How to make jam labels and covers

Delve into drawers where you've squirreled away scraps of ribbon from presents and odds and ends of material in the hope of putting them to good use - this is their moment. Try some different coloured inks for a pretty effect or even a calligraphy pen to add an extra artistic touch to your design.

Give your jars of jams and chutneys the finishing touch by cutting out circles of gingham or floral fabrics - large enough to overlap the lid - with pinking shears for covers and securing fine ribbon around the neck with a luggage label tied on bearing the name of the preserve and the date, along with a message if intended as a gift, written in your finest hand. Alternatively, if you're unkeen on your own writing, download Amy Moss's jam labels for instant country style.

For all the equipment you could need for jam making, go to Lakeland where you can buy everything from Le Parfait jars to waxed circles and straining funnels as well as labelling accessories, while Harrod Horticultural also stocks gingham pot covers, maslin pans and bundle kits as well as recipe books.

Find an easy-to-follow guide to jam-making here. If you're not sure how to test for a set, try this advice. For recipes, from rhubarb and vanilla to gooseberry and elderflower, click here. See our online bookshop for a selection of preserving-themed books, too.

Have a bumper crop of fruit and are feeling overwhelmed by it? Try SwapCrop where you can find fellow growers in need of your harvest and with fruit you'd like to exchange your glut for.

For really keen jam makers, it may be worth considering joining The Guild of Jam and Preserve Makers which aims to promote and encourage the tradition, to provide an information from professionals in the industry and a community for enthusiasts. Its patron is Pam Corbin, the expert preserver of River Cottage fame.

Each month, Country Living offers a selection of ideas for enjoying life's simple pleasures - click here to see more