PERSONALISED GIFT TAGS & ORNAMENTS

Creating clay Christmas decorations and gift tags embossed with plant impressions is not just a fun activity for the kids – I can guarantee it will get you hooked, too.

YOU WILL NEED:

Air-drying clay (available at art and craft suppliers in two colours) Sharp knife

Rolling pin

Leaves and seed heads with interesting shapes, textures and prominent veins (geranium leaves, fennel foliage and seed heads from weeds and grasses work well) Skewer or darning needle Baking cooling rack

String, thread or ribbon

4 MAKE a hole at the top with a skewer or similar so you can hang the ornament.

5 TURN it over, and use the skewer again to etch a personal message on the back.

6 LAY the finished pieces on a baking rack and leave to dry for at least 24 hours.

7 THREAD string through the hole of the dried clay pieces ready for hanging. If you like, you can paint them with watercolours, which brings out the textured finish.

8 ATTACH your ornaments to gifts or hang them on your Christmas tree. We make large batches of delicious elderflower cordial each November and decant it into clean recycled passata bottles to give away as gifts. To decorate these bottles, we love to add a piece of hessian to the top, but you can also use second-hand or recycled fabric. A homemade gift tag with a message is a lovely addition.

You can do the same with homemade jars of jam, preserves or pickles.

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1 SLICE off a chunk of air-drying clay. 2 WORK the clay with your hands until it’s the size and shape of your chosen object. 2

3 PRESS a leaf or seed head into the clay, then use the rolling pin to roll over it until the object has made a good imprint. 3

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