How to Frame Pressed Flowers - Glass on Glass Framing Mini Course

[@305anna]

Thank you so much for this. it is so nice to have someone share the many hours of learning and mistakes for the benefit of others!

[@flowerpressstudio]

Happy to help. Always learning more and will share as we can

[@rhonenahoyet4214]

Thank you for this excellent video. You and Rachel are helping the 'presser' community so much.

[@flowerpressstudio]

Yeahhhh that what this Channel will be for. Lots of educational and tips and fun ideas

[@MrsRTate]

This is a wonderful video! Saw a mention of this when I started reading through the materials in your course (super excited about that too but had to pause to come see this). I’ve been trying to figure this part out since I started pressing! THANK YOU!!!

[@flowerpressstudio]

You are so very welcome. Glad it was helpful

[@user-mrBANANA]

Thank you so much for your hard work. You and your wife are great! )

[@flowerpressstudio]

Rachel is the best. She literally spent hours editing this video. I have no attention span or knowledge of how to do what she does. Appreciate the nice words. Thank you. 2024 and 2025 we plan to do some pretty cool KZbin videos to show everyone all the things you can do with pressed flowers

[@dorismongaya7063]

Awesome! You are an excellent teacher. Very detailed💕

[@flowerpressstudio]

Thank you so much!

[@vern0018]

It's gorgeous. Do you also do the flowers on the glass tutorial?

[@flowerpressstudio]

We do everything. I’m not sure I understand your question though

[@MsBlumenfrau]

Thank you so much for the framing tutorial. Also, about the glass cleaner you have used. I jumped right over to Amazon and ordered some. Thanks again ❤

[@flowerpressstudio]

Hahaha awesome. I forgot to link it in the description. Thanks for the reminder. Also you can use it on plastic too. Easy to use. I like it

[@alicebaldwin2745]

Beautiful work! I am struggling with framing some dried sunflowers right now and I don't have the luxury of using custom frames. Are you open to me sending photos for some advice?

[@flowerpressstudio]

You can email them to [e-mail] but I can’t guarantee I’ll be of much help. I’ll try though. 🙂

[@resinbouquet]

Hello, thank you for all your informative videos. I have a question that I have not seen answered anywhere else. When the pressed botanicals are layered on top of each other, like a stem of leaves and a flower on top, are the stems cut off where the flower petal begins? I have noticed that once the glass is laid on that the areas of the petals where the stems are can show through and create a line or a higher spot that makes the petals look bumpy and not lay flat. Thank you.

[@flowerpressstudio]

Good question. It’s personal choice. But I have cut stems as you said and then laid flowers right at the edge of the flower to mimic a fluid transition. That’s usually what I do. But I like to place the flower strategically into the stem sometimes. It’s sort of a puzzle to get everything looking how you want and then glue it down.

[@flowerpressstudio]

But you are correct. You can sometimes notice the stems if not cut through the flower but that’s also not a bad thing. It could actually be a very cool effect and I can envision doing that. It all depends on how thick the stems are, what flowers you are placing on top, and what look you are going for. Each look works.

[@resinbouquet]

Thank you for replying. Now I feel more confident knowing that either way works.

[@beautifullybusymom9672]

How do you hold the flowers in place when they are standing up like that? Do you put glue dots or anything that holds them in the arrangement you put them in?

[@flowerpressstudio]

Totally put glue on all the flowers. 🙂 a decent amount

[@sgao9762]

@@flowerpressstudio do you put glue on both sides of the flowers?

[@spd291]

Hi, I have a question about your external spacers. Do you make these on your own? I am trying to find them at framing supply stores and no one knows what I am talking about. The closest thing I can find is glazing points to hold the glass in. Thank you!

[@flowerpressstudio]

Frame shops would understand, but maybe not framing supply shops. Usually spacers are plastic and come in white, clear, and black. That though doesn’t really work if you have wood frames. I started off by making my own and it was tedious and since all my equipment was old and not square, I went out to find a company that made frames and spacers to match. The two companies I know that so that are picture woods in Boulder Colorado (I was lucky as I’m in CO) and Vermont hardwoods in Vermont. Their frames are better than all. Handmade, Sustainable hardwoods. You can buy wood and make it yourself, buy it framed and stain yourself or have them do it all. They are more expensive but I positioned my product to be more expensive and used the best quality I could find. It’s good to understand framing, profiles, weight loads, etc. Glass is heavy so the frames were made with dovetails which is better than v-nails. Anything larger than a 18x24 glass on glass frame, I would increase the profile a step up and would also add flat corner brackets on the back to make it stronger and more safe for the customer. It’s all decision based if you are a business or just hobby based or how you want to be. I just wanted peace of mind always and went a bit further than most framing these up. But yeah spacers were tricky. Many people make them out of popular and paint them or stain them to get it close to the stain color of the frame. But I like the exact and cohesiveness the companies have. Hope that helps

[@MaddyKoepke]

so great! thank you- any chance you will post a video on a piece with spacers? also with just a paper or linen backing? Thanks!

[@flowerpressstudio]

Eventually probably but it won’t be for a bit. We are moving and I stopped framing pieces. Shipping the pieces that are glued on paper that have internal spacers is a no no in my book. The unpredictable handling can cause damage to the piece so I ship them unframed. Eventually I’ll show videos but yeah. For spacers with glass you can use internal and external or just external to hold it in. I use wood spacers though that match the wood not plastic. And for paper pieces I use internal spacers and a different system to enclose everything.

[@melissadimoush8196]

A new video… thank you! The whole framing thing is an art. I don’t do glass on glass, but am trying to see how to”add depth” between the artwork and the glass. The spacers you showed solve the issue of keeping plant material from touching the glass. Specially made frames are likely out of my budget. Can you do this with off the rack frames? Just leave the back off after attaching your final spacers like you showed? How do you know how thick/ deep the frame should be?

[@flowerpressstudio]

Yeah just leave the back off. Spacers come is different sizes. So you’d have to measure the spacer/s (internal and external) you use, plus the thickness of two pieces of glass. Then you would get about what depth the rabbet needs to be. Does that make sense?

[@deimantepavloviciute2146]

Hello! Thank you for video! I had a question - what glue do you use to glue the flowers?

[@flowerpressstudio]

No problem at all. I would check out our glue video as it goes over all the glues we use but we use lineco and we list all glues on our website too and a link of where to buy it

[@sanafrigui4944]

Thank you so much for sharing ❤❤❤

[@flowerpressstudio]

You are so welcome

[@averyeuart99]

Hello! Can you please comment on the rubber gloves you use? Do you know where you can purchase the internal and external spacers? Or could I just make them from dowel rods? Which brand of nail guns do you recommend? Thank you so much!

[@flowerpressstudio]

We got our spacers from a company called picture woods in Boulder Colorado. You can use any nail gun that is a 23 gauge and I would use a battery one not compressor. Any brand would work

[@TravelwiththeKumars]

What glue can I use if I am only using one glass sheet? I was glueing the flower straight to the glass

[@flowerpressstudio]

I’d probably use lineco but you could check out our gluing KZbin video. That make help you

[@abhasharma2477]

Thanks for sharing your expertise. Do flowers remain the same for years to come. I mean in terms of their color and composition ?

[@flowerpressstudio]

Color definitely not. Since it’s organic material, colors fade. Composition will stay unless something falls off which is possible over time.

[@abhasharma2477]

Ok, I guess even when they fade there will be something to look into them. Thanks for answering my querry.

[@HanaChida]

Do you apply any type of sealing on the frame to prevent moisture or insects?

[@flowerpressstudio]

We haven’t but have heard people doing this. I think it depends on the environment you are in. Also if pressed probably, it should be ok but I guess insects can always find their way in somehow.

[@flowerpressstudio]

We don’t frame anymore either as to ship the pieces we make, they need to be shipped unframed.

[@helenjackson1287]

This was so useful! Thank you. Is there a reason you use glass and not acrylic?

[@flowerpressstudio]

We found that acrylic is super static-y and attracts all the dust. It scratches really easily and is hard to clean. We just found glass to be easier to work with for this art form.

[@helenjackson1287]

Ahh I see! Thanks so much for your reply!

[@YelatyRosadoGómez]

Soy Cubana me encanta su trabajo,me gustaría aprender que puedo hacer,desde aquí no puedo pagar ningún curso.

[@flowerpressstudio]

I would recommend making a press. Source some local flowers from whoever. And just learn by trial and error. Make sure you change your paper each day for about 5 days in a row. You’ll have to experiment a bit to get results you are happy with

[@Nabloomy]

OMG… i find this video for long time. Thank you so much. Its very helpful. Can i ask that the glass is 3mm? Or i can use any T if i want?

[@flowerpressstudio]

Yes, the glass is 3mm! I wouldn't go thinner.

[@basiazuniga4478]

Hi Keith and Rachel! Super awesome video! Framing is always the most daunting part of pressing flowers. 2 questions for you! The first is you had mentioned the external spacer is 1/2” but I don’t think I caught/heard the other dimension. What is the width? And my second question! You mentioned that when you do have thicker flowers and you do need an internal spacer, you mentioned that your rabbit profile needs to be bigger than 3/4”. What rabbit profile do you use? Thank you so much!

[@flowerpressstudio]

So the spacers can come in multiple lengths. 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 etc depending on your frame profile. But typically it’s 3/16” the other dimension. The rabbet is usually 1/4” so the 3/16 is just shy of it.

[@flowerpressstudio]

If we are using an internal spacer (1/4”x3/16”) and then the external (1/2x3/16) plus the two pieces of glass equally 6mm. So whatever that all equals. The rabbet depth should be nothing less.

[@flowerpressstudio]

So 1/4+1/2+1/4. So I’d probably have 1-1.25” rabbet depth

[@305anna]

questions please - where do u get the frame spacers?

[@flowerpressstudio]

We get them from our frame supplier called picture woods in Boulder Colorado. They are a wholesale account though

[@threecreeks1]

This is so helpful! Thank you! Where do you find your wood spacers? I’ve been using balsa wood spacers but they don’t seem as sturdy as yours. Thanks again for sharing this video! I’m a big fan of your work.

[@flowerpressstudio]

So we get the wood spacers from the same company we get our frames. Picture Woods out of Boulder Colorado. If you do a lot of framing, I’d look into them. They are the best. The spacers are the same wood and sane stain as the frames themselves so they are seamless and strong and beautiful

[@flowerpressstudio]

They have multiple size spacers too but they only work with businesses right now and not direct to consumers

[@agnieszkaczyzowska3224]

What’s the average price of ;for example 16x20) custom frame and uv glass?

[@flowerpressstudio]

Not sure. We don’t do any custom pieces for the public right now and it would depend on a few variables to come up with the price.

[@jennyonizuka]

Hello, great video! And a beautiful result! I had a question about pre-drilling. You said you pre-drilled everything, does that mean you pre-drilled both the spacers and the inside of the frame? Or just the spacers?

[@flowerpressstudio]

I pre-drill for the sawtooth hangars. I dont predrill for the spacers or anywhere else, just the hardware for hanging because the spacers are being held in by the nail gun and there is no need to predill for the nails. It would be impossible too and so stressful trying to do that. :) Does that make sense?

[@jennyonizuka]

Yes, I was thinking pre drilling for the pin nails would be near impossible! Thank you, makes perfect sense!

[@spd291]

Thanks for all of your educational videos! Do you ever use acrylic instead of glass?

[@flowerpressstudio]

We didn’t use acrylic due to its ability to scratch so easily and it’s a crazy static material. You got to clean all the little glue marks off after you finish a piece and glass is way easier to do that too

[@fsj8421]

I love your work! But why don't you tape the glass plates? Because now the little silverfish can still eat the flowers...

[@flowerpressstudio]

You can surely do this. Never actually thought to tape them. I suppose we haven’t because we have seen so many pressed flowers that are decades old and have no signs of being eaten. But if anyone wants to tape the glass together, I see no harm at all. Good point you brought up. I’m guessing you tape? What kind of tape do you use?