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Easy Gifts Kids Can Make: Beautiful Nature Imprint Ornaments

By Shanti Nordholt-McPhee, Twig & Toadstool

Dec 6, 2017

The Christmas season is here! One of our favorite things about this time of year is creating beauty to surround us. With nature continually being our inspiration, we decided to create something pretty for our tree. We were pleased to see how snowy white clay and bits of natural beauty seem to work so well together!

You will need:

  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup warm water
  • rolling pin
  • bits of greenery for pressing
  • thread or string
  • beads (optional)

To make:

Measure and mix your baking soda, cornstarch and water over a medium heat.

Stir until it bubbles and becomes a play-dough like consistency. When it is cool enough to handle, remove from the pot and knead until it is smooth.
Roll it out.

Choose what you want to imprint your clay with and lay it down.

Take your rolling pin and roll your greenery into the clay. Gently pull the greenery up and admire the lovely imprint left.

With a glass or cookie cutter, cut out your ornament and poke a hole through the top.

Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 100ºC for an hour.

Once they are cooled, thread your sting through for hanging and embellish with beads if you are inspired.
There you have it. Ready for the tree!

May this season surround you in magic.

Article Author Shanti Nordholt-McPhee
Shanti Nordholt-McPhee

Read more from Shanti here.

Shanti Nordholt-McPhee is one half of the blog Twig and Toadstool. The blog is primarily a natural based craft blog that she created with the help of her friend Maureen. They create beautiful crafts made out of natural and beautiful materials, things that are inspired by Mother Nature, embellished with glitter, whimsy and imagination! Shanti is a mother of two beautiful girls, ages eight and eleven, and she feels fortunate enough to live in a part of Eastern Ontario where she is surrounded by the beauty of the natural world and part of a community of parents who encourage creativity and JOY!