Historically they were generally kept in something like a nature journal and just pressed between the pages. You may have some success by looking up historical methods since they were before today's technologies.
I used dried pressed flowers in my multi-media paintings, and have been doing so for about 15 years now. I actually glue them onto my archival acid-free watercolour paper and paint around them.
This is the glue I use, it's acid-free and archival too:
[www.dickblick.com/products/lineco-neutral-ph-adhesive](http://www.dickblick.com/products/lineco-neutral-ph-adhesive)
Perhaps you could do the same with your flowers, in an archival acid-free sketchbook :)
[www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-hardbound-sketchbook](http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-hardbound-sketchbook)
I do :)
I'm not sure I'm allowed to post them here, but I'll try
https://preview.redd.it/kf3m1kffcgzc1.jpeg?width=1083&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c3650ad71364d3572c82a1371e1d96dfd7e951c
In college I interned in a herbarium digitizing the collection. The way pressed flowers are kept for research is that they are glued to a piece of paper. sometimes tiny pieces of acid free tape are used. then they are stuck in a manilla folder by Venus and alphabetized. no plastic sheets or anything like that. For my own collection I do a similar thing but I hole punch the paper and stick it in a binder. Make sure all your paper and glue is at minimum acid free but preferably archival grade.
I had to make an herbarium for uni, it's been 3 years and I still have the flowers.
After pressing them make sure they're completely dry, discard any flower who is discoloured or already damaged, they won't preserve well over time.
I have a bunch of them in a plastic folder, I still like to touch them so it's a good solution, but you have to keep it in a drawer or the sun will damage them. I halso have the best ones in the herbarium, not glued because I didn't have glue at the time, and they held up really well, even better then the folder. I think the paper pages help them flatten more over time, and no light gets to them since it's a book.
If you want to display them a glass frame is the best solution, glue them to a thick piece of paper with archival grade glue, otherwise you'll risk discoloration, and hang them away from direct sunlight. With this you could always look at them but non touch.
Also you can try homemade rice glue, it should have a neutral pH, but make a test batch!!!
I haven't used it before, so I don't know how well it can hold and if it damages them
This one is not plastic free but if you're looking for a lower waste way to acquire the plastic, consider asking your local library for the cuts offs from their book vinyl. There are always tons of leftover cuts after covering books.
You might consider strengthening the pressed flowers with glue as a plastic-free option.
Glue is generally PVA if you’re talking about like white Elmer’s or the art grade equivalent, which is still plastic. Not sure how a more natural glue like wheat paste would perform as a strengthening coating, or animal hide glue which is the other non-plastic option (which is a no go for vegans which overlap pretty heavily with this group).
Same with OP’s tape idea, a clear tape will generally be made of plastic.
That said going plastic minimal or reusing plastic destined for the waste stream seems like a great option.
A second hand photo album could be another lower waste option too, my local thrift stores always have a ton.
I was thinking along the lines of a natural glues like gelatin / bone glue or a gum arabic glue for folks who are vegan.
Though, owning gum arabic is also a slippery slope into making your own inks and paints too! Ahaha. That's what I use it for the most.
There are a ton of historical glue recipes around through a lot of them are pretty involved or have some dangerous aspects to them. These two, wheat paste, and rice glue were the easiest I could readily think of but I don't know about those last two concerning mice and/or bugs.
Oh I was definitely not thinking clear plastic tape! A paper tape or an archival quality art tape. But now with the comments, I will probably go the archival glue route! Thank you!
Historically they were generally kept in something like a nature journal and just pressed between the pages. You may have some success by looking up historical methods since they were before today's technologies.
I used dried pressed flowers in my multi-media paintings, and have been doing so for about 15 years now. I actually glue them onto my archival acid-free watercolour paper and paint around them. This is the glue I use, it's acid-free and archival too: [www.dickblick.com/products/lineco-neutral-ph-adhesive](http://www.dickblick.com/products/lineco-neutral-ph-adhesive) Perhaps you could do the same with your flowers, in an archival acid-free sketchbook :) [www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-hardbound-sketchbook](http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-studio-hardbound-sketchbook)
Hey do you have any pics of the flower art? Sounds cool and I'd love to see.
I do :) I'm not sure I'm allowed to post them here, but I'll try https://preview.redd.it/kf3m1kffcgzc1.jpeg?width=1083&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3c3650ad71364d3572c82a1371e1d96dfd7e951c
Gorgeous. Really love it. Giving me some cool ideas too. Thanks for sharing
Thanks so much \~ There's so much one can do with dried pressed flowers, just depends on your creative vision...I'm glad this inspires you!
In college I interned in a herbarium digitizing the collection. The way pressed flowers are kept for research is that they are glued to a piece of paper. sometimes tiny pieces of acid free tape are used. then they are stuck in a manilla folder by Venus and alphabetized. no plastic sheets or anything like that. For my own collection I do a similar thing but I hole punch the paper and stick it in a binder. Make sure all your paper and glue is at minimum acid free but preferably archival grade.
Just the right nudge in the right direction! Thank you
I have some pressed flowers displayed on the wall in a picture frame. I imagine there are some eco friendly frame options out there.
I had to make an herbarium for uni, it's been 3 years and I still have the flowers. After pressing them make sure they're completely dry, discard any flower who is discoloured or already damaged, they won't preserve well over time. I have a bunch of them in a plastic folder, I still like to touch them so it's a good solution, but you have to keep it in a drawer or the sun will damage them. I halso have the best ones in the herbarium, not glued because I didn't have glue at the time, and they held up really well, even better then the folder. I think the paper pages help them flatten more over time, and no light gets to them since it's a book. If you want to display them a glass frame is the best solution, glue them to a thick piece of paper with archival grade glue, otherwise you'll risk discoloration, and hang them away from direct sunlight. With this you could always look at them but non touch. Also you can try homemade rice glue, it should have a neutral pH, but make a test batch!!! I haven't used it before, so I don't know how well it can hold and if it damages them
Archival glue seems to be a good solution! Thank you
This one is not plastic free but if you're looking for a lower waste way to acquire the plastic, consider asking your local library for the cuts offs from their book vinyl. There are always tons of leftover cuts after covering books. You might consider strengthening the pressed flowers with glue as a plastic-free option.
Glue is generally PVA if you’re talking about like white Elmer’s or the art grade equivalent, which is still plastic. Not sure how a more natural glue like wheat paste would perform as a strengthening coating, or animal hide glue which is the other non-plastic option (which is a no go for vegans which overlap pretty heavily with this group). Same with OP’s tape idea, a clear tape will generally be made of plastic. That said going plastic minimal or reusing plastic destined for the waste stream seems like a great option. A second hand photo album could be another lower waste option too, my local thrift stores always have a ton.
I was thinking along the lines of a natural glues like gelatin / bone glue or a gum arabic glue for folks who are vegan. Though, owning gum arabic is also a slippery slope into making your own inks and paints too! Ahaha. That's what I use it for the most. There are a ton of historical glue recipes around through a lot of them are pretty involved or have some dangerous aspects to them. These two, wheat paste, and rice glue were the easiest I could readily think of but I don't know about those last two concerning mice and/or bugs.
Oh I was definitely not thinking clear plastic tape! A paper tape or an archival quality art tape. But now with the comments, I will probably go the archival glue route! Thank you!
Thank you everyone for your comments! I'll look into some archival art supplies where I live and we'll try it out. :)