Jill Slater of www.oodleboxtv.com shares tips on how to dry flowers.

Materials Needed:

• Greens: five long stems (approximately 16 inches in length) of seeded eucalyptus and approximately 20 stems of bear grass (approximately 16 inches in length)
• Flowers: three to four stems of purple larkspur, five stems red spray roses and three stems blue seafoam statice
• six medium-sized rubberbands
• one large rubberband
• one small handful of raffia, approximately 20 inches in length (The raffia will be tied in a bow to complete the welcome sign)

Directions:

Step 1 - Cut the seeded grass to approximately 15 or 16 inches in length and rubberband. Do the same for the bear grass.

Step 2 - Cut the larkspur to approximately 14 inches in length and rubber band.

Step 3 - Cut 3 stems of spray roses to approximately 9 inches in length and rubberband.

Step 4 - Now cut the statice to approximately 7 inches in length and rubberband.

Step 5 - Cut the remaining two stems of spray ruses to approximately 5 inches in length and rubberband.

Step 6 - Stack the greens and flowers on top of each other according to their lengths (the longest at the bottom and the shortest on top).

Step 7 - Rubberband all the varieties together with one large rubber band to make a generous welcome sign.

Step 8 - Finish the swag by cutting off any visible small rubberbands. Then tie a bow of raffia around the large rubberband. Hang the welcome sign and let it dry. For best drying results avoid direct sunlight.

Varieties That Dry Nicely:

• bright pink roses
• red roses
• hydrangea
• larkspur
• liatris
• marigolds
• straw flower
• safflower
• yarrow
• statice
• zinnias
• globe amaranth
• rosemary
• mint
• oregano
• parsley
• bay
• sage
• lemon leaf
• eucalyptus
• bear grass
• California pepper berries