Turn The Cut Flowers From Your Garden Into Beautiful Pins With A Simple DIY

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One of the toughest parts of being a plant lover is watching your gorgeous blooms wilt. However, a change in season doesn't have to mark the end of a flower's life, as there are plenty of ways to repurpose them. For example, you can preserve beautiful petals with a simple jar DIY. Other great options include encasing them in resin or pressing flowers to turn them into pretty decor. One of our favorite DIY projects, though, comes from Instagrammer @_plantswithkrystal_, who transformed her cherished flowers into wearable art in the form of a brooch and hairpin.

This simple DIY requires a plastic container with a lid, a bag of Activia flower drying art silica gel ($20 on Amazon), and a UV resin kit (you can get the KISREL UV Resin kit for as low as $15 on Amazon). Start by cutting your desired blooms from their stems, taking care not to pierce or damage the flowers. The crafter chose show-stopping white and purple orchids, but the sky's the limit. Fill the bottom of the plastic container with a layer of the flower-drying silica gel, place your flowers flat and evenly spaced on top, then cover them fully with another layer of silica gel. Close the airtight lid and allow them to fully dry out for at least two weeks. Once ready, gently lift the newly preserved blooms out and transform them into beautiful pins using the UV resin kit. Here's how to get it done.

We all know about the benefits of decorating the home with flowers, but how about decorating your outfits with gorgeous preserved blooms? Prep your work area with a silicone pad to catch potential resin overflow, put on gloves and a mask, then start coating your first flower with UV resin. A good technique is to run a thin strip of resin along one edge, then gently spread it around using a small painter's brush. Once the front is fully coated, cure it under the UV light, following your kit's instructions. Repeat the process on the other side, but before curing, attach a hair comb or metal pin to the still-wet resin. This will allow you to wear the flower in your hair or pinned to your clothes as a stylish accessory. Alternatively, attach a small metallic loop and string it onto a cord to create a statement necklace.

There is also another fun way to use the same UV resin kit to turn flowers into stunning jewels, especially for smaller blooms. Add a dollop of resin into this SHUNAE bezel pendant tray or the Alysee stud earring tray, gently press a dried flower into it using tweezers, cure, and voila. If you'd prefer to use an open-backed bezel pendant, place it on a layer of UV resin tape for easy removal, then, using a toothpick, spread a dollop of resin inside. Insert your dried flowers, cure, then add another thin layer of resin and cure again before repeating on the back. If you spot any air bubbles, remove them with a lighter before curing.