What Are Pressed Flower Crafts

Pressed flower crafts involves the drying flower petals and leaves in a flower press to flatten and exclude light and moisture. The pressed items are then used for a variety of craft projects. The craft was very popular in the Victorian era and has experienced a revival in the last 20 years or so. 

Pressing flowers makes them appear flat, and often there is a change in color, ranging from faded colors to greater intensity of color. The pressed flowers and leaves are often mounted on special paper, such as hand-made paper, Ingress paper, Japanese paper, or marbles paper.

Watercolor washes are sometimes applied to the backing paper before the pressed material is attached to it. It is also possible to mount pressed material on fabrics, such as velvet, silk,  or cotton. Petals and leaves can also be applied to wooden objects furnishings by the technique of Decoupage.