Pressing Leaves and Flowers

You will need: fresh leaves and flowers, an old phone book, or newspaper and a catalog, scrap
paper, heavy books.
1. Pick or cut the flowers and leaves to press.
2. Open the phone book near the back. Place a few flowers and leaves as open and flat as
possible face down on the page. Leave lots of space around each one.
3. If you are using newspaper and a catalog instead of a phone book, place at least two
layers of newspaper in the open catalog. Lay the plants on it and carefully place two
layers of newspaper on top.
4. Use scraps of paper to mark where in the book you’ve pressed the flowers.
5. Gently roll some of the phone book or catalog pages closed over the plants. Place more
plants in the book for pressing, marking the pages as you go.
6. Lay the book or catalog flat in a warm, dry place where it is not likely to be disturbed.
Place several heavy books on top.
7. Wait at least one week before you check the plants. If they are stuck to the paper or feel
damp, they are not ready. Check them again in a week.
8. Pressed flowers or leaves can be stored in a book for months or years.