Crafty Christmas decorations made from the garden | Gardening with kids | Gardening Australia

Описание: Sophie shows us how to make tasteful Christmas decorations, using inspiration from your own garden!
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Sun Catchers

Dried flowers are best for this project and you can use a flower press or follow Sophie’s DIY method. You can use fresh flowers, but they may eventually go mouldy due to the high moisture content. An alternative quick-dry method is to lay fresh flowers out on a baking tray, and pop in the oven on a low temperature with the door open, or by pressing them between sheets of paper towel.

It’s important not to use fleshy flowers like camellias as they are difficult to dry out completely. For flowers with a thick base like calendula, pick the petals off first.

What you need

Dried or semi-dried flowers and leaves

Wax paper

Newspaper

Board

Iron


What to do

Cut the wax paper to the desired width and then fold the sheet in half.

Place the wax paper on top of newspaper on a heat resistant board, like a wooden chopping board.

Open the sheet and place the flowers and leaves on one half of the sheet.

Fold the top half over the flowers and place another few sheets of newspaper on top.

Iron over the newspaper to melt the wax of the wax paper, sticking the two halves together. The time will vary depending on your iron, so check the paper a few times. If they are not stuck together, it may need longer or you may need to turn the heat up. When the edges feel well glued together, hold it up to the light to check all parts are stuck together.

Trim the edges to your desired shape.



Leaf Impressions

What you need

Leaves with interesting shapes and textures

Air dry clay, in terracotta or white colour

Watercolour paints


What to do

Roll out a piece of clay to the size and thickness you want the final piece to be.

Gently press a leaf into the clay until you’re happy with the impression.

To turn it into a hanging ornament, make a hole at the top.

Allow the pieces to dry for at least 24 hours, depending on the temperature.

Once dry, you can paint them. Sophie uses watercolours so that the paint runs into the indents, creating a deeper colour, imitating the look of leaf veins.

When the paint dries, it’s ready hang with string on the tree or to use as a gift tag.


Filmed on Peramangk Country / Adelaide Hills, SA





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