Dried Flower Expert

How do I preserve flowers with lacquer?

I want to make a pin out of real preserved flowers like this one:

http://www.multichic.com/flowerpinbroochcoralorchid.aspx

What kind of lacquer should I use?

The link doesn't work for me, but you can use many clear-drying finishes over something like preserved flowers *as long as* they're thoroughly dried out first.

That would include (one or more layers of) clear polyurethane, clear fingernail polish, and also things like permanent white glue (like Elmers GlueAll) thinned down 3 or 4 to 1 with water, "dimensional" white glues like Diamond Glaze, etc., "acrylic mediums," and even 2 part epoxy resins or 2 part epoxy glues.
Those will dry to various finishes… for example, the white glues will dry fairly glossy; polyurethanes come in glossy, satin, or matte versions usually, acrylic mediums also come in versions, etc.

However, some of the flowers at that site say they are "real-looking" silk flowers or "wax laminated" fabric flowers, etc., so wouldn't even be real flowers.

There are some ways to preserve real flowers with silica gel, etc., but don't know how sturdy those would be for wearing. Here's a bit of stuff from my site about doing that:

to dry flowers so they stay dimensional, you can dry by using a drying agent around them
…e.g., silica gel, kitty litter, or sand (fine builder's sand, silica sand), or (2 to 1) borax + white cornmeal
….cover flowers gently…cover container, put in microwave next to small bowl or 1 c of water to prevent excessive drying…set to defrost? or high (2-4 min.) ….after microwaving, let flowers sit in the dessicant (lid slightly cracked) overnight
….OR place flower in glass half-filled with silica gel, then gently cover with additional gel crystals. A cup of water
…… microwave on high power for 1 minute for most flowers, but some experimentation will be necessary… allow to cool before pouring gel out and removing flowers.
(those are just the microwave-assisted quick ways)

HTH,

Diane B.