Blooming frames

Microwave leaves and grasses separately from flowers, as they will take longer to dry because they contain more water.

3. Remove the flower press from the microwave; let cool for a few seconds. Open carefully and gently remove the flowers and foliage using tweezers; transfer to a sheet of printer paper.

4. Remove cardboard backing from a frame; cover with a sheet of white or coloured paper cut to size. Place mat on top and lightly trace the opening of mat onto paper to use as a guide for placing flowers and foliage. Using tweezers, pick a flower up and dab a dot of clear-drying glue onto the back; arrange as desired to fit inside the opening of the mat. Repeat with remaining flowers and foliage. Place mat on top (add flowers and foliage to the mat, if desired); assemble the frame.

Designer's tips:
• Intensely hued blooms with flat bottoms, such as pansies, violets and verbena, make excellent pressed flowers. Queen Anne's lace, mini chrysanthemums, leaves and ornamental grasses are other good choices.

• Gather specimens on a sunny afternoon to ensure that they are not wet with rain or dew.

• Use tiny pressed flowers for gift tags, bookmarks and place cards. Protect them with clear adhesive sheets or take them to an office supply store to have them laminated.

• Store unused pressed flowers and foliage between two pieces of printer paper and slip them between the pages of a heavy book.

If you like this craft you're sure to love our pressed flower light catcher. Learn how to make it with our step-by-step guide, Photo gallery: Pressed flower light catcher.

Page 2 of 2 -- Review the list of materials needed for the blooming frames project on page 1.