DIY // pressed flowers decanter & glasses

There’s something so nostalgic for me about pressed flowers. Whether it’s the fact that they remind me of summertimes spent running around my childhood neighborhood, collecting blossoms to painstakingly press between the pages of books or the fact that it’s a way to quite literally freeze flowers — and memories along with them — in time, there’s something so special about these pretty little paper-thin petals.

In the past I’d always gone the traditional route with dried flowers: I framed them. But Joanna had the brilliant idea to add them to a sculptural decanter and delicate lowball glasses for a look that feels both modern and antique inspired. All you need is a little bit of découpage medium (another childhood throwback) that dries clear for an elegant finish that will look absolutely stunning on your bar cart.

Tools

• flower press
• scissors
• paint brush

Materials

• flowers — we used whatever was leftover from photoshoots or foraged
• découpage medium
• glasses
• decanter

The first thing to do is press your flowers. It’s best to choose flowers and foliage that are relatively small and not too thick, as those will press nicely. You can opt for a ready-made flower press like we did, or you can go the old-school method and use a couple of heavy books.

Once you’ve trimmed your blossoms into small, pressable shapes, open the press and lay down a piece of cardboard. Then add a piece of blotting paper and arrange your flowers on top, making sure to leave about an inch of space around the edges and between the flowers.

Add a piece of blotting paper atop the flowers, then layer on another piece of cardboard. Repeat this stacking process until all your flowers are in place, then close up the flower press and screw it until it’s nice and tight. Allow the flowers to dry for one to two weeks, depending on the thickness of the flowers.

Once your flowers are dry, remove them from the press and lay them out. At this point, it’s a good idea to play with the positions of the flowers until you’re happy with all the arrangements. Remember that you’ll be viewing the flowers from the top of the glasses, so you’ll want to glue the flowers on upside down.

Using a brush, add a light coat of clear-drying découpage medium to the bottom of a glass. Then, add a light coat of the découpage medium to the top of the flower. Place the flower onto the glass and gently smooth out any air bubbles with your fingers. Repeat until all the glasses and the decanter have been decorated.

Once that layer of découpage has dried, brush another over the top of the flowers, making sure not to leave any lumps or clumps. Let dry and finish with one more thin layer (that’s two coats total). After that is fully cured, your glasses will be safe to hand wash.

Now all that’s left to do is fill your decanter with your favorite spirit (might I suggest a botanical gin like the one from St. George), mix yourself a nice cocktail, and kick up your feet. They also make for a great homemade gift, too… cuz it’s never too early to start thinking of holiday gift ideas.

What do you plan on sipping out of your pretty new glassware?

photography by Jojotastic.

DIY by Homemade Banana for Jojotastic. Find more DIY projects here!