Spring is coming to a close, but you don’t have to say goodbye to all the gorgeous spring flowers just yet! Preserve your favorite ones or perhaps a bouquet from a loved one by drying them and turning it into customized wall art to enjoy year-round!
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Supplies:
Flowers from the yard or a bouquet (they don’t need to be fresh!)
Paper towels
A few large and heavy books (preferably ones you don’t care about messing up)
Scissors
Stretched canvas (the size I used was 16×20”)
Mod Podge
Paint brush or foam brush
Measuring tape
Pencil
Acrylic paint
Fine point paint brush
**This project cannot be completed in a day unless you already have flattened dried flowers! So have patience!**
At the back of a large book lay down a sheet of paper towels, the flowers you would like to use, and then another sheet of paper towels on top of the flowers. If you’re using extremely fresh flowers I would use 2 or 3 sheets of flowers so you don’t ruin the book.
Carefully close the book and place a few more heavy books or objects on top to flatten them out. Now you wait! Here’s an in progress photo of my flowers about 2 and a half weeks in..
They were still a bit gooey so I let them sit another 2 or 3 weeks.
Once your flowers have completely dried, carefully peel away from the paper towels. Don’t freak out if some or even all of the petals come loose.. you’re going to basically glue everything back together again!
(1.) Arrange your dried flowers how you want them on your canvas. (2.) Snip off any excess stems. (3.) Slide the flowers up or off the canvas. Paint on a thick coat of Mod Podge and then place the flowers back on. (4.) Lightly press down.
Paint another thin coat of Mod Podge over the flowers and remaining blank canvas. Be careful not to tear away any leaves or petals when brushing over the top. I went with a dabbing method on top of the flowers so I didn’t drag away any petals while coating the tops.
Set aside to dry for 45 minutes to an hour. Once completely dry, use a measuring tape to make a straight line across the canvas. Use a pencil and make light dash marks along the measuring tape.
Still using the pencil, write out a phrase, quote, or lyric that you would like on your canvas. I went with a lyric from one our favorite songs, ‘3 Rounds and a Sound’ by Blind Pilot.
Now this is when most of you will say, ‘My handwriting is terrible!’ I know! So is mine! Find a pretty cursive font on your computer and type it out. Then just mimic what you see! It doesn’t need to be 100% perfect because the point is to have YOUR handwriting on it so it’s personalized.
Next, pour out some paint in a small cup or plate, dab the tip of the paint brush in and trace over your words.
*Tattooed Martha tip: Do not attempt this after downing 3 large coffees! My hand was shaking so bad that it took me twice as long to complete it! Haha
Give your lettering a few minutes to dry and then trace a second coat to make it more opaque. Once that coat is dry, hang it up, and you’re done!
It makes a wonderful piece of art to share your favorite song or quote with a bouquet from a significant other or you can make this as a gift to a loved one!
Al says
Hello! I absolutely adore your work, and you’ve answered all my questions about gluing flowers to canvas except for one. How do you prevent the flowers from rotting before the gluing process and after? I’ve flattened flowers in books before to place in journals but they rot after a while when I come back to look at them. I’d appreciate some insight, thanks!
Sasha says
I usually let mine dry out a bit even before pressing them. I also use paper towels to prevent damage to my books and absorb any additional moisture left in the flowers. Once completely dried they won’t rot after putting them on the canvas. The Mod Podge helps preserve them from decaying any further. I hope this helps! Happy crafting!
Amy says
I want to do this with the flowers I took off the casket from my mothers funeral… I obviously do not want to ruin them. I’m curious, did the mod podge cause the color in the pressed flowers to bleed at all?? I’m wanting to do this with roses.
Sasha says
Hi Amy! First I want to say that I’m so sorry for your loss. I think preserving the flowers will be a really nice way to remember her by. I didn’t see any color bleed from the flowers, but it is possible with a richer color like the red in roses. My suggestion would be to do a trial run on one of the petals. Let it dry up, place it on a sheet of paper, and then brush Mod Podge over. If you don’t see any color smearing than you’ll be good to go!
Mary Harris says
I have some old “paintings” made using many kinds and colors of dried flowers instead of paint. Wreaths, a garden with stone walkway and arch, ladies fans, etc. They are all on paper. Could be watercolor paper. How can I find out the value of these ? Most are on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. One is a bit larger.All are extremely intricate using many many different flowers from rose petals to elderberry blossoms.