How do you preserve leaves and flowers?

Question

Is it okay to freeze them? Will that work? I want them to last until the end of January and most of them are not fully dried out yet. If freezing them is a good idea, then what do I do about the placement of the leaves? I just want to preserve the colors and the texture of the leaves without it drying out and turning into a black color. So waxing them is not an option. I want to use them in an art booklet.

I want to preserve their colors and I don't want them to dry out. They are not fully dried out yet and I don't want them to be dry. Can I freeze the leaves and flowers? What are all of my options in terms of preserving the leaves?

Answer 1

Freezing will not give you what you want, think frost damage. If you are going to use them in a book any way, they should be pressed while at their freshest and finest. Special non acid blotter type paper is sold for this as well as special flower presses. People also will press them in a large heavy book. Pick something like an almanac or large dictionary and open it to the middle. Leave it flat. Lacking any thing better, use wax paper or parchment paper. Put a sheet on the page. Arrange your flowers and hope they aren't already so dry that they crush. Place another sheet of paper on top and carefully fold the book closed. Put 2 or 3 more books on top of that and leave them alone for a few days, then check to see if the are molding because without the right paper, that could happen. If all is well, close it back up for a few more days, and check again. They should be ready for your project soon.
You should be able to Google up a craft site on preserving flowers which would explain it better and give you more options.

Answer 2

For flowers, go to a Hobby store and ask for Silica powder, not the gel..
I believe that is the name, it is a mixture resembling very fine sand. You place the flower on a layer of the "mixture", than pour enough to cover the flower. This will dry the flower out and preserve its color and shape.
Leaves can be done this way I guess, however I simply press them in between paper (like a phone book), and "press them",
oh yes, you can do "flat" flowers this way to, The Silica is for FULL flowers that cannot be pressed, like Marigolds for example. Good luck and have fun! You will be an artist in no time.

Answer 3

I heard that hair spray will preserve flowers and leaves. I think I heard this on Martha Stewart. Worth a try....Good Luck

Answer 4

Hang them up side down! For a day or two then they should dry out!