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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Cutting Board • Glitter Coasters • Keychains • Ocean Resin Art • Resin Frame • Wood Slice Coasters