Nature Crafts for Kids

How to Make Crafts Using Objects Found in Nature/Natural Objects Including: Sea Shell Paper Weight Crafts, Leaf and Flower Print Bandana Craft

Acorn Cap Bowl Craft Made Using a Balloon

What you will need:

Good quality balloon, Aleene's Tacky Glue, Duck tape or any strong tape, acorn tops, scissors, marker, and lots of patience.

How to Bake the Acorn Bowl:

1. Blow up a small balloon to the size you would like your bowl. You will be gluing the caps to the bottom of the balloon (the side that is not tied) Draw a line around the bottom of the balloon just above where you want to glue the last acorn caps. This will be the rim of your bowl. Don't worry about it being really straight.

2. Place the balloon, tied-side down, in a cup that has something heavy in the bottom to weigh it down. Tape the balloon to the cup using a few pieces of tape.

3. Glue an acorn cap to the bottom, center of the balloon. Glue acorn caps all around the first acorn. Don't add glue to the balloon, but glue all the way around the edge of the acorn caps as you add them to the first cap.


*Note - Place the bottle of glue upside down in a cup when you are not gluing so that you wonn't have to wait for the glue to flow down the botttle each time.

Let the first seven or eight acorn caps dry before continuing. Once you know they are stuck together, fill in the cracks between the caps with more glue. You can use a hair dryer set on cool to speed up the process.

4. Once you have completed one area peel the tape off the cup, but don't try to peel the tape off the balloon. Just leave it there. Turn the balloon and retape it to the cup using new pieces of tape. Keep doing this until you have completed your bowl.

5. It will take at least 24 hours for the bowl to dry completely. When it is dry cut a hole in the balloon and peel away the balloon.

©2012, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

 

Collect and Dry Flowers

There are three different ways to collect and preserve flowers.

Air Drying - The easiest and cheapest way to preserve flowers is air-drying. Cut the flowers while they are at their peak on a warm dry day leaving plenty of stem, tie them together in bunches, and hang them in a warm, dry, shady place for about a week. Many flowers dry very well with this technique such as: statice, roses, baby's breath, yarrow, strawflowers, and any other sturdy flowers. Flowers can take up to a week to dry using this method depending on how dry it is in your area.

Silica Gel - The second way is using silica gel. (It isn't a gel, but is more like sand.) It isn't cheap, but it can be used over and over again.

This method is very easy. All you do is place the flowers face up in a little bit of sand and then slowly fill in around the flowers with sand until the whole flower is covered. The silica absorbs the moisture quickly which preserves the flowers without as much fading. Follow the directions on the package. Flowers take only a few days to dry using this method. Spray your dried flowers with a clear paint to keep them from reabsorbing moisture.

Pressed Flowers - Pressing flowers between the pages of books works well, but you can only use thin flowers or petals, and flat leaves. Place waxed paper between the pages to keep the flowers from sticking to the pages of the book. Pile other heavy books on top and let them dry for at least a week.

 

Sea Shell Paper Weight Crafts

What you will need: Small sea shells, white glue, sand, paint, Wilson Tennis ball container - $1.88 at Wall-Mart, fun foam for base.

Shop for Craft Supplies at S&S Worldwide

How to make:

1. To make the Plaster of Paris mold for the base cut the bottom off the plastic container about two inches from the bottom.  Cut another inch off but leave two or three one inch tabs sticking up.  This mold can be used over and over again.

2. Fill the base with Plaster of Paris according to the directions. Remove the plaster cast when it is dry by lightly tapping the the tabs of the mold on a table.  The plaster cast should pop out.

3. Cut a three inch circle from fun foam and glue it onto the Plaster of Paris base with tacky glue.

4. Paint the base and let dry.  If you use water colors you can add the sea shells and sand without waiting for the paint to dry.

5. Add enough white glue to some sand to make it moist. Press a small amount sand into the impression in the base.

6. Arrange the sea shell and press them into the sand.

7. Spray the entire paper weight with clear gloss paint.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2007, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Leaf and Flower Print Bandana Craft

What you will need: White bandanas or squares of white cotton material, an assortment of fresh leaves and flowers, and a rubber mallet.

How to make:

1. Place waxed paper on a sturdy table. On top of the waxed paper place some fresh leaves and flowers. Place your bandana on top.

2. Use a rubber mallet to pound (gently) on the bandana overtop of the areas where there are leaves and flowers until the color from the leaves or flowers come through the material.  Continue this way with other leaves and flowers until the entire bandanna is covered. The bandanas will be washable, but don't use Clorox or a strong detergent when washing them.

How to Print or Copy these instructions.

©2007, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information