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How to Preserve Flowers in Resin (with Video!)

Learn how to preserve dried flowers in resin! You can make all sorts of projects with epoxy resin including jewelry, coasters, and more.

How to Preserve Flowers in Resin

Are you curious about preserving flowers in resin? I’m excited to share with you today! Recently I learned how to use resin, and I have to admit, it’s life changing stuff.

I’ve used resin in the past a few times, but I was a looong time ago and I think it was just on a tray. Obviously I don’t remember.

Recently Mod Podge Resin was released, and it got me started down the epoxy resin path again. I started with resin coasters and then geode coasters . . . then I decided it was time to foray into dried flowers.

Have you seen the beautiful jewelry and pendants that people are making? I wanted to try that too.

I started by preserving flowers in flat glass handle holders . . . and I’m going to show you what I did. This method will be the same whether you use a different surface or silicone molds.

Get ready to make one of a kind keepsakes using this simple tutorial! This spring craft would make an awesome gift idea.

Dried flowers in resin

Tips for Preserving Dried Flowers in Resin

Before we get started on the project, I want to share some frequently asked questions. I hope they help you. If you’re not interested, you can scroll to the bottom for the how-to.

Supplies You’ll Need

You’re going to need some supplies in addition to the flowers. Here’s what you should have ready:

Epoxy resin – usually a two part system with a 1:1 mixing ratio of resin and hardener.

Surface or silicone mold – you’re going to embed the flowers into something whether it be a flat glass candle holder or a silicone mold (to make jewelry pieces or paperweights, for example).

Personal protective equipment – eyewear, respirators, and gloves are typically recommended. Read your package instructions.

Mixing cups and craft sticks – you’ll need a cup to mix the resin and then separate cups for mixing resin with additives. Popsicle sticks are for stirring.

Tweezers – dried flowers can be quite fragile, so tweezers can help you place them without crumbling the petals.

Additives – there are all sorts of things to embed in a resin project with the flowers like alcohol inks, glitter, and gold flakes.

Timer – you can use your phone obviously, but you’ll need something to track stirring time.

Butane torch – this is optional, but if you’re planning on working with resin, it helps remove bubbles easily.

Preserving flowers in resin

How do you prepare fresh flowers for resin?

There are several ways to dry (and press) flowers. If you use the methods below, you’ll want to use flowers as fresh as possible. Press them right after you pick them.

  1. Wooden flower press – two pieces of wood screwed together at all four corners, leave to dry naturally for 3 – 4 weeks.
  2. Between the pages of books – place flowers between parchment paper in the pages of a heavy book, close and weight down with more books. Leave to dry for 3 – 4 weeks.
  3. Silica gel – this is a great way to dry flowers that you want to keep dimensional (like for paperweights or pendants). It takes 2 – 7 days. I haven’t found a way to keep flowers flat in silica.
  4. Microwave press – the flowers stay between two ceramic tiles held together with rubber bands. It seems to preserve the color the best, and you can do it 30 minutes.

My favorite method is microwaving because it seems to retain the color the best. Note: most flowers will lose some color during the drying process. It’s inevitable unless you use other, commercial processes.

How do you put dried flowers in resin?

Very carefully. Dried flowers are very fragile so I recommend planning your design first and making sure you have tweezers ready to place them in the resin mold, if necessary.

Will flowers turn brown in resin?

Yes, if they are not properly dried. They can rot inside the resin if you don’t dry them properly, and your project cannot be fixed.


How-to-preserve-flowers-in-resin

You can see the entire process in the video in this post! Also get the printable how-to below.

Yield: 4 coasters

Preserving Flowers in Resin

How to Preserve Flowers in Resin

Learn how to preserve dried flowers in resin using this easy tutorial. You can use the results in jewelry, home decor crafts, and more.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Active Time 1 hour
Dry Time 1 day
Total Time 1 day 1 hour 15 minutes
Difficulty Intermediate
Estimated Cost $10

Materials

  • Mod Podge Resin
  • Dried flowers
  • Flat glass candle holders
  • Gold flakes
  • Toothpicks
  • Disposable cups
  • Craft sticks

Tools

  • Respirator
  • Torch
  • Gloves
  • Tweezers

Instructions

  1. Mix the resin according to the package instructions. It will be a 1:1 mixture of resin and hardener.
  2. Arrange the flowers on the glass candle holders as desired. Dried flowers are very fragile so use tweezers to help you with the placement.
  3. Slowly pour clear resin over the flower. Fill the candle holders as much as possible without overflowing. If the dried flowers begin to float, push them back down using a toothpick.
  4. Sprinkle gold flakes over the clear resin.
  5. Remove bubbles using a butane torch or heat gun. Let set for five minutes and then repeat to remove additional bubbles if needed. Allow resin to cure fully according to package instructions (likely 24 hours).

Notes

The estimate for this project in terms of resin required is approximately 1.5 oz per holder.

Measure resin by volume, not weight. Use a separate measuring cup for each part. Once equal amounts of both parts are measured, pour them into a mixing cup. Gently stir the two parts together for 3 minutes. When you start to stir, cloudy swirls will appear.

Did You Make This Project?

Please leave a rating or share a photo on Pinterest!


Now that you know how to preserve flowers in resin, I’d love for you to check out these other resin projects:

Cutting BoardGlitter CoastersKeychainsOcean Resin ArtResin FrameWood Slice Coasters

Dried Flowers in Resin: How to Preserve Them Story

Sherry Y

Thursday 7th of December 2023

I would like to make a paper weight. My original thought was that I would have to put some resin in the container first and then put the flowers on top so that there would be a layer of resin between the flowers and the outside when finished..But your instructions say pour right over the flowers. And I guess it goes underneath them?

Jc

Saturday 13th of January 2024

@Sherry Y, look at her video up on top of this post, before the instructions. It shows a more detailed, & that’s what she did as well. She poured resin, I believe let it cure for 20 minutes, & then added the flowers & more resin. I had thought the same thing, but I found her video & it helped me.

Theresa Brown

Tuesday 14th of November 2023

For funeral flowers that have already been dried in a bouquet, can you preserve in resin in the bouquet? What is the best way to do it?

Ana

Tuesday 11th of April 2023

If I want to make a pin, is there a way to add the pin part, or just glue it after?

Amy

Wednesday 12th of April 2023

I'd just glue it on after with E-6000 or jewelry glue. That will stick to the resin. Reason I say that is because I'm not sure about the pin back sinking into the resin.

Isabel

Friday 7th of April 2023

Hi Amy! I hope you answer this. I’m trying to preserve my wedding bouquet!

How should I press flowers after drying in silica?

Thanks!

Amy

Wednesday 12th of April 2023

Hi Isabel! Hmmm - you should press them and let them dry at the same time. Now that your flowers are dry, they are fragile and not flexible because the moisture is gone. I wouldn't press them.

Lisa

Thursday 9th of March 2023

How do you either make a hole when done (for hanging) or put something in to create the hole while it dries? I'd like to make ornaments for the kids from my mom's funeral flowers

Amy

Sunday 2nd of April 2023

You can drill into resin! Just go slow and use painter's tape on each side. Drill right through the tape. It keeps the resin from cracking.

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