Select flowers in excellent condition. Harvest flowers right before they're fully open as they will continue to mature after being cut.
Remove foliage from stems, then let your flowers dry upright in a vase with no water, keeping them out of direct sunlight.
Place about an inch of silica gel in a container. Place the blossom in the container and cover it with silica gel. Seal the container, and check in about five days.
Pressing flowers is great for scrapbooking or making cards. Use a flower press or DIY your own press by using cardboard or plain white packing paper.
The microwave method is fast and yields brighter colors. Use silica gel to hold the flowers upright in a microwavable container. Drying times will vary.
Different flowers work best with different methods. For example, hydrangeas and lavender are great for air drying, while roses and zinnias work well with silica gel.
Use your dried flowers in arrangements, wreaths, or display them in shadow boxes. There's no limit to the creative ways to use dried flowers.