How Do I Glue Pressed Flowers?

When making creations with pressed flowers such as artwork, cards and decorations, it’s essential to glue them down to make sure they stay in place. I regularly get asked about the type of glue I use, and my glueing techniques for working with delicate pressed flowers.

In terms of types of glue, make sure you only use water-based adhesives - anything stronger is likely to damage and discolour the delicate petals. Any water-based white glue will work well - PVA or Elmer’s Glue will be fine. My favourite glue to work with is Matte Mod Podge, which is a water-based craft glue often used for decoupage. I find it has a good consistency (not too wet and not too gloopy!) and when used sparingly it dries to an almost invisible finish. It can be used to adhere pressed flowers to paper, card, clay, ceramic, wood and many other surfaces.

When it comes to the best way to glue your flowers, I recommend using a paintbrush to apply a thin layer of glue to the back of your flowers to ensure there’s a good even coating across the whole pressing. For most flowers, I don’t put any glue over the front as I like to keep my work as natural as possible, although there are a few exceptions to this rule, for example flowers that have parts such as a stamen that could come loose over time. You can find a detailed guide to my glueing techniques in The Pressed Flower Handbook, accompanied by step-by-step photographs to show you exactly how to perfectly glue your pressed flowers. Pressed flowers that have been glued with care and patience look so beautiful, so it really is worth taking the time to understand the best approach.

Glueing pressed flowers can feel a little scary at first, but with practice it will become a lovely mindful activity. Every pressed flower creation is completely unique and a wonderful celebration of nature - I hope you enjoy making magic with your flower pressings!