You will need

• Fabric paints in your chosen colours – this project uses green and peach
• Paintbrushes – one flat and one round
• Newspaper
• Rolling Pin
• Mixing bowl/tray
• Leaves - You can use house plant leaves or forage a few interesting shaped ones from outside

To make

1. Using the flat paintbrush, cover one side of your leaf with a layer of fabric paint - it is important not to overpaint the leaf or when you print, the paint will splodge and you won’t get a nice detailed print.

Before you work onto your napkins it might be a good idea to have a few tests on paper using the same technique.

2. Once your leaf is covered, place paint side down on your napkin, it is always a good idea to start at the side/edge so you can work your pattern across the fabric rather than try and work outwards from the middle.

3. Place another piece of newspaper over the leaf and press down. The paint will enable the leaf to stick to the fabric so it’s not being rolled about underneath as you use the rolling pin to apply pressure and create your first botanical print.

When you are placing your newspaper down to cover the painted leaf, be sure that it hasn’t picked up any excess paint that might spread onto your napkin.

4. Peel the leaf away to reveal your first print and then repeat steps 1-3 across the fabric. Explore printing your leaf in different directions to create a fun and spontaneous pattern.

5. Now using the round brush you can add berry/bud shapes by painting 3 round circles next to one another in your second colour and repeating throughout the pattern. These also act as a great filler if you have any odd shapes between your leaf pattern. You can work them over the leaves as well as in the gaps.

6. Leave flat to dry and let them dry for at least 72 hours before washing.

Project by Becki Clark, a creative designer inspired by the wonders of nature and seasonal changes. She has illustrated and designed surface patterns and designs for cards, wrapping paper and stationery, which have been sold by large retailers in the UK. Becki's work has also been used in magazines and she regularly runs workshops teaching Brush Lettering and Botanical Illustration. Her first book "Modern Brush Lettering'" will be published later this year.