Step one

Begin by preparing a 2% alginate solution by mixing 4 grams of sodium alginate with 200ml of water. Leave this for at least 2 hours, ideally overnight to hydrate completely.

Step two

Gather your ivy leaves and cut a small as you can, you may want to use a blender. Place these on a baking tray and put in the oven for 5 minutes to dry them.

Step three

Then mix the ivy leaves with 50 grams of the sodium alginate solution previously prepared in a bowl, you may need to add more solution, the consistency should be mixable but not pourable.

Step four

Next put this in your mold, silicone works well but ceramic and other materials would also work.

Step five

Now pour over the vinegar and leave for a few minutes, then try to move your composite so the vinegar can reach all the edges and underneath. Leave for an hour.

Step six

After an hour the material should be more sturdy, you can now remove it from the mold, wash the vinegar off and leave to dry. This may take at least a day.

The quantities of the ingredients and the process creates two pieces of ivy composite.