Drying flowers turns every walk into a treasure hunt - tips & tricks

Do you also always come back from a walk with flowers you couldn't resist? Then you put them in a vase, and they're already wilted after a day. Such a shame, really. It's much more fun to dry them and make something beautiful with them. How? You can find out in this article.

Collecting flowers

The first step is, of course, gathering beautiful flowers, but grasses and leaves are also great for drying. Always be careful what you pick. If you don't know what it is, leave it alone (think of hogweed, which can cause serious burns). Choose flowers with little moisture; these will dry faster and often look better when pressed.

Also, pick responsibly: if there's not much of a plant, leave it alone. It's likely a protected species. You can check this via this link .

💡 Tip : Are you picking flowers abroad? Then it's especially smart to check first whether you're allowed to take home your own flowers, or even pick them at all.

Flower press

The easiest way to dry flowers is in a flower press. You might remember them from school: two wooden boards, where you place the flowers or leaves between paper towels, tighten them with screws, and then let them dry.

A thick book works just fine, but be sure to always place paper towels or newspaper between the pages. Flowers can bleed, and you don't want stains on your favorite book.

Nowadays, you can also buy cute and handy flower presses that you can easily take with you on a walk or vacation. Be patient and let the flowers dry thoroughly. The time this takes varies from flower to flower. Thin flowers and grasses dry faster than thick flowers. It's always a matter of trial and error, but if you wait two weeks, you'll usually be fine.

💡 Tip : You can't just find beautiful things to dry in spring or summer. In autumn, you'll find the most beautiful leaves in red and yellow, or with a hint of green on the ground.

Dried, what now?

After a few weeks, you can finally admire the results of your hard work. And then the fun part begins: getting creative!

How about homemade greeting cards? Buy blank cards at a craft store. White is always nice, but a kraft card also gives a nice, natural look. Really, anything goes; choose what you like best.

Carefully adhere the flowers or leaves to the card. Use large tweezers, for example; drying makes them extra delicate and brittle. This prevents them from breaking. Create a nice stack of cards, so you'll always have something beautiful to show off. And let's be honest: real mail is much nicer!

It's also beautiful to create a small work of art with your dried flowers. For example, choose a single large flower, or combine different varieties in a frame. For an extra special effect, use a transparent or semi-transparent frame. Place it against a beautiful background, and your creation will instantly take center stage.

Of course, you can also frame your cards—just as fun! These little works of art are not only beautiful in your own home, but also make an original and personal gift.

Getting started?

Inspired to get started with dried flowers? At Maison KOOS, you can find a cute flower press and several beautiful frames to display your dried flowers in for a unique creation.

The author: Kirsten Oosterwaal

Kirsten from Happlify crew member Maison KOOS has had a keen eye for Scandinavian, minimalist, and sustainable design for years. In her shop, you'll find the most beautiful brands, lovingly curated by her. Kirsten's blog posts >

Photo credits: Nikkie den Dekker and Moebe