Pressed Flower Jewelry

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Here are my latest attempts at pressed flower jewelry. Instead of the resin method I tried using a glass pendant. The drying time was cut significantly but the air bubbles were still a troublesome factor.

I started with the 1″x1″ card stock and adhered the flower to the paper using PPA (an ultraviolet adhesive). When that was dry I placed a thin layer of Mod Podge Dimensional Magic into the metal backing of the necklace and placed my paper into that. I carefully pressed down to release any air bubbles underneath and coated the top with either more PPA or Mod Podge (depending on how I thought the flower would react to the adhesive. The PPA is much more forgiving than the Mod Podge in most cases.

When that was dry (each drying time took an hour or two) I placed another thin layer of Mod Podge and carefully stuck the glass on top. While pressing down I wiped the edges of excess glue. After that I used folded paper to protect the glass and clamped the necklace using 2-3 paper clamps.

After about two hours I took off the clamps and cleaned the excess glue off using rubbing alcohol. It’s really fun to see a successful finished product but unfortunately only about half of my flowers could withstand the harsh process. In some cases the flowers browned or the color leaked. Overall I’d say it was a pretty good outcome to get the ones I did. Here they are!

BeYel2 Flame1 LilYel1 RedLeaf2 WLich3

Mount Rainier

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By far, my favorite piece yet! I love the Northwest and to me this gorgeous volcano is a true symbol of the pure beauty found in this corner of the country. I started with baby’s breath for the clouds and brown leaves for Mount Rainier. The ground is made of fig leaves and dark dahlia for the rocks. The snow is white hydrangea and I used blue delphinium for the water. The trees are made of ferns and I love how they move throughout. Last but not least I used the same leaves for the tiny wolves hiding in the trees.

My friend has the original so I have a 16 x 20 print hanging on my wall. It’s amazing how detailed even the larger print is! You can purchase a print from my Etsy shop here and they range from $16 – $24 for a 16 x 20.

Rainier Cropped RainierPrintFramed Rainier Close Up

Simple Garden

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Some of the greatest treasures in life come from the tranquility of nature. This piece makes me think of a sunny day with nothing to do but admire the amazing simple beauty life has to offer. The butterfly is made from white hydrangea, the ground is fig leaf, and the garden is made of lily of the valley and some random yellow flowers I found in my backyard :) . I hope you enjoy this simple garden!

SimpleGarden2 SimpleGarden1 SimpleGarden

Beach Pea

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These beautiful vines grow alongside the beach here in the NW. They have gorgeous purple pea flowers and wild, twisting vines. Vines are some of my favorite plants to press. Vines may seem invasive to some but I admire their persistence to survive and flourish. The tiny ends are a miraculous design that grab onto everything. I have to laugh when trying to detach the little guys from each other because it seems their very purpose is to hold on for dear life. One of the most amazing facts about these plants is that the seeds can survive while floating in salt water for up to five years! This has caused them to be a native plant in many countries. You can read more on beach peas here: Beach Pea

Purple and Pink Memories of Summer

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These eight purple and pink Toadflax (or Linaria) flowers were picked in the warm Summer months. With temperatures now in the forties and the cold rain pouring down I found myself daydreaming of warmer days as I look at these flowers. I used the home made press to slow dry these and I am very happy with the results! I love how their wild, little leaves stick out in every direction.

Linaria are perennial flowers that grow in late summer and have some very interesting properties. It’s noted to have been used as a diuretic, insecticide, and fever-reducer. Bees and other like insects are required for its pollination. You can read more about this beautiful flower here: About Linaria Flowers

Laburnum

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These “Golden Chains” shine with vibrant, yellow pea-flowers.  The deciduous trees blossom in late spring and glow with bright yellow clusters. I’m so glad their amazing color stayed true after pressing!

You can read more about laburnum here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laburnum

http://bluewisteria.co.uk/flowers/flower_display.php?species_id=43

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Available for purchase here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/106727236/pressed-flower-art-8-x-10-laburnum-on