I spotted this cool Day of the Dead inspired flower art a while back on Pinterest, and when London came into full bloom this spring I just knew I had to immortalise those beautiful blooms!

Pressed flower art has been around for decades, and happily it’s making a comeback. I’ve given it a modern Day of The Dead twist by using a skull image, but you can use anything you like such as an owl, or something simple like a love heart or star.

If you haven’t pressed flowers before, you can do this either by laying the blooms flat on baking paper, covering with a tea towel and giving it an iron on low heat. These will press instantly, but they will lose a little of their colour. If you’re patient, you can do the tried and tested way of placing your flowers and leaves in between some baking paper and stacking heavy books on top. Leave for at least a few weeks and you’re ready to roll!

Here’s how to create your own flower art – it makes a beautiful gift, but I’m going to be keeping this and it’s going to take pride of place on my wall!

What you need:

• An old picture frame. If you like, paint it a different colour to match your flowers.
• Pressed flowers
• PVA Glue or modge podge
• A skull stencil (or any other you’d like to use! Do a search on Pinterest)
• Super glue
• Paintbrush
• Scissors
• Tweezers
• Masking tape

1.Remove your glass from the frame and set aside. If your recycled photo frame needs a makeover, give it a light sand then paint the colour you wish. Make sure your glass is clean and dry.

2.Select your stencil. Make sure it fits comfortably into your frame. If you have bought your own image, trace the outline onto a piece of baking paper. Secure it to one side of the glass using masking tape. Remember that the image will be in reverse once it’s complete.

3.Choose the dried flowers and leaves you’d like to use and set aside. Be gentle! Use tweezers to handle the flowers if they look fragile.

4.Decide how you’d like to lay the flowers and leaves out on your stencil by placing them onto the glass. It’s a good idea to take a photo on your Smartphone so you can remember where to place everything.

5.Paint small sections of Modge Podge onto your glass, using your stencil as a guide. Stick down a few pressed flowers using the tweezers. Keep going until you’ve completed your design.

6.Very gently give the flowers a top coat of Modge Podge. Try to stay inside your stencil.

7. Remove the stencil and masking tape, and wait until the glue has completely dried. If there’s any messy bits of glue on the glass, remove with a toothpick or skewer.

8. Remove the wooden back of the frame. Add some super glue to the frame where your glass will sit. Use the super glue very sparingly and don’t go to close to the inside edge. Gently place your glass back in the frame, and close the small metal struts.

9. You’re done! Hang on your wall and marvel at your creative genius.

What other crafts do you like to create with pressed flowers? Let me know by commenting below!