2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Crystallization involves the process of changing the structure and properties of a material, the transition of a liquid to a solid state, through the formation of crystals. Occurs under certain conditions, such as heating or hypothermia
How to use crystallized plants
To create unusual compositions, florists use crystallized plants, this technique is especially popular on the eve of New Year's holidays and is acceptable for Christmas crafts. In the work, you can use the branches of shrubs, conifers, deciduous trees, cones, buds, herbaceous plants with large inflorescences.
Crystallized cereals, stems of blueberries, tansy, parsnips, dill and other umbellates look good. When choosing a material, it is advisable to take dense stems that can withstand the effects of temperature changes and the appearance of crystals that burden the plant. Working with herbs requires special delicacy. Crystallized material is used as an independent decorative accessory, it is also included in plant compositions. The most advantageous combinations are dried flowers, interesting driftwood, moss.
Plant crystallization technology
The crystallization technique is quite simple and not time consuming, although it requires certain skills and knowledge. At the beginning of work, you need to prepare a container in which the selected copies will fit. The immersion is carried out in a saturated saline solution, which is prepared on the basis of the following proportions: a glass of salt to four glasses of water.
Plants and branches must be cleaned of unnecessary elements and dirt. In a ready-made warm solution (+ 50 … + 60), they are kept for 1, 5-2 minutes, then rapid cooling is required with a fan or on the balcony, near an open window. The faster it dries, the more crystals you get. There is a method using soaking in a cold solution for 1-2 days, the crystals are larger.
Final drying is carried out in a draft within two days. An important point: it is better to use an upright position during the drying period. If you just lay it on a sheet of paper, then the lower part will be exposed, which will become noticeable when collecting the composition. It is necessary to strive so that as a result of the evaporation of water, a uniform layer of salt, reminiscent of frost, remains everywhere.
If we talk about varieties of plants with a thin stem or about the processing of herbaceous elements, then salt will not work here. For delicate specimens, a solution with alum is used, which crystallizes faster. You need warm water (liter) and 0.5 kg of alum. The processing technique does not differ from the saline solution, only the drying of the grass takes place quickly, 12 hours is enough.
How to make colored crystals
Few people know that you can get not only the effect of frost and snow, suitable for a winter theme. Colored crystallization is used much more widely, it looks more interesting and has universal application. Colored "frost" is easy to make; for this, aniline, food dyes are added to the saline solution described above. If you need to decorate flower buds or leaves in this way, then the shade is selected in accordance with a given range, only a tone lighter.
The greatest saturation and the formation of more structured and visible crystals is achieved when working with alum. The solution is prepared in the above way with the addition of aniline dyes. Next, the dried plant is poured over with a boiling solution. To obtain large "grains", you need to cool, dry a little and repeat the procedure several times. As a result, you will get beautiful, large, bright crystals.
There is a way to make blue crystals without the use of paints. In this case, you will need copper sulfate and a supersaturated saline solution at room temperature. When using iron bisulfate, you get a blue-green effect. Potassium dichromate gives an orange tint, which looks especially good on hogweed inflorescences, branches of pine, larch, spruce.
Additional effects
In the process of crystallization, you can improve the shape of plants, create the effect of smooth lines, curvatures, spiral views, twists. Curved branches look great in a variety of compositions. To make such structural changes, steaming in boiling water and winding on selected objects is used: cans, rolling pins, balls, slats, various vessels. In this form, the plants must finally dry out and then the crystallization procedure is performed. The most plastic branches are considered to be red, willow, willow.
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