Is there nothing you can treat the petal with that'll give it a waterproof surface?
I'm imagining a sort of spray on silicone laminate, but I might well have just made it up inside my own head. If it doesn't exist, it should.
(
Mu Dinofiddler,
Sun 16 May 2010, 19:13,
archived)
there's definately spray-on varnish
which might do the trick.
and i know my college jewelry department have something similar to what you describe.
(
ms morbo lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,
Sun 16 May 2010, 19:26,
archived)
WD40?
(
_Felix 's school of dance and occult sciences,
Sun 16 May 2010, 20:16,
archived)