10 Fun Ways to Upcycle your Mature Flowers

There is just something soothing about getting fresh cut flowers adds to your home. When flowers bloom fully, they add a color pop and a pleasant aroma to our lives for a short while. But, flowers don’t last forever, they tend to shrivel and die after some time. When next you get flowers, don’t let them simply sit on your counter until they completely wither and end up in the trash. Rather, upcycle them and allow them to live a second life. The most effective ways to upcycle flowers include:

1. Put them in a frame

In case you are on the search for a way to add a personal touch to your office or home, why not frame the flower bouquet you recently received from a flower delivery? This is particularly meaningful when the hand bouquet was a gift from a special person, or help you to remember an awesome night out with your partner.

Press them

There are numerous uses for pressed flowers: welcoming cards, thank you cards, artwork, bookmarks and so on. Simply rinse the mature flowers and leave to dry completely. Then, place them in between 2 absorbent or parchment paper. Place a heavy pot or book on top for about 10 days to flatten the flowers.  

DIY Flower Card

This is the best way to pass long-lasting, lovely flowers to your dearest ones. Making a card is a fun task that can be done with the entire family. You just need the pressed flowers, glue and card. For an elegant finish, pair the flowers with dried greens, or just use flowers that match the color of your card and envelope. Ensure you utilize heavy-duty cardboard (250gsm or more is ideal) in order to prevent the flowers from twisting the card. Also, use clear glue to stick the flowers.

Floral Crowns

Use mature dried flowers to make your own one-of-a-kind floral crown. They last longer than those made with fresh flowers and can be re-utilized for weddings, celebrations, and summer soirees making them a pretty, practical accessory. Also, they can be turned into a wreath once you are done wearing them. And, if you are careful enough, the crown can be taken apart and revamped into cards as described above. To create a simple flower crown, use a glue gun to stick dry petals, leaves, and buds on to an old headband to make a one of a kind, boho-like crown.

DIY Perfume

What you need: Water, a spray bottle, small saucepan, cheesecloth, and flower petals

Procedure: This is a nature and chemical-free light perfume in contrast to expensive fragrances in shops. Best of all, it is environmentally friendly since it is water-based. Place the wilted flowers in water to rinse off any sediments or dirt. Proceed to line the saucepan with a cheesecloth and pour water into the pan. Soak the flowers overnight by placing them into the cheesecloth and add water until it covers the blooms. Cover the pan with a lid. In the morning, take off the lid and squeeze the cheesecloth to remove any remaining scented water. Place the pan on low heat to simmer for a while. Let it cool before you transfer the floral water into a spray bottle. If stored in a dry and cool area, it can last for a few weeks.

Floral Tea Balls

What you need: Palatable flowers (for example Chamomile, Jasmine, Fuchsias), Baking tray, fresh tea leaves, needle and cotton string, and wax paper.

Procedure: Rinse and dry the edible mature flowers. Place the tea leaves in between two layers of wax paper and use heavy books to make them flat. Do not let them remain underneath the books for over 1 hour or else the leaves will shrink and dry. Use a sharp knife to cut the leaves into 0.25-inch strips. Arrange the cut tea leaves in a wheel pattern on a table and position the edible flowers in the middle. Collect the leaves and blooms, holding the stems firmly together and sew the stems around the bunch. Shape the bundle in the form of a ball. Bake for 30 minutes at the lowest temperature. To watch the magic unfold, brew the flowering tea ball in a transparent teapot.

Homemade potpourri

Potpourri is a bowl of dry flower petals that smell amazing. It is often used to diffuse a mild scent in the room. The commonly used flowers for potpourri include geraniums, lavender, and roses, which can be mixed with your desired essential oils to strengthen the scent. To DIY potpourri, rinse and dry the petals in a cabinet. After drying, place the petals in a bowl or basket and add spices, aromatic woods, dried fruits, and some drops of essential oils. You can also add seasonal seeds and nuts to customize it for the season.

Flower Petal Soap

What you need: Soap molds, dried flower petals, soap base, essential oils

Procedure: Melt the soap base in a microwave until it is completely liquefied. Add 2 drops of your favorite essential oil and stir carefully. Put some of the flower petals at the base of your soap molds. Pour a layer of the soap base on it. Leave to cool for 20 minutes. Do as many layers as you want. Let the soap harden for an hour.

Bath Salts

What you need: dried flowers (for example rose, lavender), dead sea salt, jars, Epsom salt, essential oils

Procedure: pour the Epsom salt and the Dead Sea salt in a bowl and mix with your hands. Add your favorite essential or fragrance oils and mix. Sprinkle in your desired dried flowers and mix. Pour into the jar and store in the cool, dry area in your bathroom. That’s all. Have a nice and relaxing bath with your bath salts to unwind toward the end of the day.

Dried Flower Candle

What you need: Thermometer, paraffin wax, craft glue, dried flowers, molded candle

Procedure: Use the craft glue to stick the dried flowers to the molded candle your dried blooms. Melt paraffin wax over medium heat in a double boiler. Wait till the wax temperature reaches 205˚F. Hold the candle by the wick, cautiously dunk it in the wax for 5 seconds. Repeat this process until there is no more wax, and set aside for 2 hours to dry. Cut the wick till it is 0.25 inch and be prepared to enjoy the scent when you light it.

So now you know how to upcycle mature flowers, we trust you will give them a whole new lease of life.