mounting a dried flower

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Chuck T

True Grumbler
Joined
Aug 15, 2003
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Location
Jackson, Michigan
Hi all, I have two questions. First, I have been requested to mount a dried rose in a small shadow box with one opening for a photo. The dried rose would be still intact. I had planned on stitching the stem to the mattboard to hold it in place. How should the flower be mounted so that the petals wouldn't fall off? Should it be "treated" in some way?

Secondly, I have an alternative to mount the loose rose petals around the photo opening. If so, what would be the best way to mount the loose petals? The customer has given us carte blanche with this job. He wants to see how the completed package looks, then there will be eleven more frames identical to this one. Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated! Happy New Year!!!! Chuck T.
 
I have a friend who freeze drys flowers as in wedding bouquets and mounts them. She sprays the finished flower to hold it all together. I used to have some the the spray she gave me but I used it a long time ago and can't remember the name. I am sure if you contacted a local florist, you could get the spray or at least the name of the product. If I get a chance to talk to her, I will get the name and how she holds hers together and get back to you. Good luck.
 
I don't think there's a way you can keep the petals from falling off, short of soaking the bloom in something like acrylic. But that would change the appearance of it, and still might not work completely.

A couple of 1/4" wide clear film straps would secure the stem. The bloom might stand on its own, but sometimes it's necessary to elevate the stem at the base of the bloom. That may be accomplished with a small piece of acrylic (trimmed from a piece of glass spacer, perhaps) or matboard.
 
Sorry Chuck, I didn't read your post close enough. I am just leaving for work so didn't take enoubh time. I glue lose petals or pressed flowers with a linco acid free glue I buy from United Manufacturers. Try this.
 
I don't think there's a way you can keep the petals from falling off, short of soaking the bloom in something like acrylic. But that would change the appearance of it, and still might not work completely.

A couple of 1/4" wide clear film straps would secure the stem, through slots in the mount board. The bloom might stand on its own, but sometimes it's necessary to elevate the stem at the base of the bloom. That may be accomplished with a small piece of acrylic (trimmed from a piece of glass spacer, perhaps) or matboard.

The loose petals could be thrown into the bottom of the shadowbox, which is where the new fall-offs will end up, anyway.
 
Don't mind me. There's something weird going on here and I'm just running a little test.

Edit:
Let's see if this shows up as an edit or an entirely new post.

[ 12-31-2003, 11:58 AM: Message edited by: Ron Eggers ]
 
To get the glue that Sharon suggested into the
spaces at which the petals connect with the
stem of the flower, you may need to thin it with
water and a little alcohol, to make it flow as
well as possible. If you apply the glue with a
fine brush, you may be able to do it in such a
was as to minimize its visibility.

Hugh
 
if you can everso gently steam the rose open a wee bit before putting the paste inbetween the petals it will be more pliable and less likely to drop petals as youare working on it, I would reccomend using a paste that has a mildewcide/insecticide already in its formulation. The flower will take a wee bit longer to dry done this way but the results will be much more lasting.
Anyone ever have to repair one of those old fashioned "hair" wreathes made from generations of the family's hair, fun stuff, DNA anyone LOL!
 
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