Materials
For paper altars
For the background color on the altar, you may want to prepare painted or patterned papers ahead of time. For this I used: Caran D’Ache watercolor crayons, colored pencils, gouache paint, spray inks but you can use whatever materials you like to use and have at hand. You can be thinking about colors that match the theme of Imbolc, see below, or choose colors that to you, symbolize the early shoots of spring. I copied my papers and used the copies for my altar but you can use your papers directly.
For stitched altars
On the main page, I mention several other rituals and crafts associated with Imbolc. See there for materials needed for those ideas.
For paper altars
For the background color on the altar, you may want to prepare painted or patterned papers ahead of time. For this I used: Caran D’Ache watercolor crayons, colored pencils, gouache paint, spray inks but you can use whatever materials you like to use and have at hand. You can be thinking about colors that match the theme of Imbolc, see below, or choose colors that to you, symbolize the early shoots of spring. I copied my papers and used the copies for my altar but you can use your papers directly.
- Cardboard-use cardboard from cereal boxes or other such boxes is perfect
- Collage materials-collect images that suggest Spring if you are doing an Imbolc altar or St. Brigit altar, otherwise collect images that have meaning to you
- Wrapping paper with interesting patterns
- Could also use your previous sketches (if you have done paintings on paper, or you can make your own background paper using colors that draw your interest)
- Paper Scissors
- Glue-can use glue sticks or mod podge or matt medium
- Drawing materials
- Plain paper, colored or white
- Embellishments-yarn, ribbon, thread, lace, raffia
- Paper fasteners if you want to add a paper doll to the center
For stitched altars
- Felted cloth works well as a substrate for the stitched altar, or you can use two layers of cloth with quilt batting between it
- Plain colored cloth or off white for backgrounds
- Patterned cloth, especially with motifs that can be cut out for thematic details-ie with animal print or flowers or designs that you love
- Cardboard or balsa wood for backing (or just use the cloth without the backing)
- Quilt batting, if you don’t have this can use thin blanket scraps or just layer two layers of cloth together
- Embroidery floss or some other kind of colored thread if you don’t have that
- Pencil or washable marker for drawing details
- Yarn, ribbon, lace, raffia, straw for embellishments
- Beads or buttons also for embellishments
- Cloth scissors
- Images for inspiration-if you have a way to transfer images to fabric you can also do this. This article summarizes some of the common transfer techniques from paper to fabric. https://sewguide.com/transfer-photo-picture-to-fabric/
On the main page, I mention several other rituals and crafts associated with Imbolc. See there for materials needed for those ideas.