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Make · Wild and Tumble activity

Clay tea-light holders

Little lamps for the festival of lights. Shape a clay holder and press in leaves and seeds.

  • 25 min total
  • Messy fun
  • Ages 3–5*
  • Indoors
  • Autumn and winter, Diwali and Christmas
Let's do this

*Illustrative age guidance. Your child's development and circumstances matter more than a number.

A tiny plan for your day

Estimated time: 4 min to prepare · 16 min to make · 5 min to tidy. Leave a day to dry. It's fine to stop early.

Before you start

What you’ll need

  • A ball of air-dry clay, the size of a satsuma
  • Small leaves, seeds or a pine cone for pressing patterns
  • A battery tealight

Let's begin

Five simple steps

That's the whole activity. Tick each step off as you go, and stop whenever you like.

  1. Roll the clay into a ball, then press a thumb into the middle to make a little pot.

  2. Pinch the sides gently to make it wider.

  3. Press leaves and seeds into the outside to make patterns.

  4. Check the tealight fits, then leave to dry.

  5. Paint it if you like, then pop in the battery tealight.

All done!

That's every step. However it went, you made a little moment together.

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