A TINY CARE PACKAGE FOR WINTER

“Take a winter walk on a forest trail, to see what hidden treasures winter has hid so well. Use this clay to make a print of what you uncover and see, leaving the treasures tucked in safely under the snowy trees.” – Joya Logue

We lived in the city of Chicago for a few years and enjoyed everything it had to offer, city walks being one of them. Last year when we moved north along the lakefront, we realized one thing we had longed for and missed, which was accessibility to a nature walk outside our doorstep. So when we moved across the street from a nature preserve our snowy walks to school, to the library and to the trails were kind of magical, especially when a fox arrived in our front lawn. It is no secret that my three boys love nature.

Last year, when the skies were gray, the wind strong and the evenings dark, my boys received a little care package from my mom. Nonni sent a Kraft paper nativity card, some fresh greenery clippings and a block of clay. She sent it to the boys so they could make nature imprints of what they found on these cold winter walks. Such a simple idea became the most cherished gift celebrating the beginning of winter.

I have been waiting to share this for an entire year! To pay this forward this year, I painted a winter forest scene on Kraft paper, wrote a little message with a rhyme (see above) and tied up two small squares of clay with twine.

I am no poet, but the boys approved!

The boys directed me of what to paint and include, with favorites like a squirrel, dried leaves, a fox, animal tracks, pine cones, twigs and fir. (I am thinking I might use this painting for my holiday wrappings or have it printed on fabric- I love the way it turned out!)

Off in the mail it will go! The boys and I love sending little care packages and had a lot of fun sending ones last winter. Tiny ones like this are simple, not expensive and really special.

After you make your imprints with the clay, come home and bake them in the oven while sipping hot cocoa. You can turn your winter nature imprints into beads or charms (I bet you could make patterns with the imprints!), coasters, ornaments or just cool keepsakes for your bedside.