Learn how to make pressed flower luminaria for any special occasion or create some for gifts. Charming small lanterns that show off the beauty of flowers with soft light.

Pressed flower luminaria with lavender flowers.

You might think of Christmas when you read the word luminaria but why couldn't they be used for any occasion? I've always loved it when communities lit up the roadway or sidewalks with paper bag luminaria at Christmastime however, I think this simple pressed flower craft, though similar, is worthy of any special occasion or just for fun.

I have slowly been pressing flowers in my simple travel flower press and have many to craft with. However, if you are in a hurry you can press flowers in the microwave as shown here.

Square sheets of wax paper on a paper cutter.

How to Make a Press Flower Lantern or Luminaria

For this project, you will need to cut several squares of wax paper. I love this paper cutter (see image above) and have had it for over 20 years. If you do a lot of paper cutting a guillotine paper cutter may be worth the investment. It makes it so much easier to cut straight lines. Of course, you can just use scissors.

Pressed flowers arranged on a square piece of waxed paper.

Create a pleasing pattern with some of your favorite pressed flowers on one sheet of wax paper.

Cover the flowers with a second sheet of wax paper. Then use a thin piece of cotton or paper towel on top of the wax paper and flower sandwich and press with an iron. This only takes a couple of seconds to do.

Repeat to create four pressed flower arrangements between wax paper.

Two squares of pressed flowers between wax paper. A strip of copper tape holding to sides together.

Next, connect the sheets with some metallic copper tape. Be sure that the flowers are right side up as this will be the outside of the lantern. This is the same tape I used to make pressed flower glass coasters.

Four wax paper pressed flower parts with strips of metallic tape connecting the sides.

Once you have taped them side by side you can complete the luminaria by taping the first side to the last.

A ruler under the copper tape to help make a crease on the pressed flower wax paper sections.

Then you will want to make crisp edges. Do this with any straight edge like the ruler shown above.

One pressed flower luminaria with copper tape edges.

Now you have a homemade paper flower lantern. So simple and so pretty.

Two pressed flower luminaries with candles inside.

Place a battery-powered tealight or votive candle inside and enjoy the warm glow.

Two copper tape pressed flower luminaries with candles inside in a dark room.

Pressed flower luminaria. They would be beautiful outdoors at a warm summer evening dinner party, don't you think?

More Pressed Flower Crafts