Blooming frames

This story was originally titled "Blooming Frames" in the August 2009 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!

Create instant botanical art with posies plucked straight from your own garden -- it's fast and easy with a flower press that dries and presses flowers and foliage in the microwave in just seconds. For less than $12 apiece, these picture-perfect flowers make great gifts that will last for years. It's a fun, inexpensive summertime project anyone can master – even the kids!

Check out a larger image of a finished trio of blooming frames we made here!

You need:
Flowers and foliage

Microfleur Microwave Flower Press (available at www.elizabethsflowers.com and www.leevalley.com), or traditional flower press or phone book*

Sheets of white printer paper

Scissors or floral snips

Tweezers

Small utility knife

Clear-drying craft glue (a glue pen with a fine tip is ideal)

Frames (we used a 5- x 7-inch frame)

Precut photo mat or embossed paper to cut a mat (the 1-1/2- x 2-1/2-inch opening in our mat is bevelled) and

Coloured craft paper or vellum sheets (optional for background)

*You can also press flowers between cardboard layers of a traditional flower press (available at craft stores) or lay them between the pages of a heavy book, such as a phone book, then leave them for about 10 to 14 days to dry completely.

Instructions:
1. Gather dry, blemish-free specimens (we used marguerite daisies, violas, kalanchoe and foliage) and snip off stems close to the base of the flower heads. Press flowers immediately according to instructions on Microfleur Microwave Flower Press, placing flowers and foliage on felt pad and leaving space between each one. Carefully place the second felt pad on top, followed by the microwaveable plate, and snap Microfleur closed using supplied clips.

2. Place Microfleur in the microwave; for best results, microwave in a series of short bursts on high. (We microwaved our flowers and foliage for 20 seconds, let them rest in microwave for 20 seconds, then microwaved them for 30 seconds.) Timing will vary depending on type and size of flowers and foliage.

Page 1 of 2 -- Find the remaining steps to the blooming frames project, PLUS designer's tips on page 2.