No matter what you intend to do with pressed flowers, here is a list of the best flowers and leaves for pressing, I’ve come across: 25 Flowers, Leaves, and Herbs to Press Blotting paper (A3 size is best but A4 will do). Alternatively, sheets of kitchen paper or tissue paper will work just as well Using paper for flower pressing makes this hobby extremely cost-effective, but the results you will experience with flower pressing using each type of paper will vary a lot. When it comes to flower pressing, much of it comes down to testing and patience. Without testing different flowers and leaves, you may never know what will retain its color best or hold its shape well.

Newspaper works well when pressing flowers, however, be aware that if you are pressing white, or light coloured flowers the print may transfer. Blotting paper is the best paper to use for pressing flowers. Fred adds, 'Try drying your plant specimen next to a radiator or central heating boiler if you have one - these provide a nice flow of warm air. Even warming the newspaper before using it helps drive moisture off.' Collecting: Select a typical plant and if possible two or three extra flowers to supplement the specimen and for dissection. Ensure the plant is healthy and collect average-sized leaves and flowers typical of the plant, not the biggest. Remove soil from the material. Photograph the plant habit and a close-up. Avoid collecting material in wet weather.

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Blotting Paper: I’ve tried other things like printer paper, paper towels, and wax paper, and none work as well as blotting paper. Wax paper can retain moisture and cause mold. And paper towels will leave an imprint on plants, for example. In a pinch, white tissue paper or parchment paper can work. How to Use a Flower Press:

Pressing: Use a press made with a pair of hardboard or plywood boards cut to the same size as the drying paper. Place some corrugated card on one board, then place two sheets of the blotting paper on top of this. Arrange your plant material on blotting paper retaining the character of the plant. Remove leaves and flowers of congested specimens to reduce the bulk without losing the character of the plant. Standard printing paper is another option for flower pressing. It is widely available, and it is an affordable alternative to blotting paper. Standard printing paper is also acid-free, which means it will not yellow or damage the flowers over time. Place your flower press on a flat, sturdy surface, with the bolts all in place, protruding upwards through the six holes in the wooden base board.If you want to prepare your own herbarium samples, here is some of the equipment you will need, and some suppliers. For collecting

That summer, I’d just bought a house and had my own garden for the first time. So the following spring, with my beds in bloom, I started to press the flowers I grew: irises, crocuses, fritillaries. As the seasons turned, so did the colours – from deep purples to warm oranges of nasturtium, geum and poppy. I wrote the date on scraps of paper and slipped the petals between sugar paper and corrugated cardboard, imagining a future version of myself reminiscing about the year’s flowering through pressed memories.

They have also done workshops at Daylesford and Soho House. ‘We always get a lovely bunch of people keen to learn – and are always fascinated by the individuality of everyone’s artworks,’ says Fielding. They’re not alone: florist Ellie Jauncey offers nature-led workshops from her Somerset-based studio, Ede Flowers, while dried-flower experts Roseur offer a Van Gogh-inspired workshop at Coal Drops Yard in London. Our next option for pressing flowers is Japanese paper, also known as washi. Washi is a traditional Japanese paper that is made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree. It is known for its strength, durability, and beauty. It is also acid-free and lignin-free, which means it will not yellow or damage the flowers over time. Carefully arrange your collected flowers and leaves between pieces of A3 blotting paper that you've folded in half or between two sheets of A4 blotting paper. Put these to the side. As the cells of some plants are damaged during the pressing process, the chemical balance can be disrupted or protective chemicals which also happen to break down colour may be released. Both of these factors can be the cause of colour loss in your pressings. If you're trying to press a bulkier plant, add extra paper and card to ensure that every part of the plant and flower is being directly pressed, to avoid bits shrivelling up.