Decoupaging pressed flowers on furniture

Question

I would like to decorate the top of an old buffet I am refinishing with pressed flowers. Is modge podge the best applicator to use for this project?

Jan DeHennis Ries · Answer

I can't answer your question but look forward to seeing the finished project. It will be beautiful!

Kerrin · Answer

I am too....just don't want to screw up my vision.The flowers were pressed by my Auntie Muggy, a wonderful crafter and gardener extraordinare. She passed away in 2007 and I was lucky to get her telephone books that were filled with flowers and leaves she had pressed for projects she never completed. They are very delicate.

Mary Insana · Answer

What a great idea to preserve your Aunts pressed flowers this way.

Sia@South 47th · Answer

I think they would be better in a frame!!

Kerrin · Answer

i have a lot of them to spread around. wanting to use for gifts for family too.

Sia@South 47th · Answer

@Kerrin I was just worried about damage to them on a buffet, drawer, etc. with the decoupage, on those surfaces. xo

Kerrin · Answer

normally I would be too but because this piece is unique and I got it for a bargain, I feel at liberty to be creative with it and see where it leads. At this point, the decoupage is on the buffet with the flowers in place. Now I have to figure out if I will modge podge the whole top or top with all with a acrylic top....not sure but will definitely post the results.

Lgsmith · Answer

I would suggest taking one small flower to test and spraying it with a clear finish, letting it dry and see if this will protect the flower so it can be attached to the wood before you use the others. To attach the flower to the wood maybe a thin coat of varnish sprayed on the wood to 'glue' it down. If this works and you can cover the whole top with polyurethane after the other flowers are attached. This worked with some leaves I saw once. Hope this helps and I hope it works too.

MaryKay@Studio23Thirty · Answer

I think the pressed flowers are going to be too dimensional for mod podge. I think a lovely framed piece or shadow box would be more appropriate for the flowers. Good luck with your project!

Mary Insana · Answer

If the flowers are covered with a two part poured epoxy it will look beautiful and they will forever imbedded in the top like the penny tables I've seen on here. In fact I have a penny
 top table drying after its first pour at this moment.

Valerie · Answer

I decoupaged some flowers onto the drawer of a paper towel holder a few years ago. I have just looked at it carefully, and noticed that the flower (a daisy) has 'yellowed' quite a bit, and two pieces of lavender have retained their color nicely. I used several coats of modge podge (I was not aware of any alternatives at the time), and followed it with a number of coats of varnish. My flowers were on a side (rather than the top) surface. 
I do think that putting the flowers on a flat piece of furniture where it would be exposed to 'wear and tear' would not be a good idea, unless you place glass (obviously with a spacer) over the piece in order to protect the flowers, in which case I think that it could out well.

Gail lichtsinn · Answer

modge is NOT waterproof..Might be a good idea to put little round mounds they give you to keep glass from sliding ..That would raise it just a bit and put glass over it

Valerie · Answer

@Gail lichtsinn I agree with you. Unfortunately I did not use the right terminology when I said that 'spacers' should be used to separate the glass from the decoupage, I was referring to the same 'little round mounds' that you mention.

Gail lichtsinn · Answer

yup

Sharon Mieczkowski · Answer

As a pressed flower artist I have done some lovely clear glass plates w/ decoupaged flowers on the under neath side and while some are prone to fading quickly others stay vibrant. Do, yes, it can be done. I did several coats of Mod Podge over them and let each coat dry well. Most of my pressed flower creations are cards or framed. The 2 part epoxy like Environtex would work also but they will still fade over time giving them an antiqued look. Good luck!

Kerrin · Answer

Thank you so much for all of your input. I have started the process (used modge podge on two flowers) and have decided to add vintage photographs to the piece to create a victorian effect. I think putting glass over it is a great idea. I am not so worried about having a flat surface and I could put a wood trim or spacers to raise glass cover so that it would look like a framed piece of art. I would want it so that dust could not get under the glass. A friend suggested using a marine acrylic sealer to waterproof it. She swears by this method.

I also have the drawers and the cabinets to play with. This piece has been like therapy for me. I have stripped and painted and stripped and stained and now modge podged....like me, this piece is in a process of becoming whatever it is meant to be. I am honoring the process and will share the outcome. :)

CARA · Answer

Why not just get a piece of glass cut and have the sides polished. You could arrange your flowers on top then cover with the glass?

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