Ferns are used in pressed flower art and other crafts.When they're dry, harvest ferns.The ferns should be between the sheets of wax paper.You can press the ferns together with a book or flower press to dry them out.Remove your pressed ferns after a few weeks and enjoy your creation.
Step 1: Ferns can be Harvested when they are dry.
The flowers will be hard to dry out if they have a lot of dew stuck to them.The best time to pick ferns is late in the morning or early evening.
Step 2: Pick the plants that are fresh.
The ferns will be more attractive after being preserved.Look for plants that have just bloomed or are still in bud.Avoid plants that are already dying.
Step 3: To remove the fern, use your fingers.
You can snap the stems near the base of the leaves with your fingers.The stems are easy to snap.Move your fingers up a bit if they don't snap after being bended a couple of times.The stem is likely to snap higher up on the plant.
Step 4: Between the newspapers, place your ferns.
Plants can be damaged while being transported home.You can prevent this by carrying a few pieces of newspaper with you.You can put your ferns between the newspaper to carry them home.You can use a magazine.
Step 5: Remove any leaves you don't like.
Take your ferns out and look at them when you get home.Use a pair of scissors or shears to cut off the leaves that are broken or unwanted.
Step 6: The flowers should be placed between the absorbent paper.
Blotting paper can be used in projects such as pressing flowers.Put the leaves and flowers on a sheet of blotting paper.Place another sheet of blotting paper over your plants.
Step 7: Between the pages of the book, close your flowers.
The book should be thick and heavy for the process.It works well if you have an encyclopedia or a biography.Put the papers in the middle of the book and close it.The book should be labeled with the type of flowers you're pressing and the date.
Step 8: Put the book down.
The book should be placed in a safe place.Paperweights or other heavy books can be placed on the book.The pressing process is aided by the extra weight.
Step 9: When the ferns are done, remove them.
The ferns need to be checked after two to three weeks.They should be dry to the touch.Leave the ferns in for a few more days if they still look wet.The ferns need to be removed as soon as possible.
Step 10: There are holes in plywood.
Take two pieces of plywood.Most hardware stores sell these.To drill a hole in each corner, use a power drill.If you can fit wing nuts into the hole later, the precise size of each hole doesn't matter.
Step 11: There are two pieces of paper.
Blotting paper can be purchased at a craft store.fern leaves should be laid against one sheet of paper.Next, put a second sheet of paper on top of this one.
Step 12: The ferns need to be sandwiched between the plywood.
Put the blotting paper on the piece of plywood.Place the other piece of plywood on top of the first.
Step 13: The flower press should be closed with wing nuts.
Wing nuts can be purchased at any hardware store.Attach your wing nuts to the holes.To close your flower press, twist the ends of the wing nuts.
Step 14: The ferns need to be removed after a month.
There is a place where your press won't be disturbed.It's best to leave it for about three to four weeks.Ferns should be dry to the touch when they are done.