How to press Rose flowers and Rose Petals.

Roses are rather tricky to press. And I'll explain why.

You'll find that the best flowers to press are small and rather dry. They should also be as flat as possible.

Roses, on the other hand are large and have a lot of moisture in them. For this reason, you'll find that they do not retain their color very well - even if you do manage to press them satisfactorily.

We would all love to be able to press roses and preserve them because of the special memories they hold for us. A fully opened rose - or a rose that is half open is difficult to press.

A rosebud may give you better results. You could slice a rosebud in half lengthwise and then try to press it. But even here you would have to experiment.

The best way to preserve a fully opened rose is to carefully break off some of the petals and then try to press these carefully. Once they are dry you could re-arrange them into a flower shape.

An even better way to preserve a rose is to dry it whole in silica. But then of course, this is not pressing. But don't give up. There's always room for experimenting. That's half the fun.

How to Press Rose Petals

Roses traditionally symbolize love and compassion and are often the chosen flower for expressing love. As part of the American culture, roses are grown in home gardens and are admired for their exquisite beauty and intense fragrance. Roses are commonly dried to preserve their beauty and also to serve as a memento of special occasions. Rose petals can also be pressed for use in crafts or to add a decorative touch to stationery.

Instructions
Things You'll Need:

• Newspapers
• Weights (books/bricks)
• Clear contact paper
• Clear acrylic sealer

Step 1

Harvest roses in early morning, just after the dew has dried, as they are at their freshest at that time. Normally, roses are picked just as they begin to open, but if your desire is to press rose petals, a fully opened rose is the best choice.

Step 2

Remove the petals from the bloom and lay them on folded newspaper. Allow them to dry completely before pressing. Check that visible moisture has dried and that the petals feel dry to the touch.

Step 3

Place rose petals between layers of recycled newspaper. Make sure that all of the petals are lying flat and are not curled at the edges.

Step 4

Place a weight on the newspapers and allow the rose petals to dry for one week. Use a large book or several bricks to weigh down the papers.

Step 5

Remove the weights and check the rose petals. If they are still pliable, replace the newspaper and the weights. Allow to dry for another week.

Step 6

Use pressed rose petals in crafts or on stationery. Place rose petals on top of your stationery and cover with a piece of clear contact paper to keep out moisture and preserve the petal. If used in crafts, spray petals with a clear sealer to protect them.