Homemade Christmas card

You will need:

Habotai silk, 12 x 18cm (4¾ x 7in)
Emerald green and turquoise silk paints
Tube of gold gutta
Thick white card,
5.5 x 12cm
(2¼ x 4¾in)
Blue card, 15 x 18cm
(6 x 7in)
Gold card, 6 x 12.5cm (2½ x 5in)
Red glitter glue
Star decoration
Masking tape
Paintbrush
Scissors
Pencil
Sheet of polythene
Newspaper
Spray glue

Iron
Template (click here)

Step 1

Immerse the piece of silk in water and squeeze out the excess. Lay the crumpled wet silk on the sheet of polythene.

Step 2

Dot on emerald silk paint with a paintbrush.

Step 3

Repeat with the turquoise colour.

Step 4

Turn the crumpled silk over and repeat, making sure that the silk is completely coloured. Leave to dry.

Tip

The wet silk can be dried with a hair dryer. Place it under a sieve or colander while drying to prevent it from blowing away.

Step 5

Iron the silk. Photocopy the pattern, cut around it and lay it on your work surface. Spread the silk out and, using masking tape, tape it down over the pattern, making sure it is stretched taut.

Step 6

Trace the pattern with a pencil. Do not trace the star.

Step 7

Remove the masking tape and cut out the silk rectangle. Lay it on some newspaper and spray the back of the silk lightly with spray glue.

Step 8

Lay the card rectangle in the middle of the silk and cut away the corners as shown.

Step 9

Fold the silk over the edges as shown, making sure they
stick securely.

Step 10

Score and fold the blue card down the middle. Glue the gold card to the front of the blue card.

Step 11

Glue your painted silk panel to the front of
the card.

Step 12

Use the tube of gutta to pipe in the wavy line of the Christmas tree.

Step 13

Add baubles and a plant pot using glitter glue.

Step 14

Glue the star decoration just above the tree and leave to dry.