How to Make Laquered Roses

Half-open roses lacquer better than fully bloomed flowers.

Sometimes your roses need a more permanent method of preservation than standing in a vase of water. Lacquering your roses covers each flower with a glossy, protective coat that prevents crumbling, fading and browning. Styles of lacquering range from a natural appearance to glitter covered petals trimmed in gold paint. Lacquering your roses isn't difficult, but a basic understanding of flower preservation is helpful.

Things You'll Need

• Ribbon
• Sandwich ties
• Newspaper
• Lacquer spray

Instructions

1. Collect the roses for drying when the buds are half-open, before the petals curl or brown. Correctly timing the drying process lets you lacquer the roses at their optimal appearance.

2. Dry the roses hanging upside down in a row. Tie a ribbon around each rose stem and attach the two ribbon ends to a second ribbon hanging horizontally on the wall like a laundry line. Drying your roses in a row instead of a bouquet preserves the shape of each rose and prevents petal damage. Dry the roses for five days or until the base of the outer petals feels stiff.

3. Lay your newspaper flat on a table and hold the lacquer 6 inches away from the rose. Hold the rose upright by the stem and rotate the bud while spraying to ensure an even coating of lacquer.

4. Dry the roses hanging upside down for two hours or until the petals no longer feel sticky. Let the roses dry completely before adding embellishments such as gold pipping or glitter.

Tips & Warnings

• Lacquer more roses than you anticipate using, since some will turn out better than others.

References

• West Virginia University -- Cooperative Extension Program: Preserving Flowers For Year-Round Use
• University of Kentucky School of Agriculture: Flower Preservation
• Design Master: Basic Techniques