Flowers, flowers, flowers...

So much has happened since I've last put up a post!  I'll break it down to a few different posts and hopefully actually post everything :)

So, I made mini flags for the mantle to match those that are out in the yard!  They are super cute!  So, here's the Summer mantle.  It's all about color and I move things around/add new things every few days.

 The plates on the left I bought 3 for a $1 at a flea market! They are now under plants at work.

 The greens I just love!  I even love them once they dried out (below):

 I have also been experimenting with drying our hydrangeas!  Above is the finished bunch on the mantle.

Here is the gorgeous bush out back:

 I have cut about 30 blooms off of the hydrangea bush and it is still magnificent!

Here are a 2 beauties on the kitchen table.  I have been pressing flowers in these books, but I love them as a corner-piece on the table as well!

So, drying flowers...

Cut and place flowers in an airtight container with silica already on the bottom:

 Carefully cover with silica...

 Cover the container...24 - 48 hours... 

 Wah-lah!  I find that 48 hours is way too long.  The flowers are super brittle.  24 hours is better, but I am still working out the exact timing...

 Here was the bunch of hydrangeas before drying *I wired them all together before drying them:

 And the bunch was pretty big, so I dried them in a plastic bag:

Worked okay, but a tupperware works better b/c the flowers do not get smooshed.

Finished product:

Looks great on the mantle!