Apologies if this is off-topic, but I’ve got a flower/craft question for you guys:
I’d like to make bookmarks using dried orchids. I need them done quickly (within a week or so), and I need to make sure they look good against black paper. I hear drying flowers in a microwave is a good way to get both of these things (quick results and color retention), but I haven’t tried it before, so I’m wary of messing it up.
I’m also reading that microwave drying doesn’t work as well for flowers with thick petals (which includes a lot of orchids, but not all of them). So basically, I’m bringing two questions to the forum here:
1) What are some of your favorite orchid types with small blooms and thin petals? Great color is also a plus but not necessary.
2) Does anyone have any microwave drying tips for me from experience? The flowers will be pressed and I’ll be using silica gel as the drying agent.
Remember, eventually these suckers are going to be flattened, laminated and (hopefully) actually used as bookmarks (though not necessarily rectangular ones). I’m just trying not to have to do this whole project too many times before I get it right. I’m a novice at working with flowers but you people know about these things, so I figured I’d ask. Thanks for any advice you can give!
