Terrazzo

Terrazzo is a material made by setting small chips of stone, glass or coloured plaster into a smooth base, then sanding the surface to reveal a speckled pattern. You'll spot it on floors, worktops and homeware. As a craft, it means mixing, pouring and polishing your own colourful pieces, and it's a lovely hands-on project for the whole family.

The word is Italian for terrace. The style grew from the old trick of setting leftover marble chips into floors and grinding them smooth, so it has always been about turning scraps into something beautiful.

Craft terrazzo starts with the chips. Coloured plaster or resin is poured into thin sheets, left to set, then snapped into small, jagged pieces. These chips, sometimes called aggregate, are what make the pattern.

Next comes the base. You mix a fine powder with water until it's smooth, a bit like thick pancake batter, add a little pigment if you'd like a coloured background, then stir in your chips. The mix is poured into a mould, tapped gently to settle any air bubbles and left to harden.

Then it's time for the reveal. Once the piece has set, it pops out of the mould and you sand the top to uncover the chips hiding just underneath. No two pieces ever come out the same, which is half the fun.

Almost anything that can be cast in a mould. Coasters, trinket dishes, plant pots, tea light holders, jewellery trays and small sculptures are all classic terrazzo projects. Chunky shapes like hexagons, clouds and letters work especially well, and they make thoughtful handmade gifts for grandparents and friends.

Colour is where everyone gets to play. Bright rainbow chips on a white base look cheerful and bold, while black and white chips give a classic stone look. Some families pick one colour in lots of shades for a calm, pastel finish.

Yes, and it's a brilliant craft to try together. There's mixing, pouring, choosing colours and a little bit of waiting to see what appears, which children tend to love. Your Activity Leader shows each step with a demo first, so nobody needs to have done it before. It's messy in a good way, and grown-ups often get just as hooked as the children.

Clothes you don't mind getting dusty or splashed, with sleeves that roll up easily. Plaster and pigment can irritate skin and eyes, so try not to rub your eyes while you work and wash your hands afterwards. Tie back long hair too.

You might also like Wabi-Sabi Pottery, Marbling and Tie Dye.

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