Create a Craft from Nature's Storehouse
Craft stores are one of my favorite time-killers. I could travel up and down their colorful aisles for hours, ogling new products, checking sales items, and browsing racks of inspiring crafting books. But truth is, these days people are looking for items to recycle and re-purpose. Re-purposing is just a fancy way of doing what many of our grandparents learned to do when they were young--find a creative way to extend the life of everyday items.
This lens is #8 in my series about fun kids' crafts. I'm especially excited about this one, because I'll share projects made almost entirely from natural objects found outdoors. If you remember going on a treasure hunt as a child, then consider this lens an extension of that activity. You'll become aware of the many uses for Nature's bounty--flowers, leaves, stems, sticks, stones, and so much more. With warmer weather soon approaching, what better time to plan and prepare for fun family or classroom projects.
Bring your imagination and as many kids as you can fit around a crafts table, and we'll explore an area of crafting that's inexpensive, creative, and FUN!
This lens is #8 in my series about fun kids' crafts. I'm especially excited about this one, because I'll share projects made almost entirely from natural objects found outdoors. If you remember going on a treasure hunt as a child, then consider this lens an extension of that activity. You'll become aware of the many uses for Nature's bounty--flowers, leaves, stems, sticks, stones, and so much more. With warmer weather soon approaching, what better time to plan and prepare for fun family or classroom projects.
Bring your imagination and as many kids as you can fit around a crafts table, and we'll explore an area of crafting that's inexpensive, creative, and FUN!
Crafting is fun rain or shine!
Pressed Flower Ornament
What's not to love about this project? Glass ornaments are pretty year round, and this is an especially fun--and BEAUTIFUL--idea. With a little help from an older sibling, younger children can create one of these for Mother's Day, Easter, or a birthday.
TLC Family has great nature crafts ideas (check them out!), so let's give this one a try. Everything you'll need can be easily located at a crafts store. You'll probably find that you'll already have many of the items around the house, such as toothpicks, paper clips, and glue.
Here are full instructions. My guess is you'll love the results so much, you can't stop at just one.
What Would Grandma Do?
If you could sit down and have a long talk with your great-great-great grandmother, she might tell you about her flower garden. Back in the days before people would hurry off to the store every time they ran out of a household item, our ancestors made do with whatever they had. They grew their own vegetable and flower gardens, canned fruits and vegetables to last them all year long, and created beautiful items for their home and for gift-giving from (you guessed it) FLOWERS.
I once saw an ornate frame hanging in a museum, which held a lovely collage made from dried flowers. Arranged in swirly patterns, they looked absolutely amazing after more than a century. We can make something similar today, and it's not as hard as it sounds. Websites like Proflower offer articles about how to dry flowers. Want to learn how to press flowers, leaves, and herbs? Check out this detailed article from preservedgardens.com!
I've gathered fifteen videos (see below), which I think you're going to love. Learn to craft with flowers, leaves, sticks, and more--all from people who share what they know about nature crafting.
I once saw an ornate frame hanging in a museum, which held a lovely collage made from dried flowers. Arranged in swirly patterns, they looked absolutely amazing after more than a century. We can make something similar today, and it's not as hard as it sounds. Websites like Proflower offer articles about how to dry flowers. Want to learn how to press flowers, leaves, and herbs? Check out this detailed article from preservedgardens.com!
I've gathered fifteen videos (see below), which I think you're going to love. Learn to craft with flowers, leaves, sticks, and more--all from people who share what they know about nature crafting.
Twig Fairy Craft
ActivityVillage.com is a good resource for unique crafts for kids. This charming twig fairy is no exception, and in case you're wondering how a child would ever pick it up without it falling apart, consider the four materials needed for this project:
Twigs
Dry leaves
Seeds
Playdough
Hmmm. Now that's a craft young children could easily make. What are you waiting for?
Your Favorite Craft
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Learn how to Dry Flowers
Preserving Tomorrow's Nature Crafts Supplies
Here's how...
- How to Preserve Fall Leaves
- Imagine preserving colorful leaves for future nature crafting projects. Here's how.
- Pressing, Sorting, and Drying Leaves
- Fall leaves aren't the only leaves you'll want to dry. Smaller leaves in a variety of colors will make a great addition to crafts projects.
- How to Air-Dry Flowers
- It's not as complicated as you might think.
Nature Crafts for Kids of All Ages
Thanks, Amazon!
I'll bet you and the kids in your life can come up with ten or more crafts, using items found outdoors. There comes a time, though, when that ol' creative muse runs dry, and it's great to have a book or two on hand for days like that. I've selected books that have many, many ideas that can be done individually, with one or two children, or in a large group setting. They contain easy-to-follow instructions with ideas that will spark your creativity and might even give you a new idea of your own!
Have you visited my other crafting lenses?
For the Love of Crafting
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Flower Story Project
A project you can do anywhere
Since this lens is about crafting with flowers and other outdoors items, I thought this would be a fun project. You'll only need these four things to get started:
Field guide to plants
Notebook
Pen
Crayons
It's called a Flower Story Project. Try it in your neighborhood or during a campout. Look for full instructions here.
A Rock Isn't Just a Rock
...it's a craft idea!
- What to do with beach stones
- Here are some ideas to spark creativity...
- Alphabet Rock Crafts
- ABCs were never this fun!
- Make a decoupaged paper weight!
- More ideas for rock crafts...
Freeze Rose Petals?
Why of course!
Did you know, you can freeze certain flower petals for use later?
curated content from YouTube
Lavender for Weaving...
Use the Stems, Too!
When we think "flower crafting," our brains automatically picture pretty petals. But have you thought about all the leaves and stems you toss out, in search of those luscious petals? The lavender flowers above are long enough for weaving into beautiful wands.
The next time you pick a flower for crafting, take a longer look at other parts of the flower--leaves andstems. Ask yourself, How might these fit in with my plans?
Make a woven bracelet or ring! Simply braid long stems of flowers (or wild grasses) together. Or, create a picture from pressed flowers and their stems. I like this idea for making cute flower people--check it out!
Pressed or dried flowers are fun to work with, but if you want to make an elegant waxed flower, it makes a pretty gift, and that special someone will think you worked for days to complete it.
The next time you pick a flower for crafting, take a longer look at other parts of the flower--leaves andstems. Ask yourself, How might these fit in with my plans?
Make a woven bracelet or ring! Simply braid long stems of flowers (or wild grasses) together. Or, create a picture from pressed flowers and their stems. I like this idea for making cute flower people--check it out!
Pressed or dried flowers are fun to work with, but if you want to make an elegant waxed flower, it makes a pretty gift, and that special someone will think you worked for days to complete it.
Flower Garden Project
Camping Crafts for Kids
Fun in the great outdoors...
Nature Crafts
Choose a kit and get busy crafting!
Rainy days are a fact of life. Some places, it rains for days on ends--hardly ideal for gathering leaves, sticks, stones, and other natural crafting items.
Nature crafting kids are a great item to keep on hand. Tuck a few away for rainy days, or for times when you have unexpected company with children who would enjoy creating something fun to take home with them later. These aren't as much fun as gathering natural items from outdoors, but they still carry out the nature theme.
I've chosen several kits from Amazon that I think you'll enjoy.
Nature crafting kids are a great item to keep on hand. Tuck a few away for rainy days, or for times when you have unexpected company with children who would enjoy creating something fun to take home with them later. These aren't as much fun as gathering natural items from outdoors, but they still carry out the nature theme.
I've chosen several kits from Amazon that I think you'll enjoy.
Pretty Leaves for Pressing...
Leave Your Footprint
Thank you for visiting! Let me know you were here...
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TamaraKajari
Mar 4, 2012 @ 4:51 pm | delete
- Very nice ideas here, for both my teen and nine year old daughter. We all love spring so there will be more than enough petals for our little projects.
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grannyann
Feb 28, 2012 @ 1:52 pm | delete
- this is a great site for my granddaughters. One especially loves to make things.
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Asinka Feb 23, 2012 @ 4:59 pm | delete
- Beautiful Lens, keep it going ...
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bloomingrose
Feb 23, 2012 @ 4:47 pm | delete
- I love crafting with natural items.
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bjslapidary
Feb 23, 2012 @ 12:28 pm | delete
- Nice lens. Some great ideas here for the big and little of kids. Thanks for sharing.
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Jareen
Feb 18, 2012 @ 2:20 pm | delete
- I love crafting with foliage, very green.
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seedplanter
Feb 21, 2012 @ 1:08 pm | delete
- Hi Jareen! Thanks for visiting and sharing your thoughts. Glad you find time to craft with foliage - it's fun, not to mention FREE!
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Flower Crafting on Twitter
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Photographer & writer with a passion for God, family, and a good creative challenge. View my gallery.
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