FRAME A BEAUTY-IN-NATURE COLLAGE

Beat the winter blues by bringing some of nature’s beauty indoors. Create your own natural framed art, with Lou Smith

Winter can often make us feel like nature is hibernating and that we should too, but a woodland walk with a mission can do wonders for your mindset. Wrap up warm and set out on your favourite trail, taking time to spot the changes the season has brought. Collect fallen leaves, caught in the middle of changing colour, pick up uniquely shaped twigs and bark chippings, and pocket the odd pine cone leftover from autumn. Use these wonders of nature to create a special collage that will see you through to spring.

You will need:

• 23cm x 23cm wooden frame, 4.5cm depth (the one pictured is from IKEA) • Dressmaker’s pins • Tissue paper • A bag or basket for collecting items

1 Collect materials, such as fallen leaves, twigs, pine cones and seed heads that you find appealing to look at. Leave them between two layers of tissue to dry overnight, which will also allow any insects to crawl away. Press any flowers and dry any mushrooms you want to include before use.

2 Back the frame’s board with cardboard to aid with pinning, and arrange your items on the board. Start with larger ones (such as twigs or big leaves) and arrange the smaller items (such as sycamore seeds) around them. Once you’re happy, take a picture to refer to while pinning.

3 Carefully begin pinning your items in place. Start with the larger ones again, such as big leaves or pine cones, as these require several pins. Place a pin underneath larger leaves to give them support, and pin around twigs rather than through them.

4 Now, pin the smaller items in position around the larger ones. For small leaves, aim one pin through the centre, or one at the top and at the bottom. Place inside your frame. Now you have a naturally beautiful work of art for your home or to give to a friend.