This DIY flower press is made out of an old book! Pressing flowers in between pages of books is one of my favorite tried and true methods— so I thought, wouldn’t it be fun to turn an old book into an actual flower press?! I generally repair damaged books when possible, but many of the pages of this particular one were in pretty poor shape which made it perfect to turn into something new. The best paper to use is one that will absorb moisture and does not have texture, such as printer paper. I recommend using this particular press for smaller flowers since there are limitations to how rigid book covers are. If you’d like to make a larger and more durable flower press, this wooden flower press is a great option.
Materials:
– a hardcover book
– 4x – 1/4″ flat head machine screws , a minimum of 3″ long – or as an alternative you can use carriage bolts like these
– 4x – 1/4″ wing nuts
– 4x – 1/4″ washers
– printer paper (or see tips at the end for choosing paper)
– cardboard
Tools:
– power drill
– 1/4″ drill bit
– clamps (optional)
Instructions to make a vintage book flower press
Step 1: How to prepare the book covers
Use a sharp blade to trim both the front and the back covers about 1/2″ from the edge. Glue and fold the excess over. Make sure that you save the spine of your book cover for another project!
Line the underside of your covers with a decorative paper to give the press a finished look. I used leftover pages that I was able to salvage from the book that I used.
Step 2: How to cut your paper and cardboard
Trim several sheets of paper and cardboard to the correct size so that they fit nicely inside of your book covers. For the paper only, you’ll notch each corner at an angle to accommodate where the screws are, usually about 1-2″ smaller than the overall dimension of your book cover.
Step 3: How to drill the holes
Turn the covers over and make a mark in each corner 3/4″-1″ away from the edge. You will use these marks as a guide. Gather both covers and all of your cardboard in a stack and clamp together. Drill your holes, drilling through all layers at the same time.
Tip: use a smaller drill bit first and follow up with a larger one for cleaner holes. Alternatively you could use a heavy duty hole punch if you have one that’s large enough
How to assemble and use your flower press
To assemble the press, insert your screw and washer facing upwards into the bottom book cover. Place a piece of the cardboard on top of the bottom cover followed by a piece of paper. Lay your flowers on top of the paper in a single layer. Make sure that you do not overlap any of the petals otherwise they will stick together. Place a second sheet of paper on top of the flowers, followed by another piece of cardboard. Add additional layers as desired. When you’re done adding layers, add a final piece of cardboard on top followed by the top cover. To tighten your press, place a washer on each screw and secure with the wing nuts.
How to unload your flower press
The process for pressing flowers can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks depending on the size and thickness of your flowers. If you are pressing flowers that are thicker or have a lot of moisture, I recommend checking on the flowers every few days to swap out the papers. To unload your flower press, unscrew the wing nuts and remove each layer of cardboard and paper.
Tips + Tricks
How to choose your paper
The best paper to use for a flower press is one that will absorb moisture well and does not have texture. Printer paper works very well and is the type of paper I’d recommend. I don’t recommend using parchment or wax paper since it does not absorb moisture well, nor do I recommend using paper towels as the texture will leave imprints on your flowers. The paper can be reused for quite some time– just make sure that you let it dry in between uses.
How to press flowers
Harvest your flowers right before you’re ready to press them to minimize wilting and make sure that your flowers are free of moisture before you add them to your press to prevent molding. A good time to collect blooms is late morning after morning dew has dried. Smaller, flatter flowers like pansies and violas are quick and easy to press, while thicker flowers like roses and marigolds will take longer and may benefit from changing out the paper every couple of days. This type of press is best for thinner flowers, as there are limitations to how rigid book covers are on their own. In general, some flowers are more ideal for pressing than others and will retain their color better– the fun part is experimenting!
@woodlarkblog making a flower press out of an old book 🌼 I generally repair damaged books when possible, but many of the pages of this one were in pretty poor shape so I thought it was perfect to turn into something fun. #DIY #flowerpress #pressedflowers #flowerpressing #slowliving #cottagecore
@woodlarkblog book flower press unloading 🌼 #DIY #flowerpress #pressedflowers #flowerpressing #slowliving #cottagecore
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