The paper is the part that does the work
- Over 1,000 ratings
- 15 sheets, 200gsm
- Trims to fit any press
Whether you press in a book or a press, the sheet touching the petal decides the colour. Book pages, printer paper and kitchen roll trap the moisture. Blotting paper draws it out.
See the paper
Why the wrong paper browns your flowers
Most people press their first flowers between whatever paper is to hand and open it weeks later to find them brown, dimpled or stuck. The flower did not fail. The paper did.
Book pages trap the moisture
A page absorbs a little, then stops. The petal sits wet for weeks, and a wet petal goes brown and can mould.
Kitchen roll and printer paper leave dimples
Textured paper prints its pattern into the petal, and thin paper sticks to it as it dries. Both show in the finished flower.
You cannot change a page
The fix for damp paper is a dry sheet after the first day. With a book, there is no sheet to change.
Thick, absorbent, and changed on a schedule
A 200gsm blotting sheet pulls the water out of the petal instead of holding it against it. Two sheets per layer, one under and one over. Change them after 24 hours, again after two or three days, then weekly, and let the damp ones dry; once fully dry they go back in. That is the whole difference between a brown pressing and one that keeps its colour, and it works in a book as well as in a press.
The difference shows on the first batch
Same flowers, same press, same three weeks. The only thing that changed is the sheet touching the petal.
Colour that survives
Petals dry instead of sitting wet, so they keep the colour they had when you picked them.
No dimples, nothing stuck
Smooth paper leaves no pattern behind and does not cling to the petal as it dries. Kitchen roll and printer paper both do.
It works in whatever you own
Any press, any make, or a heavy book. Trim once with scissors and the same pack covers all of it.
“Great size for my huge press as I have been struggling to find any large enough.”
XL Blotting Paper Refill
Fifteen sheets at 14.7 x 11.2 in, generously sized so you trim them to fit whatever you press in: any make of flower press, or a heavy book. Reusable once dry, so a pack goes a long way.
- 15 sheets, 14.7 x 11.2 in, 200gsm
- Trim with scissors to fit any press you own, or use in a heavy book
- Reusable: once a sheet is fully dry it goes back in
- Two sheets per layer; a second pack covers the changes for a whole bouquet
- Ships flat; keep the pack somewhere dry between pressings
See every photo and review on the XL refill page
Smaller press, or just starting? The A4 pack is ten sheets at 11.7 x 8.3 in.
Blotting paper, printer paper, kitchen roll
All three get recommended somewhere. Here is what each one actually does to a petal.
| Printer paper | Kitchen roll | Blotting paper | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorbency | Takes a little, then stops | Good, the closest of the alternatives | Unsized and thick, holds far more |
| Surface | Thin, so it sticks to the petal | Prints its quilting into the petal | Smooth, leaves no mark |
| When it is damp | Warps and cockles | Tears when you lift it | Air it dry and use it again |
| Reuse | Single use | Single use | Several rounds per sheet |
| Mould | Higher, the water stays put | Higher once it stops absorbing | Lower, the water leaves the petal |
| What it costs | Cheap, but you lose the flowers | Free, but you lose the flowers | A pack covers many batches |
Real words from real reviews
I'm still using heavy books, but the pressings are smooth and have retained most of the original colour.
I am experimenting with pressing flowers and had tried books and parchment paper and printer paper with not much success. I finally invested in a pack of this paper and am thoroughly pleased with the results.
This blotting paper really makes a difference in keeping mold at bay when pressing flowers. 100% recommend
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Common questions
Will it fit my press?
Yes, with scissors. The XL sheet is bigger than most presses, so you trim it to your boards. For our own Lilabelle that means cutting down to 14.2 x 10.25 in. If you want a sheet with no measuring to do, Poppy takes the Travel refill, which needs its corners snipped to clear the bolts, and Flora takes the Square refill, which comes pre-clipped.
Can I use it in a book instead of a press?
Yes, and it is the single biggest improvement you can make to book pressing. Lay a sheet on the page, the flower on the sheet, a second sheet on top, then close the book and weight it. Change the sheets after 24 hours and again after two or three days. The book only presses; the paper does the drying.
How long does it take?
Two to three weeks for most flowers; thick blooms can take four. Open the press or book only to change the paper: after 24 hours, again after two or three days, then weekly. They are done when they feel papery and no longer cool to the touch.
How many times can I reuse a sheet?
Several, as long as it dries fully between uses. Retire a sheet when it stays limp, when brown staining transfers to the next flower, or when a thick stem has left a dent. Use a fresh sheet under anything with a thick stem; reuse the rest.
Why not watercolour paper or printer paper?
Printer paper is thin and sticks to the petal. Kitchen roll and textured paper print their pattern into it. Watercolour paper works for some people, but it costs more per sheet than you think and was never made to be swapped and dried. Blotting paper is made for exactly that.
Stop opening the book to brown petals
XL Blotting Paper Refill, fifteen sheets, trims to fit anything.