Dried Flower Christmas Ornaments You Will Love!

Bring your own flower garden to Christmas this year with dried flower Christmas ornaments. You can press your own from your garden, or purchase pressed flowers.

three dried flowers on a wood Christmas Ornament

Differences of Dried Flowers, Pressed Flowers, or Silica Gel

The difference between dried flowers and pressed flowers is the way they are preserved. Dried flowers are preserved by being hung upside down for a few weeks, or until the flower has completely dried.

Pressed flowers are preserved by flattening the flower between two boards, cardboard, or in a book. As a result the pressed flowers are flat, and the dried flowers keep the 3 dimensional shape.

Preserving flowers with silica gel will produce a dried flower that looks the most like the fresh flower. It will completely keep its shape and most of the color. The color will look a little faded, but not as much as when you hand dry flowers. To dry flowers in silica gel, put a layer of silica gel in the bottom of a container, lay the flowers on top, and gently cover the flowers completely with more silica gel. Then wait 1-2 weeks for the flowers to completely dry. Be aware that drying flowers this way will create a very fragile flower and the petals easily fall off, but can be glued back on.

Depending on the result you want will determine the best process. For this project I used my pressed flowers.

How to Press Flowers

Pressing flowers is simple, easy, and requires little materials. Remembering to gather the flowers is the hardest part!

In the morning, when the flowers look their best, but do not have dew or water on them, collect flowers. You will want to pick flowers that have few blemishes and are whole because they are not going to look any better than the day you pick them.
Lay out two pieces of parchment paper. One piece will be for the bottom and one will be for the top. Lay the flowers on the parchment paper, trying to get the flower face down. This will help keep the flower flat against the surface.
Next but the other piece of parchment paper on top
Put the flowers in between the parchment paper in a flower press, between two heavy books, or in the middle of a book and put some heavy books on top.
In an hour you can check on the flowers to make sure there aren’t any bends for folds. Gently flatten the petals out if desired.
Wait two or so weeks. How long it takes for the flowers to dry will depend on your climate and temperature of your home.

Remember that if you don’t have your own pressed flowers you can always order some.

Some Great Dried Flowers to Try

Some flowers press and dry better than others. Other flowers keep their color well and others just shrivel up. Flowers that I have dried that I like are

Pansies- pressed
Zinnas- pressed
Cosmos- pressed
Anemones- pressed
Sunflowers- pressed
Yarrow- hang dried
Ranunculus- hang dried
Dahlias- Silica gel

5 different dried flowers glued on wood Christmas Ornaments.

How to Make Dried Flower Christmas Ornaments

Materials needed

Pressed, dried, or crystalize flowers
Modge pogs glue
Backing for the flowers such as wood, clear ornaments, or thick paper
String
Paint brush for glue

Assemble With Pressed Flowers

Take the ornament and glue
Spread a thin layer of glue on the ornament
Lay the flower on top of the glue
Spread another thin layer of glue on top of the flower
Allow to dry
Done!

Assemble with Dried or Silica Gel Dried Flowers

Take the ornament and HOT glue
Put a drop of hot glue on the ornament
Lay the flower on top of the glue
Allow to dry
Done!

How easy is that, and it’s a fun, cute, simple way to bring some flowers to the holiday. It also is easy enough to do with kids.

Creative Ideas Dried Flower Christmas Ornaments

Press your birth flower for yourself, child, or loved one and put their birth date on it. A cute way to make it personalized.

Getting married- Dry, press, or silica gel dry wedding flowers and make into an ornament with the wedding date for a lovely keepsake.

Garden in Review- Each year press a few flowers and make an ornament each year and write the date on it. Then you can have a keepsake of each garden year.