9 EASY Ways To DRY FLOWERS For Resin
Resin projects are fun to create because you can use your imagination to truly bring your epoxy art to life. A common theme among resin artists is nature.
There are so many ways to bring dried elements of nature into your epoxy coasters, your paintings, and especially in your jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, pendants and more.
See jewelry inspired by Canada here which includes gorgeous dried flowers
How Dry Do Your Resin Inclusions Need To Be?
To include natural elements in your resin such as fresh flowers, you first have to properly dry them and make sure they are absolutely moisture free before casting into epoxy.
If your flowers, leaves, herbs, insects and other natural elements are not perfectly dried, they will actually decompose within your resin after it has cured, and will turn brown or disintegrate. And you don't want that to happen to your own flowers.
Drying flowers and leaves for resin is super easy and it's one of the best ways to incorporate nature inspired beauty into your resin creations.
When you learn how to dry fresh flowers, you can go ahead and use them for resin jewelry, resin coasters, resin art, epoxy countertop pours, trays and other crafts that incorporate dried flowers into resin.
Read more about how to make resin jewelry here
Even a little bit of moisture in your organic matter can ruin your whole epoxy design. If you are creating custom pieces for customers or selling resin creations in your Etsy shop or craft shows, it's imperative that you make a superior product that will last.
Besides all of that, resin is not cheap, and neither are your resin supplies such as colorants, glitters and your silicone mold choices! So let's try to prevent waste by taking the time to dry flowers properly so that your epoxy pieces look beautiful for years to come.
What Flowers Can Be Dried For Resin?
Different methods are required depending on the size and types of fresh flowers, leaves or herbs that you want to dry for your resin creations or make into resin flowers.
Smaller flowers for jewelry or for a silicone mold can be simply air dried while other flowers, like dried wedding bouquets used for deeper resin pours are best dried in silica to keep their shape. Let's go over all of the ways to dry flowers for resin together.
HOW TO DRY FLOWERS FOR RESIN
1. Dry Flowers Inside Books For Resin (Pressed Flowers)
Drying flowers inside books is a great way to preserve larger flowers like roses or daisies for resin pours that need flat organics.
Use the pressed flowers method when you are planning ahead because it's going to take at least three weeks for the flowers to be completely dry and pressed, but once they are completely dry, they are ready for your flat flower resin art.
This is a great method for including dry, pressed flowers into resin pendants!
When drying or pressing flowers in books for resin, be sure that the flowers are clean and dry and that you separate them from the book pages with parchment paper. If the paper in the book has a high acid content, it may alter the color of your flowers.
Why is there acid in book paper?
According to an article about brittle books by the University of Oregon Libraries:
"The three major contributors to acidity in books are the bleach used to make the paper white, the alum used to "size" the paper and keep the ink from bleeding, and the tannin used in the tanning of leather for bindings. As the paper ages, the acids form and sap strength from the paper, turning it brown and crumbly".
This may be a good way to dry out your delicate flowers as well into flat flowers, just make sure any thin petals are laid the way you want them to appear in your resin art.
Avoid collecting flowers after a rain, it's best to harvest them in the afternoon when they are naturally free of morning dew or any residual water.
How To Dry Flowers In A Book
Step 1: Inspect the flowers and discard anything that is rotting or turning brown.
Step 2: Cut parchment or waxed paper double the size of the book you are going to use and fold it in half. So when it's folded in half, it will cover one whole side of the book.
Step 3: Place the flowers onto the parchment. Do be sure that the flowers are not touching at all.
Step 4: Close the book carefully and then place a weight or more heavy books on top.
Step 5: Let the flowers dry for at least three weeks. If you check on them and they feel thin like paper you know they are ready.
If you are planning on pressing many flowers for your epoxy art or you don't have any heavy books, you can grab yourself a professional flower press kit.
We talk more about this point at the end of our article.
Check price of above flower press kit here
Compare price of all flower press kits here
2. Dry Flowers In A Microwave For Resin
The microwave drying method is great for small flowers like hydrangea petals or flowers that are already pretty flat. This may not be the most ideal drying process for delicate flowers.
Drying flowers inside a microwave will usually be pretty quick and it is decent at preserving the colors. Do be careful with this method because if you run the microwave too long, it will ruin or scorch your flowers.
How To Dry Flowers In A Microwave
Step 1: Inspect the flowers and discard anything that is rotting or turning brown.
Step 2: Remove the glass try from the microwave and place a piece of paper towel onto it.
Step 3: Lay the petals onto the paper towel without touching.
Step 4: Cover the flowers gently with another piece of paper towel.
Step 5: Place something flat and microwave safe onto the top of the paper towel so that everything is pressed down. A ceramic tile works great for this.
Step 6: Microwave in spurts for about 20 seconds at a time and go up to about 1 minute - 1.5 minutes.
This might take some practice because microwaves are a bit different strengths. The flowers should be about dry at about the minute mark. But again this depends on your microwave and how large your flowers or leaves are.
When you find the perfect drying time that works for you, write that down for next time.
PRO TIP: Using a microwave flower press like Microfleur will give you better color retention and is fast & easy to use. This handy tool helps release all of the moisture out of the flowers, leaves or plants allowing them to dry very quickly.
3. Dry Flowers In A Food Dehydrator For Resin
Using a food dehydrator is a great way to preserve flowers because you can collect a whole bunch of and dry them in batches. Drying flowers in a food dehydrator will make a whole batch at the same time which is perfect for those of you who make resin creations to sell and need to have flowers on hand all the time.
If you don't own a food dehydrator or want to get a good one, we highly suggest checking out the article Best Dehydrators to help you decide which is the best choice and why.
4. Dry Flowers With Silica Gel Or Silica Sand For Resin
Check Prices For Silica Gel On Amazon
Silica gel and silica sand work by absorbing the moisture of the flowers without altering their color and shape.
Using silica gel is a tried and true method for preserving flowers. One great thing about silica gel is that you can keep reusing the silica gel over and over.
Do make sure that you purchase the correct silica gel beads or silica sand that is specifically formulated for flowers because there are a couple different kinds.
5. Air Drying Flowers On Paper Towel For Resin
Simply air drying small flowers on a piece of paper towel is all you might need, especially micro buds like lavender. This is a good method for drying tiny flowers and petals for resin creations like earrings or pendants. Small flowers and petals that are super delicate are best left to simply air dry on a piece of paper towel or newspaper.
All you need to do is make sure the flowers are in good shape without any rotting parts and place them onto a piece of paper towel. Just let them air dry until they are completely dried out and feel like paper.
If your flowers are really small, drying them on paper towel should only take a few days to about a week.
6. Air Drying Flowers For Resin By Hanging
Hanging flowers to dry is a good method to use for things with long stems like lavender or baby's breath. It's super easy to dry flowers in resin jewelry and countertop inclusions by hanging them. This way you can collect a whole bunch of flowers and plants during harvest time to dry for later use.
How To Hang Dry Flowers:
Step 1: Gather your flowers and inspect them for anything rotting or browning.
Step 2: Put the flowers into small bouquet sets and tie them with a piece of twine. Make sure there is enough twine at the end for hanging them.
Step 3: Hang the flowers upside down in a dry place and leave them for about two weeks.
This method of drying flowers will only work in places where the humidity isn't high. If you dry flowers in a humid climate, they will grow mold and mildew.
7. Dry Flowers For Resin Using A Press
Using a press is a good way to make sure that the flowers are completely flattened. One thing about using a press is that you can just set it and forget it, it does all of the work for you.
With a wooden flower press you can press up to 4-5 layers of flower or leaves all at the same time.
If you are going to be using this method, do purchase a press that is quality because if you try to use a press that isn't made with quality wood, the flowers will not press properly and you will be extremely frustrated.
8. Dry Flowers In An Oven For Resin
Oven dried flowers will make quick dried flowers while keeping their shapes and color. So if you are drying a rose, this method will keep the actual shape of the rose. This is great for deeper resin pours like home décor accents.
How To Dry Flowers In An Oven:
Step 1: Gather your flowers and inspect them for anything rotting or browning.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 200°F
Step 2: Cut off the stems of the flowers if desired. You might want to leave them on for statement resin pieces like cutting boards or trays.
Step 3: Using an oven safe drying rack with a tight grid, lay the flowers onto the rack without touching.
Step 4: Put the flowers into the oven and set your timer to check on them every 15-20 minutes. Tiny flowers are going to dry extremely fast and larger flowers might take a couple of hours.
Step 5: When the flowers are dried enough so that they feel like paper, take them out and let them cool.
It is important that you set the timer to check on your flowers. If they are left in the oven for too long, they will end up being super crumbly and will lose their shape and color.
When drying flowers in the oven, only use flowers and leaves that are the same size so that they will be drying evenly. For example you wouldn't want to dry mini roses with larger rose buds because the smaller ones will get crispy.
9. Purchase Dried Flowers For Resin
Shop For Dried Flowers On Amazon
Sometimes it's hard to find a perfect flower for your resin project that is super unique like a crab apple flower, cherry blossoms or tiny micro flowers for resin jewelry.
The good news is that you can easily find pretty much any kind of flower that you need on Amazon & Etsy.
You can get really great deals on bulk dried flowers too. Buying in bulk is super helpful if you are making large resin pieces like table tops or embedding flowers into countertops of floors.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about drying flowers:
1. What is the best method for drying flowers at home?
Air-drying is a simple and effective method for drying flowers at home. Bundle the flowers with a string and hang them upside down in a dark, well-ventilated space.
2. How long does it take for flowers to dry using the air-drying method?
The drying time varies based on the flower type and environmental conditions. On average, it takes two to three weeks for flowers to fully dry using the air-drying technique.
3. Can you recommend other methods for drying flowers?
Pressing and using silica gel are alternative methods for drying flowers. Pressing is suitable for delicate blooms, while silica gel allows for a quicker drying process and helps retain vibrant colors.
4. What flowers are best suited for drying purposes?
Flowers with sturdy petals and minimal moisture content work well for drying. Examples include roses, lavender, baby's breath, and statice. Experiment with different flowers to discover which ones preserve their shape and color best.
5. How can one prevent mold during the drying process?
To prevent mold, ensure flowers are completely dry before storing them. Choose a dry environment with good air circulation, and avoid drying flowers in overly humid conditions. If using silica gel, follow the recommended guidelines for moisture absorption.
6. What precautions should be taken when embedding dried flowers in epoxy resin?
Ensure the dried flowers are completely moisture-free before embedding them in epoxy resin. Any residual moisture can lead to bubbles in resin or discoloration. Additionally, arrange the flowers in the desired position before applying the resin.
7. How can one prevent air bubbles when incorporating dried flowers into epoxy resin projects?
To minimize air bubbles, gently tap the mold on a solid surface after pouring the resin. Alternatively, use a heat gun or torch to carefully remove surface bubbles. Working in thin layers and allowing each layer to partially cure before adding more resin can also help prevent bubbles.
8. Are there specific types of dried flowers that work better for epoxy resin projects?
Flowers with low moisture content and sturdy petals, such as baby's breath, lavender, and rosebuds, are ideal for epoxy resin projects. Delicate flowers may lose their shape during the resin curing process, so it's advisable to test a small sample before creating a larger project.
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USE RESIN SAFELY
No matter what type of resin you decide to use, always use personal protective equipment (PPE). Take time to carefully go over safety data sheets before making anything with resin, and make sure you have the proper gloves on (not latex) and the right respirator for resin protection.
Here are the exact gloves we always use
This is the respirator we use and recommend for resin work
Read more about resin safety here
And please remember, even if your epoxy resin of choice is "VOC-free, odor free" and/or "non toxic", please always wear the proper respirator for epoxy resin.
Here is the BEST respirator mask for epoxy resin: this Full Face Organic Vapor Respirator checks off all of the boxes for resin safety, and comes with
- free 30 day returns
- a 1 year factory warranty
- free US shipping and free shipping on international orders
Here it is:
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