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Pop outside to forage for some natural bits and bobs to bring in, pretty up and hang around with.
YOU WILL NEED:
Interesting pieces: leaves, sticks, branches, seed pods (these can be fresh or dried/pressed; dried items will hold paint better and last longer) Paper and pencil Paint (stick to a limited colour palette for your paint, stickers and thread, so you don’t overpower the natural hues of your found materials) Small pots or containers Small paintbrushes Small round stickers Embroidery thread PVA glue Pins Natural wooden beads White sewing cotton A ready-made round scarf hanger (or wire to make your own), or a 25cm length of 1cm-wide dowel
Arrange your items on a table and consider their size, shape and form to work out which pieces sit well together. You might like to write a plan or sketch a few ideas about the techniques you’ll use on each item.
1. PAINT DIP: Pour some paint into a small pot, then dip a plain stick or one with seed pods halfway into it, holding it still until the paint covers the immersed part. Remove the stick from the paint and allow the excess to drip off, then set it aside to dry, making sure the painted area isn’t touching any surface.
2. BRUSHSTROKES: Use a paintbrush to apply colour to your chosen objects. Try painting a simple stripe or pattern, or paint half a leaf, leaving the other half unpainted. Aim to choose a pattern that’s sympathetic to the form of each piece.
3. STICK IT: Add small round stickers to create a random polka-dot effect.
4. BIND TOGETHER: Break sticks into short lengths, then arrange into shapes. Use three to form a triangle or four for a square or diamond. Bind the sticks together by winding embroidery thread around them until they hold fast. Tie off the ends or secure with a dab of glue applied with a pin. You could also add a wooden bead and let it hang down in the centre, or sit a bead on top (secure it in place by knotting the thread at the top).
When your crafting is complete, attach lengths of white cotton to the top of each object by wrapping it around then securing with glue. Make sure you leave ample cotton at the top, to enable you to attach the objects to your wire hanger or dowel.
Attach your creations to the wire or dowel with the cotton, adjusting its position and length so everything hangs freely. Wind the cotton around the wire hanger and secure with a knot and a dab of glue, or if you’re using dowel, add a length of embroidery thread to the top so you can attach it to a hook.