Hot off the PRESS

ADD SOME PETAL POWER TO YOUR SUMMER CRAFTING WITH BECKI CLARK'S BEAUTIFUL PRESSED-FLOWER MAKES

- BECKI CLARK

Make sure that your flowers are completely dry first, as any moisture left in the plant will react with the resin and turn it brown

HAIR CLIPS

Dial up a summer outfit with one of Becki's simple yet beautiful accessories. They're so easy to make using a silicone mould - just choose your favourite shape and start arranging those petals. The pressed flowers shine from within the clear resin and will last a lot longer than real blooms - it's a great way to preserve wedding flowers or a special bouquet.

+ Polymer clay can stain some work surfaces, so make sure you protect your table with parchment or a metal baking tray

FLOWER FRAME

Becki's floral frame is not only gorgeous, it's also a beginner-friendly craft that everyone can try. Use it to brighten up a hallway or to add a feminine touch to a bathroom or bedroom, bringing the outdoors in. The dried blooms could even be changed with the seasons to keep your decor fresh.

EARRINGS

Fimo earrings are fast and fun to make, and the addition of pressed flowers makes each pair totally unique. You'll need tiny, delicate petals for these cute clay creations. If you're making them as a birthday gift then using the recipient's birth flower would make them extra special.

What do you need to get started?

A traditional wooden flower press is great fun to use, but a cheaper option is to put your flowers in between the pages of a heavy book, weighed down with extra books. You'll also need absorbant paper such as blotting paper or kitchen towel for sandwiching the blooms between first, and a pair of tweezers for gently removing them once dried.

Which flowers work best?