeter of your paper, creating a frame for the pressed flowers. Use scissors to trim the leaves if needed for a more uniform look. Once satisfied with the placement, carefully glue the rose leaves down one by one using a fine-tipped paintbrush and the diluted glue.
4. Adhere the Pressed Flowers: Once the rose leaf border is secure, start adhering the pressed flowers within the frame. Use a small amount of glue applied with the paintbrush to the back of each flower. Gently press the flower onto the desired location.
5. Build Layers (Optional): For a more three-dimensional effect, layer some of the pressed flowers. Glue smaller flowers on top of larger ones, creating a sense of depth.
6. Drying and Framing: Allow the glue to dry completely (usually a few hours). Once dry, you can display your artwork unframed or place it in a picture frame with a mat that complements the colours of the flowers.

Tips:

• Choose a variety of pressed flowers in different sizes, shapes, and colours for a visually interesting piece.
• Use a light touch with the glue to avoid damaging the delicate pressed flowers.
• Experiment with different flower arrangements to find a design you love.
• Consider using tweezers for more precise placement of the smaller flowers.
• If the pressed flowers are very fragile, you can laminate the finished artwork for added protection.
• You can personalise your artwork further by adding a title or a small message on the back.
• Pressed flowers can fade over time. To minimise this, display your artwork out of direct sunlight.

With a little creativity and these simple steps, you can create a beautiful and unique piece of framed artwork using pressed flowers and a rose leaf border.