Kids flower presses...

Just a quick post, I meant to get this done a while ago but time seems to have run away with me.

So every year we try and make the kids a few things for their Christmas stockings (yes I know Christmas was a while ago) and this last year I decided to use my wood threading kit to make them some flower presses.

I've made simple flower presses before, which you can read about here (opens in new window) but thought I'd make a slightly more kid friendly press this time, the one in the other post is a bit basic, more functional than anything else.


Here they are -

No they're not upturned tables.

At first glance they do kind of look like little upturned tables, which is what the kids thought they were at first, which made me chuckle I have to say.

The wood for these cost nothing, the plates are made from an old book shelf, and the four screws are made from an old hardwood spindle, obviously a press like these would require a thread cutting kit, either a shop bought one or home made for cutting the threads, I also had to turn the spindle down a bit on my lathe, but you can always try out the how to in the link I posted above for a simpler version which works just as well.

To make these I cut four squares of wood (two for each press) then I drilled four holes in each square of wood, the holes in one half need to be slightly bigger to allow the screw to pass through, but not so big that the plate can slide off it, the holes in the other half need to be the right size for your threading kit.

Here's a picture of one of the screws - 

The screws are quite chunky.

And that's about it really, it's basically a wooden clamp, all that's left to do is cut some squares of cardboard and find something to press, I made these so the kids can press flowers or leaves for use in their various crafting pursuits, I'm also planning on making a much larger press, but for pressing apples and such like.

 With card to pack things out - 

Just needs something to press.

I did also make them some small mushroom ornaments, I've made a few to sell and the kids seemed to like them, so I made some in brighter colours, there's only two in the picture, but I did also make some red ones with white spots for my older daughters who also seem to really like them.

Mushroom ornaments - 

Colour schemes chosen by the kids.

Thanks for reading.

Easy to make flower press ... ...

Pressing flowers is not a new idea, people have been using dried and pressed flowers (and other plants) for many many years, and all you need to make your own press is 2 bits of wood and 4 bolts with wingnuts (wingnuts make it easier to use the press) and a few bits of cardboard for packing.

Or of course you could use the tried and tested method of sticking the flowers in a heavy book, if however you have ten minutes free you can make a small flower press for very little money, and you'll be able to read that heavy book should want to without having to worry about the flowers in it, as it happens my wife still has the Periwinkle flower I picked for her when we first got together in a book somewhere.

Okay, firstly you'll need two bits of wood of equal size, square or rectangles will do, I used 12mm plywood for my press, it's what I had lying about, but any sheet material 12mm or thicker should be okay for this (mdf for example) if it's any thinner it will bend too much and things won't press evenly.


The top and bottom parts of the press -

Ignore the circles.

I made mine six inches square, I marked the cross on it so that I could get the holes for the bolts in a good place.

Marks for bolts - 

I measured in about half an inch.

Next I cut out the two squares, then all that needed to be done was drill the holes for the four bolts. I used long bolts, this way I can pack quite a lot of flowers and such like into the press, the bolts and wingnuts can be picked up in most diy shops and hardware type shops for very little money, the same goes for the wood, you might even find a piece in the off cut bin.

The bolts and wingnuts -

I used four inch long bolts.

Once you have your four holes drilled (one in each corner) you'll need some cardboard so that you can layer things up, I cut four bits, but will need more if I want to try and press larger amounts of flowers.

Cardboard packing - 

I cut the corners off so they didn't get in the way of the bolts.

And that's about as complex as it gets, you're ready to start pressing flowers, just get some paper and some flowers and get pressing, you can use pressed flowers for all sorts of things, on homemade cards for example, or to make pictures with.

Completed press - 

Already in use.

 

Here's some I tried, they weren't really left long enough, but it will give you an idea of the overall effect.

Pressed flowers - 

They need to be left for a few weeks really.

This press is so easy to make, and great for kids to use and indeed make themselves, the only tools you need are a tape measure,drill and a drill bit large enough for the bolt holes and a saw to cut the wood, an easy diy project for all ages.

Thanks for reading.