We laid my nephew to rest today and I thought I would use some of the rose pedals that came in some of his flowers to make my brother and sister-inlaw a pen out of it. Is there a process that I can due that will help preserve the color and allow me to put them on a tube and cast them. Any help would be greatly welcomed
need help with rose pedals
- Thread starter sumterdad
- Start date
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firewhatfire
Member
The ones I dried like that the red stays gets really dark and yellows fade some I dried them in a box the cast them. Maybe I can get them turned before Christmas to give back to family.
tomas
Member
I pulled this off the net from EHow.
"
Borax
The use of borax for preserving flowers has an advantage in that the flowers hold their shape and shrinkage is minimal. Generally the color of the flowers is assured except pinks and reds may vary. Time is of the essence, however. If the flowers remain in borax too long, they become brittle and lose their petals.
Generally, a mixture of half borax and half corn meal (white or yellow), sand or oat meal is recommended. The mixtures may be sifted and the borax used over and over. Some experts use a 1 to 5 and still others a 1 to 10 mixture. Experimenting will be necessary to suit individual techniques and preferences. Apply the same method as when sand is used. Lift the flowers from the borax mixture by gently running the hand under the flowers.
The individual must decide whether the flowers should be dried face-up, face-down, or horizontally. The form or shape of the flowers will determine the best method.
Drying face-up: Use a shallow box propped up over another carton about 8 inches high. Punch holes in the box large enough for the stems to go through and far enough apart that the flower heads do not touch. (The stems do not need to be very long as they may be lengthened by florist wire.)
Draw the flower stems through the holes, leaving the flowers face-up resting gently on the bottom of the top box. Sift the borax/meal mixture under and between all the petals and around each flower until it is completely, but lightly covered.
Drying facedown and horizontally: Cover the bottom of a box with an inch or more of the borax/meal mixture. Make little mounds in the mixture on which to place the flowers. Sift more meal and borax around the flower until it is covered. (Stems do not need to be covered.) Place only one layer in each box.
When the flower petals are dry, they may be removed from the mixture. Occasionally test one flower head to see how it is drying. When dry remove all the meal and borax with a soft brush."
"
Borax
The use of borax for preserving flowers has an advantage in that the flowers hold their shape and shrinkage is minimal. Generally the color of the flowers is assured except pinks and reds may vary. Time is of the essence, however. If the flowers remain in borax too long, they become brittle and lose their petals.
Generally, a mixture of half borax and half corn meal (white or yellow), sand or oat meal is recommended. The mixtures may be sifted and the borax used over and over. Some experts use a 1 to 5 and still others a 1 to 10 mixture. Experimenting will be necessary to suit individual techniques and preferences. Apply the same method as when sand is used. Lift the flowers from the borax mixture by gently running the hand under the flowers.
The individual must decide whether the flowers should be dried face-up, face-down, or horizontally. The form or shape of the flowers will determine the best method.
Drying face-up: Use a shallow box propped up over another carton about 8 inches high. Punch holes in the box large enough for the stems to go through and far enough apart that the flower heads do not touch. (The stems do not need to be very long as they may be lengthened by florist wire.)
Draw the flower stems through the holes, leaving the flowers face-up resting gently on the bottom of the top box. Sift the borax/meal mixture under and between all the petals and around each flower until it is completely, but lightly covered.
Drying facedown and horizontally: Cover the bottom of a box with an inch or more of the borax/meal mixture. Make little mounds in the mixture on which to place the flowers. Sift more meal and borax around the flower until it is covered. (Stems do not need to be covered.) Place only one layer in each box.
When the flower petals are dry, they may be removed from the mixture. Occasionally test one flower head to see how it is drying. When dry remove all the meal and borax with a soft brush."