I've always loved being in nature. As a little girl I would be found down the bottom of the garden in all seasons and weather, often avoiding bedtime. I'd be collecting various flowers, sticks and mosses to build fairy gardens and hedgehog hides. I'd sit building daisy chains as well as cooking up the not so appealing mud pie. Nature was always there providing the tools to help my imagination come to life. With each new season came a whole new world to explore. 

This helped shape me into the woman/mother I am today. I learnt to appreciate the natural world, and to go with the seasons. I'd patiently watch as the bulbs that grew out of the ground in spring, to the leaves that fell in autumn. I would harvest potatoes with my dad and helped my mum bake apple pie, using apples from the trees. An understanding I hope to pass onto our children. Nature shows us that each season gives us what we need, only we just need to look. Each season holds magic. 

With a new season upon us, now is the perfect time to utilize what nature has provided us. As a child I'd make my own Christmas decorations, from clay stars to painted pine cones, from drying orange slices to bundling together cinnamon sticks. Christmas traditions and sustainable decorations go hand in hand.

Now with a family of my own, I'm passing these traditions on. Each year around the festive period, we'll take a walk to forage for foliage to turn into decorations for our home. Maybe a garland for the fire place, or a wreath for our door. Its so easy to let nature inspire our imaginations. Using what's around us to bring festive cheer without the need to buy new. 

This year, myself and our children will be making clay ornaments for our tree. These are so easy to make and will last year after year. Clay ornaments are a brilliant way for brining nature into your home while creating a more sustainable festive decoration. Clay can be found online and in various craft shops. These can then pressed with dried flowers, painted or left to look more rustic. You can also use icing stamps to print stars, or maybe even words/names. Different shaped cookie cutters are also fun.

Georgia @thebumblediaries

How to make Clay Ornaments 

Step 1. Collect dried flowers from your garden, or go for a walk and find foliage. We use lavender from our garden that has naturally dried. 

Step 2. Roll clay out and cut with cookie cutter. 

Step 3. Place flowers on top, gently press down or roll over with a rolling pin.

Step 4. Use straw to pierce a hole for your twine.

Step 5. Allow to dry and then you can paint with desired colours or leave plain.