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Flower pressJesseSite Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 15 Feb 2006 10:49 pm Post subject: Flower press -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OH's supplies delivery arrived today and inside are some butterfly bolts. I want to make a flower press, have got all the scraps of wood etc that I need. Any suggestions how I should decorate the top? I was thinking of pasting on some dried pressed flowers and sealing it with some sort of clear varnish/paint. But I've just discovered that my dried flowers are finished. I've also got some little fairy type pictures that Lottie gave me, perhaps I could use them. What do I use to paint over the top to seal it? Back to top n Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 334 Posted: 15 Feb 2006 11:47 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'll ask my mum! She's a decoupage expert and has done all sorts of fabulous things with old table-mats and simple Ikea type boxes. I'll let you know tomorrow.... she might join us, who knows. n Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 15 Feb 2006 11:48 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- that would be lovely n, thanks. Back to top Lloyd Moderator Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 584 Location: Mainly Bristol but sometimes Shropshire Posted: 16 Feb 2006 12:51 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What sort of wood is it?...ply?....I'd have thought any polyurethane varnish would do the trick, just select the finish of your choice, whether matt, clear, satin, etc. Can't think of any natural alternatives at present, since any oils used may spoil the decoration. Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 16 Feb 2006 12:53 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- not sure what type of wood I'll use yet, I know there's a load of it in the garage, definitely some ply, mdf (which I don't like using) and possibly pine. Back to top Plocket Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 865 Location: The playroom! Posted: 16 Feb 2006 10:33 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Jesse! When I decoupage on wood I stick straight on, and then use normal wood varnish from a DIY store. Matt or gloss depending on the look you want, but I fine sand before each layer to get out any blemishes. Will we get to see the flowerpress when it's finished? Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 16 Feb 2006 10:38 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- of course you will, I love posting photos so any excuse Do you know if a waterbased coating is available, makes washing brushes much easier Back to top Plocket Evergreen Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 865 Location: The playroom! Posted: 16 Feb 2006 11:23 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You might find some finer waterbased varnish in an art shop. I have some "Pebeo" Superfine Gouache Varnish which is acrylic. I haven't used it for a while but think it was easy to clean off brushes with water. It's not waterbased though. Back to top Becki Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1106 Location: Over here and not there. Posted: 16 Feb 2006 04:32 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How about pressed flowers? _________________ www.thecardbee.com Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 16 Feb 2006 05:34 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I thought of that Becki but the ones I pressed last year (using a pile of books, that's why I want a purpose made press this time) have all been used up on cards. I'm going to press a lot more flowers this year and I'm planning on growing more as well too. Back to top Aqui Moderator Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 316 Location: my desk, Londonish Posted: 03 Mar 2006 12:37 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are there any flowers that are particularly good/bad for pressing? I want to give it a go. My sister presses a lot of flowers and decorates cards with them - they are so pretty! Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 03 Mar 2006 12:40 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I haven't pressed many in the past but the blue hydrangea's I did last year were lovely and kept their colour so well. I also did some little yellow flowers, think they were coreopsis (sp?) and they turned out well too. Back to top Cabbagepatch Perennial Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 478 Posted: 03 Mar 2006 06:22 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Somewhere here is a flowerpress, but having mislaid it I find old phone directories work rather well. Not so attractive to look at tho' Back to top |