Fun, inexpensive ways to personalise your festivities crafts and ideas RACHEL BAYLY photographs WILL HEAP
christmas craft
Potato print fabric for gift hampers
MAKES 1 PREP 1 hr plus overnight drying MORE EFFORT old newspaper square piece of ironed cotton fabric (about 80cm x 80cm) 1 potato small, sharp knife marker pen kitchen paper paintbrush acrylic fabric paints gift box (about 19cm x 19cm x 11cm high)
1 For the potato printing, lay some old newspaper out on a clean, dry, flat surface. Lay the fabric on top. Cut a potato in half using a sharp knife. Use a marker pen to lightly sketch your design onto the cut surface of the potato. Carefully cut out the negative space around your design using a small, sharp knife.
2 Use some kitchen paper to pat the cut side of the potato dry once you’ve finished cutting your design. Using a paintbrush, brush a thin layer of fabric paint over the design. Press the potato down firmly onto the fabric, making sure not to move it to avoid smudging the design. Apply more paint and repeat to make a pattern. Leave the fabric to dry completely overnight.
3 Once the fabric is dry, iron each side following the manufacturer’s instructions for the paint. Lay the fabric out, printed-side down, and put your filled gift box in the middle. Tie a flat knot with corners 1 and 2, pulling the knot tightly on the hamper (see right). Then, tie another flat knot with corners 3 and 4 over the previous knot. This will give the pretty effect of a knot with four points.
How to tie a 4-point knot
Citrus candle holders & garland
MAKES 3 candle holders and 1 short garland PREP 30 mins EASY
3 oranges small, sharp knife dessert spoon small star-shaped biscuit cutter (or a design of your choice) 3 tealight candles large needle brown string
1 Cut the tops off the oranges about two-thirds of the way up using a sharp knife. Carefully push the knife between the orange peel and the flesh, cutting all the way around until the flesh is loose and can be pulled out using your hand (you can eat this as a snack). Scoop out any remaining bits using a dessert spoon, making sure all the flesh and fibres are pulled away from the peel, leaving behind the smooth, white pith. Repeat with the remaining two oranges.
2 Push the biscuit cutter against the orange peel and gently push it through to make a hole. Repeat, pushing holes through all around the peel to make a pattern (be careful not to do too many – you want the orange peel to hold its shape). Repeat with the remaining two oranges.
3 Put a tealight in each orange peel holder and arrange on a
