Valentine’s Day is one of the most romantic holidays of the year, second only to your anniversary! When it comes to flowers, though, it can also be a wasteful holiday. Within a few days, that beautiful bouquet that had you gushing starts wilting and looking a little depressing. What do you do with those leftover Valentine’s Day flowers? It seems like such a shame to toss them in the trash!
The good news: you don’t have to waste those flowers! There are plenty of clever things you can do to treasure those blossoms and blooms a little longer. Check out three of our favorite things to do with leftover Valentine’s Day flowers.
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What to do with Your Leftover Valentine’s Day Flowers
Make some potpourri
Making your potpourri is much cheaper than purchasing some at the store. And what better way to make your own than by using leftover flowers from Valentine’s Day. When the flowers start to fade, snip the petals and allow them to dry on a sheet of newspaper. When completely dried, place the petals in a glass bowl and add 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1 tablespoon of allspice, 1 tablespoon of cloves and 3 tablespoons of cinnamon. Then, in a mason jar, layer the flower petals with the spices and cover with lid.
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Create some rose water
Rosewater makes a great astringent for those with sensitive skin because it is mild in nature. Rose water is easy to make since all you need are 2 cups of distilled water that is boiled and 1 cup of rose petals that have been rinsed and dried. In a bowl with a lid, add the rose petals and boiling water. Cover with lid and allow to set for 20-30 minutes. Then, strain the water into a mason jar. This rose water can be refrigerated for up to 30 days.
Laminate them
Laminating flowers are an excellent way to preserve them. To accomplish this, wrap some flower petals in a paper towel and then put it in the middle of a heavy book. Close the book and allow to set for 2 weeks. Then, laminate the flower to create something like a bookmark.
These are a just a few easy ways to use those leftover Valentine’s day flowers and extend their usefulness a little longer. Depending on the size of your bouquet, you could easily do all three! Laminate one or two blooms for a bookmark, make a bit of rosewater with the biggest roses, and then use what’s left for your potpourri.
Do you have any other ideas of things to do with leftover Valentine’s Day flowers? Tell us in the comments!
Some great ideas that could be so much helpful instead of throwing those beautiful flowers away in no time. Making a potpourri is definitely a ideal choice & I would love to create rose water as well, which I have never tried before.
I hope I get some roses soon so I can do these ideas. I love the lamination idea to preserve them and I would love the beauty treatment of rose water!
I like to dry my flowers and use them for potpourri. These are great ideas. I will have to try laminating them next time.
Great ideas, I actually just received flowers. I think I may try the laminating, sounds awesome.
I cleanse my crystals with leftover flower petals, sea salt and holy water.
That picture is gorgeous beyond words`! I”ll definitely have to try out some of these ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Great post… i love flowers. I love the idea of making poutpourri, i am sure it will be cheaper than store bought
These are great suggestion!! I love the rose water idea!! I have never tried this before and I didn’t realize how easy it is to make
What a great list of what to do with the flowers. My husband always says its pointless to buy flowers because they die but now I can tell him about this.
Laminating them sounds fun! I have cats so I can’t really keep flowers, I had some dried flowers and they tore them to shreds all over the living room.
I never thought of making potpourri. I usually end up tossing my flowers in the trash. I might have to try it.
I always loved pressing flowers in a thick book growing up. We would laminate them and mark them where they came from and from whom. I haven’t done that in awhile! This will be fun to pass along to my niece!
I love the idea of laminating flowers. I think it is a great way to preserve memories and feelings.
I never thought about finding a second life for Valentine’s flowers. How clever! I think I’ll try to make rose water.
What great ideas!! I love getting fresh flowers but always feel so bad having to throw them out just a few days later. Definitely going to try some of these ideas :)
I have never tried to make rosewater! I love this idea! I am going to try this with my next batch of leftover flowers.
This post is awesome! I tend to dry my Valentine’s Day flowers. I have collected quite a few dried flowers that I have enclosed in a frame already.
These are great ideas. I’ve never thought of laminating flowers before. I think that would be amazing.
I never thought about making dried out flowers in the potpourri what a great idea! I actually just saw the show yesterday that you could eat roses never thought about doing something like that.
I love this post. I’m always so sad when I have to throw out my flowers, but I’ve never been quite sure what to do with them.
I love the idea of laminating them and using it as a bookmark. It would make a great keepsake and also a great gift to pass on.
My SO used to hang my roses upside down on his pin board. He would then add them to our flower pot. I like the idea of making rose water. Will have to remember to do that.
Oh I love that idea! I always just throw mine away after a few days. This is good to know!
These are some great ideas for leftover flowers. I always feel bad throwing them away after they wilt and die.
I like the idea of making potpourri. I think it’s smart to find ways to use the flowers.