Compass Greater NY, LLC
Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES, Compass Greater NY, LLCPhone: (917) 623-0624
Email: [email protected]

How to Press Leaves: DIY Art Guide

by Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES 09/04/2022

Some might be familiar with the old practice of pressing leaves or flowers inside books to keep them preserved. While this is a fun way to keep and dry plants, you miss out on the opportunity to display those plants as art in your home. If you have fallen leaves from your houseplants or from the outside world and you want to turn them into art, here’s how you can do it.

What Do You Need to Press Leaves?

There are different techniques for pressing leaves, but the easiest way is by using paper towels, wax paper and something heavy to put on top. You can use a heavy book, a small box or even a jug of milk. The only requirement is that the item you choose distributes its weight evenly over the entire surface of the leaf you want to press.

To preserve leaf color, you will also need a hot iron and a towel. To frame and mount your pressed leaves, find a frame, matting board and the hooks or stand for display.

Which Leaves Should You Use?

You can press virtually any type of leaf for this project. However, different types of leaf will dry at different speeds. The thinner the leaf is the quicker it will dry and the more delicate it will be afterward. Some recommended plants to try include ferns, philodendrons, arrowhead vines and pothos. For a bigger and more dramatic art piece, try an alocasia, ficus or ZZ plant.

How to Press Leaves

  1. Place the leaf between two pieces of wax paper. Cover it with a towel.

  2. Use a hot iron (not steam) to press down for a few minutes until the leaf seems dry.

  3. Flip the towel and wax paper over, leaving the towel on the bottom this time. Gently iron again.

  4. After about 2 minutes, carefully peel away the wax paper. This should leave a thin layer of wax on the leaf which will preserve the bright color.

  5. To frame your pressed leaf, simply place onto a piece of matting board and put together the frame as if you were adding a photo. To keep the leaf in place, you can use a tiny dot of glue on the back.

If you’re mounting your finished leaf, try different colors of background to create contrast or harmonize with the rest of your decor. Creative frames are also an excellent way to enhance your final product. This simple art piece will make an excellent edition to any room of the home, whether on a table or on the wall.

About the Author
Author

Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES

Ann Marie Damashek has always been a natural at helping people prepare their homes for sale. She started out with a successful business selling goods for people on eBay. "Nine times out of ten they were hiring me because they were down-sizing,” Ann Marie says. "So I decided to get my license. I said, ‘Might as well sell their house too.’” The transition was a smooth one and for nine years she’s had a thriving full-time real estate business that allows her to marry her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for helping others. With an office in Larchmont, New York, she serves all of Lower Westchester County, with her primary market in the Sound Shore region. The majority of her business is "sphere of influence” with former clients referring her to friends and family. A gifted communicator, Ann Marie quickly builds trust and rapport with her clients by being both thoughtful and responsive; she understands that during the purchase or sale of a home, a quick response time is crucial. "I am very accessible,” Ann Marie says. "I always make time for my clients. They can call me, text me, email me up until 10 o’clock at night and I will respond. I’m available on weekends. I get back to people very promptly. I’m very customer service-oriented.” Her clients appreciate her professionalism, passion and enthusiasm and as a result her repeat and referral rate continues to grow each year. While selling real estate is serious business, Ann Marie knows that at times humor and a moment of levity can be a relief to clients. While she has a laidback and easygoing personality, she can be assertive when needed on her clients’ behalf. She loves being of service to them, and the continually changing nature of the work keeps her engaged and fulfilled. "It’s never boring,” Ann Marie enthuses. "Every day is different. That’s probably what I like most about it. But I also enjoy helping people sell or buy and educating them about the process. I love helping them achieve their goals.” This ethic of service has resulted in well-deserved recognition. Ann Marie has received the Westchester Magazine Five Star Real Estate Agent Rating four years running, in 2015 and 2016 she was the #1 agent in her office, and she’s a Zillow 5-Star Premier Agent. To keep in touch with former clients, Ann Marie sends cards to mark special occasions or reaches out via email. To market her listings, Ann Marie uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS), as well as Listingbook.com, a service that allows both agents and their clients access to MLS data. She also uses a Facebook business page and ads to boost new listings or promote upcoming open houses. "That drives a tremendous amount of traffic,” Ann Marie says. She also uses the most popular real estate websites such as Zillow and Trulia. A strong believer in giving back, Ann Marie sits on the Board of Trustees of her church and is involved in a variety of social justice projects. She’s affiliated with Furniture Sharehouse, a furniture bank for Westchester County, which collects and distributes gently used furniture free of charge to those in need. "I love it on so many levels because as a realtor, it’s helps my sellers downsize through charitable donations. I like the environmental aspect of it as well. And it helps people who truly need things.” She’s also involved in Impact 100, a women’s philanthropic giving organization. In her free time, Ann Marie enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. For the future, Ann Marie wants to continue expanding her business and developing her brand, and she someday hopes to grow a strong team. But her main goal is to stay in the real estate business, helping her clients to achieve their dreams.