I’ve enjoyed my time with the amaryllises, but it’s quickly coming to a close. Luckily, the amaryllis is one flower that keeps on delivering beauty after death. As the deep red petals start to droop, they also start to drip.
As the drying process takes place, the oversized blooms turn into natural paintbrushes.
Alternatively, if the petals are fresher, you can press them between two sheets of paper for another quick and easy art project. For the best results, cut off the petals toward the bottom where they’re green. The green sections hold a lot of water and will soak your pages, although it’s nice to leave a little because the green adds more color to the final product.
But you don’t want too much color, so remove the stamens too. The pollen dusted on the petals will transfer enough yellow onto the page. Otherwise, too much pollen is transferred and a shimmer of yellow turns into a big blotch of brown.
Once the petals are placed, cover them with another piece of paper and and a towel. Now it’s time for the real fun. Grab a mallet and start pounding.
The harder you pound, the deeper and faster the color will transfer. Adjust accordingly, a light tap will leave just a hint of color. Here’s my final product:
Although the petals are candy apple red, the ink dries purple. Here are a few of my other pieces of amaryllis art:
You’re not limited to purple or to amaryllises. This method can be used with a variety of flowers. This set was made from a mixed bouquet of mums, daisies, roses, and carnations:
