Pressing Roses In Full Bloom
Do you have a garden full of roses that you want to keep and display in your home all year round? If you have a flair for growing roses, combine it with this little trick: Press roses in an open form so that you see the textures of the rose, the color of the rose and its overall wonder captured for ever in decorating your home.

Posted Saturday, April 8, 2006

The first thing that you should do when you want to press roses is to cut them while they are fresh. This is best done first thing in the morning or afternoon before the high heat of the day. The noon sun will dry the flower fast and hard, and make it wilty. You can cut flowers, and start right away, or you can cut your roses when they are buds, enjoy them in a vase until they open and then start the drying process if you like. You might be surprised, but you can put your cut roses in the microwave on low for about a minute, this also helps to dry them out. The moisture will be drawn out of the stem and onto a paper towel. Pulling the rose out of the microwave and letting it cool off on a paper towel, you will see more moisture coming out. Using a fresh paper towel, put the rose, or roses in the refrigerator to finish the job. You will need to keep these roses in the refrigerator for a few days while they continue drying.

Dipping the rose flower in vinegar or a water and vinegar mixture, will help you keep a bit more of the color in the rose, no matter what color of rose you are using. When your rose is finally dry, cut off the stem as close to the bloom as you can, and put a sheet of paper on either side of the rose. Because the rose is opened and dry you can press it easily between two books or a flower press if you have one. The angle that you are going to press the rose is going to be directly onto the bloom itself for more texture.

If you want a 3D effect, place layers of paper between each of the petals and then tie a ribbon, yarn or string around the big ball that you are making of paper and roses. Put this in the refrigerator again for three weeks while it continues to dry out in the formation you put it in with papers between the petals. Just a hint here, but small post-its with the gum cut off will work well when you are working with some very small sized roses. You can use paper towels, coffee filters, or cut pieces of tracing paper to press your flowers with when separating the petalsl. Some people like to use cardboard, playing cards and other stiffer types of materials when separating the petals and drying the flower. Spraying your roses with a clear paint, that you can find in any craft store will keep your petals from falling off after you have dried your roses for three or four weeks.