By using air-dry clay anyone can make these! As a way to safe-keep memories from my garden, I used flowers and herbs that were growing during the summer season. Feel free to save this DIY for your garden florals next year, or experiment with winter greens, herbs, seasonal textures or even a hand/paw print too! I finished each ornament with remnants of ribbon tied into bows, and the botanical’s name and year picked/made written on the back.
Supplies Needed
- Air Dry Clay
- Parchment paper
- Rolling pin
- Assorted Fresh Botanicals {Herbs, Flowers, Leaves, Berries, Branches, etc. — or Try a Hand or Paw Print}
- Round cookie cutter, cup, or jar
- Toothpick or Wooden Skewer
- Ribbons or Fabric Scraps cut into strips
HOW TO
Knead your air-dry clay slightly to smooth. Place atop a sheet of parchment paper, and then another onto the clay. Roll clay to ¼-inch.
Place your botanicals face down on the clay, pressing gently. If using several botanicals on a sheet of clay, remember to leave space between each for cutting. Gently roll over them once so the details are imprinted well into the clay.
Carefully peel the botanicals out of the clay using tweezers {floral tweezers are great}. Cut out circle shapes around each botanical print using a cookie cutter or jar, depending on the size you’d like. Smooth the edges or any roughness with your finger and water.
Use a toothpick to create a hole at the top, creating a space large enough for ribbon to fit through. {See Below for full visual instructions}
Place each clay piece atop a cookie sheet or flat sheet, preferably a cooling rack so they can dry quicker. Allow pieces to dry completely, once there’s no longer any moisture and clay is hard. Keep them in a cool dark place, without humidity.
Once completely dry, place ribbon through hole and tie together. On the back, write the Botanical Name and Year Made so whoever you gift can always cherish the memory.
If you’re looking for a Homemade Clay or natural Recipe, Woodlark has a Cornstarch Clay recipe that can easily be made at home with kids.
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