How To Make Dried Flowers for Crafts and Decor

If you’re wondering how to make dried flowers, you’re in the perfect place! Making dried flowers is a fun and simple way to keep their beauty for crafts, room decor, or special memories.

The easiest way is to hang your flowers upside down in a warm, dry spot for about a week. But there are other cool tricks, like drying them in the oven or using a fan to speed things up.

Want to learn the best ways to make dried flowers at home? Keep reading for easy steps and creative ideas!

How to Make Dried Flowers: The Best Methods and Tips

Drying flowers is a fun way to keep your favorite blooms around much longer. You can choose the best flowers, dry them at home, and use them in all kinds of simple art or decorations.

Best Flowers to Dry and When to Pick Them

Choose flowers that hold up well after drying. Some of the best are strawflowers, gomphrena, celosia, statice, and everlastings. These flowers stay colorful and keep their shape. Pansies and peonies can also be dried, but they may need special care because their petals are softer.

Pick flowers right after they open, when they look fresh and bright. Early morning is best, but make sure the dew is gone.

Use clean, sharp scissors or garden snips. Clip stems long enough for hanging or arranging later.

Avoid flowers with brown spots or wilting petals. Healthy flowers make the best dried blooms.

Air Drying, Silica Gel, Oven, Microwave, and Pressing Methods

Air drying is easy and costs nothing. Tie small bunches of flowers with string or rubber bands. Hang them upside down in a dry, dark place like a closet for 2–3 weeks.

If you prefer a faster way, use silica gel. This powdery substance covers the flowers and absorbs moisture, helping them keep both color and shape.

Pour a layer of silica gel in a container, place your flowers face up, and cover them. Seal and wait about 7 days.

For oven drying, line a tray with parchment paper. Put flowers on the tray and dry at the oven’s lowest temperature for 1–2 hours, leaving the door slightly open. Check every 20 minutes.

Microwave drying is very quick. Place a flower between two pieces of microwave-safe paper. Weigh with a flat plate. Microwave for 1–2 minutes and check.

Pressing flowers works well for pansies and small blooms. Press between the pages of a heavy book, or use a flower press. Leave for up to two weeks.

Now that you know how to make dried flowers, see how to use them in crafts with our article: Resin Flowers: How to Create Beautiful Craft Decorations.

Tips for Keeping Dried Flowers Looking Good (Color, Shape, Storage)

To keep color, dry flowers in the dark as sunlight can fade them fast. Silica gel helps keep petals vibrant.

For shape, avoid touching the petals once they are dry since they become fragile. Hang flowers upside down if you want the stems to stay straight. Store dried flowers in a cool, dry place. Avoid bathrooms and kitchens—they are humid.

Use boxes or display your dried flowers in glass containers to keep dust away. Handle them carefully as dried petals and stems can snap easily.

Creative Ways to Use Dried Flowers

Dried flowers work well in so many crafts. Make wreaths by wiring dried strawflowers, gomphrena, and statice around a hoop.

Use pressed flowers to decorate greeting cards, bookmarks, or even frame them as art.

You can add dried blooms to candles, soaps, or resin jewelry for creative gifts. Sprinkle dried petals on tables for parties or tuck them into clear ornaments.

Mix and match colors and types to make your own unique displays. Dried peonies and celosia look pretty in vases and bring a rustic look to any room.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to make dried flowers is easy and fun. With just a few simple steps, you can keep your favorite blooms looking beautiful for months. Try hanging them upside down, using a fan, or even baking them for quick results.

Once you know how to make dried flowers, you can use them in crafts, decorations, or gifts. Get creative and enjoy your preserved flowers all year! Give it a try and see how much fun flower drying can be.

Ready to use your dried flowers in new ways? Discover more fun ideas in our article: Cool Resin Art To Try: Creative Ideas and Techniques.

No time to dry flowers? Check out our dried pressed flowers collection for ready-made blooms to use in your crafts!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best method to dry flowers quickly?

One of the fastest ways to dry flowers is with a microwave. Place the flowers between two pieces of parchment paper, and then put a heavy book or a flat object on top.

Microwave in short bursts of 30 seconds, then check until they are dry.

How do you dry flowers and keep their color?

To keep the flower’s color, dry them in a dark, cool place. Hanging flowers upside down in a closet works well.

If you use silica gel, it helps lock in color even better. Flower presses or using parchment paper between the pages of a heavy book also works for flat flowers.

How do you dry flowers in 5 minutes?

You can use a microwave if you need to dry flowers in five minutes. Place the flowers between sheets of parchment paper and press them with a book or microwave-safe plate. Heat the flowers in the microwave at low power in short bursts until they are dry.

How do you preserve fresh flowers permanently?

To make flowers last, use silica gel or a flower press. Silica gel takes out moisture and keeps shapes well. You can also coat the flowers with clear acrylic spray to protect them from water and dust.

What is a substitute for silica gel when drying flowers?

If you don’t have silica gel, you can use sand, borax, or even cat litter to help dry and preserve flowers. These materials help pull moisture out. Some people use cornmeal or newspaper for small flowers.