Pressing Flowers

How many times have we all said to ourselves, "Wow I'd love to press that flower, it's so pretty!" Well, then you run through your mind about how difficult it'll be to press the thing, much less position it properly so that it can be pressed in the first place. Then, on a whim, you go around looking for heavy things and wind up finding either bricks, blocks, tool boxes, furniture...large animals...whatever. Those are all quickly passed off with one excuse or another, so, you finally give up.

Pressing flowers requires only 2 or three COMMONLY USED household items, and no more space than 1 square foot. Ok sooo, what's involved if it's so easy? Wax paper, a couple of heavy books and a braided belt (one that doesn't have any defined belt buckle notches/holes in it)...and the belt is optional, depending on the size of the books. Keep in mind that you will need to keep the book(s) in the same place for at least 2 - 3 months, so having a larger book from a rarely used stack or in a book shelf is most recommended (or, you can just put them under your bed or in your closet and totally forget about them for a few months. Trust me, they're not going to go anywhere).

Step 1 - Get flower(s) you want to press.
Step 2 - Get roll of wax paper and cut 2 pieces of wax paper so that it is about 1 inch (or more) beyond the actual width of the flower's size.
Step 3 - Place flower onto wax paper, face up, in the position that you'd like to have it pressed in.
Step 4 - Place second piece of wax paper over the top of the flower.
Step 5 - CAREFULLY lift the wax paper sheets with the flower in between them and place them INTO the center of the largest book you found.
Step 6 - close book
Step 7 - If you think that somehow the flower is going to leave the book for any reason at any time, feel free to wrap the book with the belt (make sure the belt is ULTRA tight around the book - you'd not want the flower to accidentally escape through the pages).
Step 8 - Place book in an area where it will remain un-moved for at least 2 - 3 months (I prefer under my bed or on one of my closet shelves).
Step 9 - Forget about the flower for 2 - 3 months. Then, come to the realization that... "Oh! I almost forgot! I pressed that flower awhile back. I wonder how it looks now?"... Go back, get book, open it up....
Step 10 - Think to yourself, "Wow! It really worked! I actually pressed a flower, and it looks fantastic! YUS!"
Step 11 - Do happy dance
Step 12 - Carefully remove flower from wax paper, place on acid free paper, frame and hang on your wall.
NOTE: Keep in mind that many flowers will change color as they dry out, so keep this in mind when you select flowers to press. :)