DIY -Turn your Bouquet into a Permanent Portrait
Yay! So we got this beautiful from the loves of our lives, or maybe you're re-making a gift for a family member. Whatever reason it may be, let's get started!
Supplies Needed:
TIME ALLOTED: 76 HOURS TOTAL.
1. a bouquet of flowers
2. Mod Podge (there's two different kinds matte & glossy; I used glossy)
3. paint brushes
4. a 8x10 frame; (any frame size will work)
5. Cardstock Paper (to apply your flowers on; affordable craft paper not more than 3 dollars for a 18x24 at your local art supply store)
6. Paper towels & 2 glass plates (to press your flowers)
7. Microwave (to press your flowers)
After we get our supplies, we want to make sure the bouquet is -some what- still alive. If we wait for the flowers to die, they won't have any water left in their petals, makeing it very hard to preserve and increasing the chance that they will crack. We don't want that!
One thing to remember is that their is going to be a creative aspect to this art because we can create it however we like; use as many or as little flowers, colors, and even stems if you like.
First Step:
Take the flowers off the stem, allowing to use the entire body of the flower rather than a petal. Throw the stems to the side as for this tutorial, we will not be using it.
Photo Courtesy of www.makeit-loveit.com
Second Step:
Place the flowers on the plate, like so. I have a photo example of how I did it. I originally used the youtube video below. Both techniques are very much the same execpt I just used paper towels. The video form youtube also uses art paper and paper towels.
IMPORTANT: I DID THIS PROCESS IN TWO DAYS; MEANING I DID HALF OF THE FLOWERS, THEN PRESSED MICROWAVED/GLUED ON THE FIRST DAY. THE SECOND HALF went on THE NEXT DAY. YOU CAN ALSO PUT THE FLOWERS YOU DON'T USE ON THE FIRST DAY IN THE REFRIDGERATOR, BUT THERE IS NO GUARNTEE THEY WILL STILL BE GLUEABLE.
First, get a glass plate and allow a single sheet of paper towel to sit on it.
Since I did this before making a blog about it, the X represents the flowers. Don't feel shy to apply flowers all around the surrounding plate, ensuring each flower does not touch the other.
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Next, apply the second sheet of paper towel over the flowers, following the second glass plate next.
Third Step:
Put in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until your fowers are flat!
Video Courtesy of via Youtube, thefrugalcrafter Lindsay Weirich
Fourth Step:
Before we begin to glue on and apply, you should really think about your flower lay out. As long you have a good idea of how to you want it to look, that will help when you being gluing your flowers.
ALLOW TIME FOR THE FIRST HALF TO DRY BEFORE APPLYING THE REST OF THE FLOWERS. I waited 24 hours before applying the second half. You can store your pressed flowers in the fridge or Press new ones the second day
Here's a photo of them on the second day. Allow another 24 hours to dry before framing
Fifth Step:
Before I framed them, here's how the flowers came out!
Today, this portriat is displayed in my bathroom!
Remember, the flowers will age and some of it's orginal color will fade away over time. These 2 photos were taken 4 months after the original process.
