For anyone who doesn’t want to buy the microwave press, you can do the same thing by creating a sandwich of layers of printer paper and paper towel (making sure the flowers are in a layer of printer paper) and just put the sandwich in your microwave with a regular ceramic/porcelain plate on it to flatten it out. It does exactly the same thing!
@@onefourthhuman I just prefer printer paper over other papers like newspaper or lined paper that have ink that can bleed onto the flowers when it gets wet. It’s also not too thin so it can absorb a decent amount of moisture
i saw a video by a proffesional flower dryer, she said this is a big mistake because wax paper doesn't absorb mouisture and so, that water has nowhere to go! just a tip ❣
@@Nari_Trovi That's what I was about to comment too. I'm new to flower pressing, but all the sheets of paper I've used had a blot from the moisture. Wax paper is water proof, so I'm scared it'll just be swimming in its own juices.
Silica is a desiccating agent ie it draws out moisture so this is a really good choice. I feel the silica powder method is pretty good since it leaves the flower in its pristine condition even after drying it.
A couple of things I forgot: I'm no expert, but have heard that for thicker bigger flowers, they need at least 1-2 weeks in the gel or in a press, or they don't dry all the way. My iris stayed in the gel crystals for 2 weeks and looked fine. I did go ahead and order the larger size mirofleur to try out. I know several who swear by it, and want to give it another chance.
Thanks! Not going to pay that much for a flower-squishing Microfleur. Probably gonna stay with the first two options - the FREE ones. EDIT: The silica crystals seem to do the best job and it's not too expensive, so I decided to go with that method.
I loved the video! This is exactly what I needed, I am making a gift for my gf. Also, relax! You're owning the video it's so well made and you can always stop recording if you don't like a take, so take it easy cause you're doing amazingly ^-^ Edit: It turned out amazingly! I used the upside down hanging method and it was the easiest one. The earrings turned out great!!
I loved this, as I'm interested in drying flowers, but haven't been very successful yet. I did do an iris in silica a couple of week ago that still looks OK. I have a mirofleur but was discouraged by how easily things burn. And I've been fairly successful with just regular old book pages with more books piled on top.
Thank you! Silica and hanging them upside down are my favorite methods. I also really want to try a wooden press, as it is super easy to burn and ruin flowers using the Microfleur.
I have been using silica gel from Amazon and it dries gardenias and roses in 24 to 36 hours and then I am able to seal them to prepare them for putting in resin. I also like the silica gel because it is orange when you get it but after it is used it turns white and green. So I put it in the oven to turn back to orange and do it again and again. One thing I would suggest is that when you are removing the flowers from the containers just tip the side of the container and move back and forth slowly and the layer of silica begins to pour out along with the flowers. That way you pick up your flower and holding it carefully brush the petals carefully with a cosmetic brush remove the silica gel hidden under the petals. Once I do this I am ready to place in my resin and all the gel beads are on a platter that I put in the oven and use again without getting it all over the floor and counter.
@@altheazabala8092 When I am making flowers for coasters and I don't want them really high, I cut the stem off right under the flower. I then make a small hill and gently push the flower down then dribble the silica over the entire flower so that every place on the flower is full. When I demold, I shake the tray of glitter off the flowers and when 1/2 of them appear I gently life them out. Red sometimes gets darker, but all the other colors are just like when I put them and so is the flower shape. I have just experimented with painting the flowers with clear resin and a good paint brush so that the resin will harden the flower so I can make it the focal point of a necklace. The has its original shape and color and looks beautiful. I also use Little Windows resin. When making these flowers I am using the larger hibiscus so that the flower is usually 3 inches across.
This was a really fun and helpful tutorial. Thank you so much! I’m older, so my go to has always been layering under books and heavy objects, so this was a really helpful way of explaining other forms of flower drying / preserving.
I just watched a video where they use Semolina (used to make sweet porridge) they let them dry for 7 days & they looked great (CHEAPER then Silica gel sand) to reuse just open lid & let dry.
so, I took a botany class in high school and one of the things I learned was drying plants by pressing. so, I will say you didn't have enough paper around the flowers, which is why the big one didn't turn out well. newspaper works well, but you definitely need a good amount of paper layers to absorb the moisture. I've used a notebook before and works well for the paper needed. you can fit more flowers between different sections of pages if they are on the smaller side
I dry flowers but mostly mushrooms in on top of a damp-rid pouch in air tight container with excellent results. I used silica for years until I figured out the damp-rid technique. It works super fast and it's so easy with no mess
Thank you! I’m very new to this but I just bought my crystals yesterday and they should be here tonight. My friend surprised me with real roses and instead of letting them dry out, turn brown and throw them away, i actually want to preserve them in resin to have them as a keepsake. They still have their bright red color so when i get home tonight i will start at least this process immediately.
It's a very beautiful dried flower! I also have some dried flowers in my room. It is very beautiful and healed every day. It was a very nice video! I will come to play again. With love from Japan :)
Thank you so much, I really enjoyed it. I have a microfleur flower press, and I get excellent results when I press viola or pansies and leaves . I also use kitchen roll between the felt and the linen that goes against the flowers. So I found it very useful.
This is very beautiful video, and I like your steady voice. Maybe try not ending almost every sentence with an up-note and leaving out the "um"s when you hesitate. Lots of folks do this. Nice vocabulary and pronunciation. Thank you for sharing your pretty skill.
Before pressing the flowers you should lay them between layers of absorbent tissues or news paper then they should be pressed under a couple of thick books or any heavy object with even pressure. Delicate flowers like petunia, periwinkle and pansy can be pressed in thick dictionaries.
I have kept a maple leaf in a book for like 10 months, a whole school year basicly and thats the only thing i hav ever dried as a leaf or a flower. And the only reason it was there for that long is because of how i forgot abt it as it was deep in my school desk:)
After you take it out of the sand, does it change when it’s exposed to air? Like how does the flower look a year from when you took it out of the sand?
Thank you it was good to see the comparisons and easy to listen to you ... apart from the 'um's'. I used to make dried flower arrangements years ago and in order I prefer the silica gel 1st, then the upside down method 2nd. Drying in old books is OK to a point but the flowers look aged and dull IMHO . The expensive microwave I'll not bother. Also, I would leave roses a bit longer . As gypsophilia (babys breath) does tend to keep a long time so in some cases you might not need to put in in an old book or microwave. Roses that don't open make a nice display in a flatish tray of pot pourri and scented so they needn't go to waste. Ive got some buds that I sniped off a stem and after months in a dish are only now past their best.
Yes. See my response above to berry xx where I explained how I make my coasters and trays with silica gel. I also make flowers for the focal point of necklaces and after the flowers dry I coat them 2 times with resin with a good paint brush. They look beautiful and I haven't have one fall off the necklace or a complaint from my customers.
Just so you know, (FYI), you can call silica gel “gel” or “crystals”. The name is silica gel crystals, so you can call it either, just stores label their silica differently.
Thanks...I want the flowers to retain their colors so can you give any suggestions? I'll need to try the press method followed by the silica crystals as I need my flowers flat.
Do you have any tips for getting all the silicone sand off the dried plants? I find that no matter how long I leave the plants in the sand they generally come out covered in the sand!
I feel so silly...all this time I've wondered where you always get such pretty flowers, literally never occurred to me to buy bouquets!
Bouquets are expensive tho...
@@Diego-ud3nb sometimes some stores have certain bouquets and flowers on sale after holidays, especially mothers day and easter!
@@Diego-ud3nb you can try your local supermarket, mine sells flowers much cheaper than my local floral shop
@@Diego-ud3nb if you wait for the right times Walmart puts there large ones on sale a week before they’re gonna die
@@Diego-ud3nb not at trader joe’s. they even have mini ones for 3$
For anyone who doesn’t want to buy the microwave press, you can do the same thing by creating a sandwich of layers of printer paper and paper towel (making sure the flowers are in a layer of printer paper) and just put the sandwich in your microwave with a regular ceramic/porcelain plate on it to flatten it out. It does exactly the same thing!
wdym by printer paper? just regular paper?
@@leahjones5222 yup
Why do you need printer paper?
@@onefourthhuman I just prefer printer paper over other papers like newspaper or lined paper that have ink that can bleed onto the flowers when it gets wet. It’s also not too thin so it can absorb a decent amount of moisture
For how long should it be microwaved?
Tip for the pressing: use wax paper so it doesn’t stick. We would press leaves all the time in the fall, and wax paper always worked great 😊
Yes. I agree
You mean wax paper we use for baking?
i saw a video by a proffesional flower dryer, she said this is a big mistake because wax paper doesn't absorb mouisture and so, that water has nowhere to go! just a tip ❣
@@Nari_Trovi That's what I was about to comment too. I'm new to flower pressing, but all the sheets of paper I've used had a blot from the moisture. Wax paper is water proof, so I'm scared it'll just be swimming in its own juices.
@@thoseriseofkingdomsadswith972 try parchment paper 🥰
I attended a wedding and I have small bouquet. I will try the hanging method to preserve. 😊
Did it work
@@dttec7660 it works very well. I’ve dried multiple bouquets 😁
@@shaihashaiha6870 thanks
Silica is a desiccating agent ie it draws out moisture so this is a really good choice. I feel the silica powder method is pretty good since it leaves the flower in its pristine condition even after drying it.
A couple of things I forgot: I'm no expert, but have heard that for thicker bigger flowers, they need at least 1-2 weeks in the gel or in a press, or they don't dry all the way. My iris stayed in the gel crystals for 2 weeks and looked fine. I did go ahead and order the larger size mirofleur to try out. I know several who swear by it, and want to give it another chance.
Thanks! Not going to pay that much for a flower-squishing Microfleur. Probably gonna stay with the first two options - the FREE ones.
EDIT: The silica crystals seem to do the best job and it's not too expensive, so I decided to go with that method.
You could save the little bags from buying new shoes, food bag ect.
@@Nirmadify I save those little bags from my prescriptions as well and put them in with my sterling silver so it won't tarnish.
going to use the lettuce containers from the produce section
Just use 2 pieces of Wood and get Them to stay together and have something not very hard in between and try your Way forward
You can place on paper towels and lightly Place another paper towel on top and microwave just in paper towels way cheaper
You didn’t press them for long enough. I normally press in a book and stack more books on top. I normally give it two weeks.
And changing the paper helps to get rid of all the moisture so they don't go bad and start molding
Maor
What wonderful dedication ;D
Maor
How is it doing?
Luciano Brancato yeah she said tht
That's exsctly how i do mine, big book with wax peper!
I found a good use for all my college textbooks. Time for them to continue to earn their worth!
I loved the video! This is exactly what I needed, I am making a gift for my gf. Also, relax! You're owning the video it's so well made and you can always stop recording if you don't like a take, so take it easy cause you're doing amazingly ^-^
Edit: It turned out amazingly! I used the upside down hanging method and it was the easiest one. The earrings turned out great!!
I loved this, as I'm interested in drying flowers, but haven't been very successful yet. I did do an iris in silica a couple of week ago that still looks OK. I have a mirofleur but was discouraged by how easily things burn. And I've been fairly successful with just regular old book pages with more books piled on top.
Thank you! Silica and hanging them upside down are my favorite methods. I also really want to try a wooden press, as it is super easy to burn and ruin flowers using the Microfleur.
Yes! I have a big wooden press I've never tried yet!
Why is the wooden press better? As opposed to books?
Can i just tell you without being weird you have a really present voice for meditation lol💜Thank you for this video!!
I like how you did the comparison after they were done. Good vid. Thanks a bunch!
That Microfleur microwave press is £49 in the UK. I nearly poo'd my pants when I saw the price. Great comparison video - thank you for sharing.
I have been using silica gel from Amazon and it dries gardenias and roses in 24 to 36 hours and then I am able to seal them to prepare them for putting in resin. I also like the silica gel because it is orange when you get it but after it is used it turns white and green. So I put it in the oven to turn back to orange and do it again and again. One thing I would suggest is that when you are removing the flowers from the containers just tip the side of the container and move back and forth slowly and the layer of silica begins to pour out along with the flowers. That way you pick up your flower and holding it carefully brush the petals carefully with a cosmetic brush remove the silica gel hidden under the petals. Once I do this I am ready to place in my resin and all the gel beads are on a platter that I put in the oven and use again without getting it all over the floor and counter.
when using silica for resin, would the flowers remain in their original shape of squished?
@@altheazabala8092 When I am making flowers for coasters and I don't want them really high, I cut the stem off right under the flower. I then make a small hill and gently push the flower down then dribble the silica over the entire flower so that every place on the flower is full. When I demold, I shake the tray of glitter off the flowers and when 1/2 of them appear I gently life them out. Red sometimes gets darker, but all the other colors are just like when I put them and so is the flower shape. I have just experimented with painting the flowers with clear resin and a good paint brush so that the resin will harden the flower so I can make it the focal point of a necklace. The has its original shape and color and looks beautiful. I also use Little Windows resin. When making these flowers I am using the larger hibiscus so that the flower is usually 3 inches across.
Preserving my mom's funeral spray for gifts later. After many videos, yours is best. The utube version let me share.
Great job!💖
Thank you for showing the methods and doing the comparison at the end too.
I love the silica gel result. Thank you for this comparison. You're awesome.
This was a really fun and helpful tutorial. Thank you so much! I’m older, so my go to has always been layering under books and heavy objects, so this was a really helpful way of explaining other forms of flower drying / preserving.
I just watched a video where they use Semolina (used to make sweet porridge) they let them dry for 7 days & they looked great (CHEAPER then Silica gel sand) to reuse just open lid & let dry.
Link please 🥺
You should use parchment paper for pressed flowers. Change the paper often so it doesn't mold.
The whole video is amazing! My fav part is at 3:27 bc it's so satisfying how the rose jump(?) to the container and facing up instead of upside down😍👍
so, I took a botany class in high school and one of the things I learned was drying plants by pressing. so, I will say you didn't have enough paper around the flowers, which is why the big one didn't turn out well. newspaper works well, but you definitely need a good amount of paper layers to absorb the moisture. I've used a notebook before and works well for the paper needed. you can fit more flowers between different sections of pages if they are on the smaller side
I dry flowers but mostly mushrooms in on top of a damp-rid pouch in air tight container with excellent results. I used silica for years until I figured out the damp-rid technique. It works super fast and it's so easy with no mess
How do you do it? The same way as silica?
@@filipatorres1834 exactly.
Sabina puryear i read your comment and decided to buy it and try it out myself. Question!! Can I reuse the damrid “sand”???
For like another flower or is it a one time use?
With the first one, I’d recommend using slightly thicker paper, bc the tissue paper absorbs so much water that it goes soggy and peels
Thank you for a wonderful tutorial. It was interesting to see the results of all the different ways of preserving flowers. Enjoyed it very much.
Thank you! I’m very new to this but I just bought my crystals yesterday and they should be here tonight. My friend surprised me with real roses and instead of letting them dry out, turn brown and throw them away, i actually want to preserve them in resin to have them as a keepsake. They still have their bright red color so when i get home tonight i will start at least this process immediately.
It's a very beautiful dried flower! I also have some dried flowers in my room. It is very beautiful and healed every day. It was a very nice video! I will come to play again. With love from Japan :)
Thank you so much, I really enjoyed it. I have a microfleur flower press, and I get excellent results when I press viola or pansies and leaves . I also use kitchen roll between the felt and the linen that goes against the flowers. So I found it very useful.
I like the pressing under a hard object. Making floral sage bundles and I still want them to look fresh.
You're crafty! ❤️ It was kinda adorable when you said "Tubberware." 😂
This is very beautiful video, and I like your steady voice. Maybe try not ending almost every sentence with an up-note and leaving out the "um"s when you hesitate. Lots of folks do this. Nice vocabulary and pronunciation. Thank you for sharing your pretty skill.
Thanks for showing all the different methods!
Natural is best. Beautiful comparisons. Thank you. I love the hanging method most
very easy to understand❤️thank you for sharing 🥰I'll try the gel!
Nice video. I am about to do a video on the wildflowers. 🎉Sabrina from Campbell’s Freedom Farm
Man your hands are so pretty... With them freckles
Thank you so much for sharing your ideas.. These helped me a lot.. I will be using this too.. God bless 😊❤️
Haha I love that you did an actual wave at the microwave
thanks for showing the results of comparing the different methods
Great work lady! Helped me choose a method.
Before pressing the flowers you should lay them between layers of absorbent tissues or news paper then they should be pressed under a couple of thick books or any heavy object with even pressure. Delicate flowers like petunia, periwinkle and pansy can be pressed in thick dictionaries.
I feel like the silica crystals is a safe, I guess “fail proof” method, does anyone know how chrysanthemums turn out?
I have kept a maple leaf in a book for like 10 months, a whole school year basicly and thats the only thing i hav ever dried as a leaf or a flower. And the only reason it was there for that long is because of how i forgot abt it as it was deep in my school desk:)
sorry to be offtopic but ... I love your freckles! That being said, thank you for that helpful video, I really enjoyed the content :)
Very helpful video I have a rose and did the pressing method I will see the results in new year’s eve
After you take it out of the sand, does it change when it’s exposed to air? Like how does the flower look a year from when you took it out of the sand?
Thank you so much for the video!!! It was very informative. ❤️
Thank you it was good to see the comparisons and easy to listen to you ... apart from the 'um's'. I used to make dried flower arrangements years ago and in order I prefer the silica gel 1st, then the upside down method 2nd. Drying in old books is OK to a point but the flowers look aged and dull IMHO . The expensive microwave I'll not bother.
Also, I would leave roses a bit longer . As gypsophilia (babys breath) does tend to keep a long time so in some cases you might not need to put in in an old book or microwave. Roses that don't open make a nice display in a flatish tray of pot pourri and scented so they needn't go to waste. Ive got some buds that I sniped off a stem and after months in a dish are only now past their best.
Using this for the flower they pinned to me on senior night
How do you prevent mouldy growth when hang drying flowers?
Spraying hairspray on them before hang drying them!
I usually hang them outside on the balcony or in the yard
what kind of hairspray? Tnx
Ventilation is very important.
Thank you for this tutorial! I will try the hanging method.
I was surprised to know that we can dry the flowers by using microwaves!
Thank you for this video! So helpful!
Can you put silica flowers in resin? The video was very informative and helpful, thank for making this!
Yes. See my response above to berry xx where I explained how I make my coasters and trays with silica gel. I also make flowers for the focal point of necklaces and after the flowers dry I coat them 2 times with resin with a good paint brush. They look beautiful and I haven't have one fall off the necklace or a complaint from my customers.
@@lynneplatt53 Thank you so much!
@@lynneplatt53 hi i cant find the comment
Thank you so much .. it’s really helpful 🤍🤍
@@lynneplatt53 would love to see what a flower would look like painted.
How long can I enjoy the flowers in their vas before they need to be hanged for drying?
I can tell you're a taylor swift fan by the " shake it off" reference and laugh. hehe
What a pretty flowers😍
Wow I love your flowers 😊
For the gerbera, can you hang it upside down, but close to the floor so the petals don't loose it's shape? I might try it...
Or hang it right way up?
Just so you know, (FYI), you can call silica gel “gel” or “crystals”. The name is silica gel crystals, so you can call it either, just stores label their silica differently.
Freeze drying is probably the best method
You can also use blotting paper and kitchen paper towels- alternatively sandwiched them microwaved
Great video. Thank you!! 🤗
Constructive : Help and positive , explain , Thanku .
Your hands are so pretty!!
This was so helpful!! Thank you
I'm so glad!
Thank u for the video. It’s TUPPERware dear.
ZazakAllah Khair dear :) want more like this please
Thanks you for teaching us.. greetings
Thanks...I want the flowers to retain their colors so can you give any suggestions? I'll need to try the press method followed by the silica crystals as I need my flowers flat.
Your freckles are super cute 😊
I have a food dryer at home, so I'm wondering if that could work too ?
I’m wondering the same thing Teka, on the lowest setting.
Beautiful, keep safe and may God bless you always, I do DIY and recycling, friend from Philippines
You don't need a press to microwave you can also do it with just a couple of paper towels only you won't get a flat look.
Thank you so much for this!❤️
Do you have any tips for getting all the silicone sand off the dried plants? I find that no matter how long I leave the plants in the sand they generally come out covered in the sand!
I've tried using a soft brush and even with a delicate touch it still breaks the more fragile flowers.
clearly explained. Thnx for rhe video
Thank you for this useful video
Can you use flowers dried using silica crystals in decorating cakes?
Try using a "Mr. Clean eraser" for the liner in your microwave method
thankyou, very helpful x
Great info thanks so much
Can you press them just to get them flat and then dry them out with silicone gel to keep the color in?
thank you!
Great! Thanks friend
Can we do this silica methode for fruits or vegetables too? Thank you
Hello which method is the best for resin /epoxy projects? Thanks for answering if you do😁 stay safe!💗
I personally hang dry them so hang them upside down and it worked perfectly
DOLAIIII FULAWAAAA MITAI KIMI TO NO HIBI MO
Would rice in a sealed Tupperware bowl work as well as the silica crystals?
Possibly. Works on drenched phones! Why not give it a shot!
Maybe used crushed rice or cornmeal
I use kitty litter (micro, silicate)
How many times we use same crystal powder?? Can you please tell me mam ?
Is it possible to dry a poppy?
They really like losing petals while drying them
Use wax paper instead of tissue paper !! Hope this helps
So which one is best ??? Silica gel crystal??
is she saying tubberware? lol .. its cute =)
very helpful
Thanks a lot
How long should you leave the flower in silica gel?
Wear a mask when using these crystals💕🌷🌱