If you enjoy the seasonal flowers that bloom in your garden or fields or have sentimental flowers from a bouquet, preserve them for year-round enjoyment. Use a product to remove the moisture from the petals. For the finishing touch, seal the petals with a dried flower preserving spray so they won't reabsorb moisture, which causes wrinkles and rot. Several sealants are available to help preserve everlasting, floral keepsakes for your decor or paper crafts.
Things You'll Need
Dried flowers
Sealant
Scissors
Heavy-gauge florist's wire
Florist's green tape
Hot glue gun and glue
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Use Lacquer for Shine
For heavily textured blossoms, such as thistles, use a glossy lacquer as a dried flower preserving spray. It provides a tough, shiny coating that protects it from moisture in the environment. Hold the can upright about 12 inches from the blossom. Rotate it as you apply a light coat over the entire surface. Let it dry according to the manufacturer's instruction and reapply the lacquer until you have a total of three coats. However, if you want a completely natural finish on your flower, lacquer might not be your best choice because of its shiny appearance. Find spray lacquer in the paint department of your hardware store.
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In a Pinch, Opt for Hair Spray
If you are looking for an inexpensive dried flower preserving spray, consider using hair spray. Spray several light layers of hair spray over the petals to form a moisture proof seal. Most brands of hair spray are not UV proof, which means the sun will fade colors from your flowers. If you want the flowers to keep looking fresh, choose a different sealant. Hair spray might not be the bargain you thought you were getting.
Choose Artist's Acrylic Spray for Great Results
Consider using a professional grade acrylic spray that is used by many professional artists to preserve canvas and paper art. It provides a permanent, protective seal and is UV safe, which means that colors won't fade from exposure to the sun. These properties make it a good choice to seal flowers. Apply several light coats of the spray to each flower, allowing each coat to dry thoroughly before applying it again. Find this product in the art department of your arts and crafts store. It often costs more than other sealants.
Tip
Always spray flowers with protective sprays in a dry environment; humidity in the air can be quickly absorbed by dried flowers.
Warning
Read the description on the spray can carefully. If it refers to giving the object a warm luster, this means it will yellow slightly as it ages.
The Professional Choice – Florist's Preservative Spray
Also consider using the product that professional florists use to preserve dried flowers. Apply this clear spray, using several light layers, to make blossoms moisture and UV proof. Choose this product to achieve a natural look for the flowers, giving them a protective, matte finish. The coating won't yellow with age or cause the original colors to become distorted. As with all spray sealants, apply three light layers to the fragile petals. It will also provide strength so they won't crumble. Although it tends to be more expensive than others, it is the choice of the professionals. Locate floral sealant in the floral department of large craft stores.
Tip
Stems contain more moisture than petals. To help preserve a blossom, remove most of the stem, but leave about 1/2 inch. To construct a false stem, insert a florist's wire into the stub and wrap green floral tape around the stub and the full length of the wire in a spiral. If the flower is to be glued to a wreath or paper, remove the stem completely. Adhere the preserved flower with a glue that is not a water-based, such as hot glue, to secure it to your project.