Easy Plant Presses Part 3 ( My very First Press)

 This was the first day,early Spring 2006, I would press by myself. Rebekah Smith from www.flowerox.com , My best friend had shown me at her house how she pressed her flowers !

 I picked the prettiest from my garden!


I love gardening and thought that was enough. I have a great camera and had just gotten a computer to do research and record my pictures of nature. 
I started pressing flowers saying it was just a hobby. Something I could add to my garden picture album !
So I was not going to invest in it much!
I have been a recycle person for a lifetime.

I believe in the the 4 R's. Reduce, Reuse ,Recycle and Re-think . 
Re- think means re think a Use for something!
My first Goal towards presses were , Reuse.
So I went to the Recycling Center and got several phone books!  Saved  cardboard, Cereal Boxes ,newspapers , magazines, junk mail and flyers.
Those worked for leaves and less fragile flowers.
Here's the layers for my first presses ! Lol they worked!
1)One piece of Heavy cardboard cut the size of  cereal boxes broke down and turned inside out .
2)Had some quilting pad in my sewing scraps ,cut it the size of boxes. (you could use scraps of thick material too) it is for padding.
3) Viva towels (my first investment!!) They are the best for pressing. No inks,pattern or texture to transfer to petals. (you can use Thin scrap cotton cloth material for this too)it draws moisture . 
 4)Used old computer paper or Junk mail with clean side toward flowers . 
5)Layer of flowers 
6)Computer paper
7)Viva
8) Quilt pad
 9)Cereal box then repeat 2 through 9 till you get it about a foot deep or so . On last layer use 2nd piece of heavy cardboard on top.
I wrapped all of this with 2 old belts and placed it in the car for 3 days . After that I let them sit for about a week. you can also use weights on them too as in this picture .

Now for the finished product 

If you click on the picture it will give a close up.

I still use this method when my other presses are full . more for less tender things but it is still one of my favorites for big stuff.

Easy Plant Presses , Part 2 Recyled wood Press

this is a copy of the How to... on my flickr pic site .

 Let's Make a Home - Made Press
pic 1

there are 4 things to find to make your press !
1.You will need an  NON ACID all purpose spray GLUE .
(elmer's makes a good one)
2. stiff thin wood ( I'm using wall paneling)
3. quilt batting med thickness is good , nice to have a couple extra thick though for those fat flowers (like roses )
4 . very thin material . like Fusible Interfacing
I asked for the cheapest they had at Joanne' fabric store.
Basically a sheer breathable material to place your
flowers and plants on .
One more thing you will need is a non windy clear area to work outside!
pic2
QUILT BATTING ...
12 pieces
I cut all my pieces 12'x12'
i used 2 thicknesses , for different padding thickness of the plants and flowers
 100% polyester lite loft batting
100% polyester extra thick
any size will work. use scrap pieces if you have it!

pic3

13 pieces . 1 for the TOP.
I used scraps of old wall paneling taken out of a house.
When I make more I will drill about 6 holes in each for venting.
These I did not , Still work great.!!
cut 12' x 12' squares . washed BOTH SIDES  well .
USE THE SHINY SIDE TO GLUE TO. Leave smoothest side to the good.

pic 4
okay now , with all the pieces cut out and ready. We begin.
I spread out the paneling on the table as you see in Pic 3.
Spray glue on thick and even, about 4 at a time. Then press batting on lightly and smooth even. move away from spraying to dry .
 Continue till finished with adding batting to wood. 

pic 5
this is how sheer the  Fusible Interfacing looks that  I used.
any sheer material would probably work just make sure it has no pattern or texture!

pic6
Spray the batting with glue lightly and spread sheer material on top. Make sure it is even.
move it to sunny area to dry. Continue 1 at a time with each one till finished. Let dry well before putting the press pieces together.

pic 7
I made 13  that day so I got creative spreading them out in the sun.







the bushes work real well holding my press pieces to dry!

pic 8
After drying for a few hours in the sun or in the house over night.
you have a Fabulous press for all your pressing .





I use weight on them or my favorite is 2 old belts for straps!

LET ME KNOW IF YOU MAKE A SET!

ENJOY PRESSING !!!

Easy Plant Presses Part 1

I have had a lot of people asking how to make presses lately and I realize not everyone has a skill saw to cut boards to make the one like I show on my Flickr site.


So I am going to try to show some Easy methods that I have learned through the last few years and hope it helps many to learn to enjoy pressing as I do.
Above are just a few of many recycled presses I have made. I use the heat of the car as a dehydrator and also the light in my oven. Just don't turn on the heat!:-(

I have shown on a previous post in Aug  "how to make Mini presses ." 
You can double the size and use them for vacations , hikes. Or as most of us Addicted Pressers , we have several in our cars too!
Now for my most  favorite press 
check out the next blog.