Create Craft
Best Nature Craft Ideas and Art Activities for Kids and Adults
Here is a fantastic selection of nature crafts and nature art projects that can be done at home or in a school by kids and adults of all ages.
Acorns, flowers, leaves, dirt, pinecones, rocks, shells, sticks, twigs, walnuts, and more may all be used to make crafts and artwork in this amazing selection of nature-themed activities. To make it even simpler to choose a new nature project to try at home or in the classroom, we have divided this list into categories based on the natural materials needed and alphabetized them. To view them all, just scroll down.
Please be sure to bookmark this page for future reference as we will be adding to this list of nature craft ideas as we continue to produce new nature crafts and nature art projects for children and adults. This collection of autumn nature crafts might also interest you.
THE BEST NATURE CRAFTS AND NATURE ART IDEAS THAT USE MATERIALS FOUND IN NATURE.
Encourage kids to go on a nature hunt and collect things from the environment. Next, create crafts out of natural materials and use them for process art activities. Feel free to suggest any nature crafts and nature art project ideas below if your kids run out of inspiration.
Keep in mind that these are merely recommendations. Give your kids the freedom to use the suggestions to make natural arts and crafts with materials they collect from the environment. To encourage your child’s imagination, use the list of outdoor activities in this post as a starting point.
To make it simple to get inspiration for the kinds of natural materials needed, we’ve sorted this collection of nature craft and nature art ideas by the type of natural item needed in alphabetical order.
ACORN CRAFTS
Here are numerous acorn crafts you may make using the acorns and acorn caps you collect in the wild:
- Acorn Peg Dolls Made at Home | Rhythms of Play – Here is a sweet craft project for kids to construct using peg dolls and acorn caps. Once completed, these adorable little acorn dolls make wonderful props and toys for pretend play.
- Rhythms of Play | Rustic Acorn Marble Ornaments – To make these simple, homemade ornaments for your Christmas tree, gather some acorns and get some marbles.
- Make a simple photo frame out of acorns and acorn caps with this tutorial from An Extraordinary Day, Acorn Frame.
- Try this tried-and-true DIY acorn wreath. Create a rustic wreath to hang on the door with acorns.
- Necklaces Made with Acorn Marbles | Rhythms of Play Use glass marbles and natural acorn tops to create stunning necklaces. A DIY present idea and natural craft for both children and adults! (See below)
FLOWER CRAFTS
The main crafting component for each of these nature crafts is actual flowers. These outdoor pursuits and crafts make use of actual flowers to produce natural artwork that may be hung and appreciated. Encourage kids to go outside and gather spring and summer flowers so they may make the enjoyable nature projects on the following list:
- Top 10 Flower Suncatcher Crafts for Kids | Rhythms of Play – With this simple nature craft idea for kids and adults, use real flowers to give a splash of colour to your windows.
- Make nature crafts utilising natural materials, such as actual flowers and leaves, to create masks, crowns, tiaras, and more with the help of nature craft printables from Rhythms of Play! (See below)
- Real Flower Nature Crafts | Rhythms of Play | for Children and Teens Here is a creative selection of floral and other natural material crafts that you may print out.
LEAF CRAFTS AND LEAF ART PROJECTS
Real leaves can be used in a variety of entertaining nature projects. The wonderful part is that leaf crafts may be made at any time of year. You can attempt the leaf arts and crafts on the list below all year long with kids of various ages, from toddlers to teens, at home or in the classroom. See all of the entertaining suggestions below:
- Rhythms of Play | How to Press and Preserve Leaves Save fall leaves for crafts and art projects to preserve their vivid colours. This lesson teaches you six simple techniques to preserve autumnal foliage.
- Crafting a Fall Leaf Crown | Rhythms of Play – With this autumn leaf craft idea, you can create a lovely headdress (crown or tiara) for a girl or boy of any age.
- DIY Leaf Lantern | Playful Rhythms – Make blazing luminaries out of a beautiful variety of autumn leaves.
- Fall Leaf Art in Watercolour | Rhythms of Play – Create stunning nature art by combining watercolour paints with actual autumn leaves.
- Make this adorable leaf baby activity from Rhythms of Play using actual autumn leaves. For children of all ages, a natural craft and activity inspired by books.
- Fall Leaf Lacing | Rhythms of Play | First Sewing Project – With this beginner sewing project and craft for kids, you can turn durable fall leaves into lacing cards in a fun and simple manner. Additionally, the fact that real leaves are used makes this first sewing lesson a cost-effective and environmentally beneficial concept for preschoolers and kindergarteners.
- Crafts for a Thanksgiving Leaf Turkey | Rhythms of Play – With this entertaining collection of nature projects for kids and adults, you can make leaf turkeys for Thanksgiving using real autumn leaves.
- Make a gratitude tree out of genuine autumn leaves and barren branches by visiting Rhythms of Plays. It’s simpler than you might think to create a thankfulness tree at home or in the school.
- Leaf lanterns with hearts | Rhythms of Play – A lovely dinner table centrepiece and fantastic hostess present idea that you can do with the kids is this leaf nature craft.
- Create fall leaf art using this nature art invitation and actual fall leaves with Rhythms of Play’s Invitation to Create Fall Leaf Art.
- Use this autumnal craft to make turkey leaf lanterns for Rhythms of Play.
MUD ART AND PLAY IDEAS
A staple of childhood painting and craft is mud. Similar to play dough, it is a sensory plaything that is free. And you can use it as a craft material in a variety of inventive ways to create nature art. For ideas, peruse the list of fun mud play activities below:
- Nature Art by Mud Pie | Rhythms of Play – With this fresh take on a traditional mud pie, kids can enjoy a fun outdoor sensory painting exercise. (See below)
- Kids can have fun painting with mud on both bright and rainy days. Children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers, like making mud paintings in any season—spring, summer, autumn or winter. Paint paper, the driveway or the sidewalk with mud first using sticks or paintbrushes. When the kids are finished making mud art, wash it away in the rain or have them wash it off with the hose!
OAK BALL CRAFTS
Have you ever used the amusing small apple-shaped growths that you sometimes see on and around oak trees for crafting? We do, and it’s enjoyable! Try one of the oak ball nature craft ideas listed below:
- Crafting with Oak Apples | Rhythms of Play – This enjoyable nature activity is suitable for children of all ages, from newborns to teenagers. Paint oak balls to resemble apples. (See below)
- Create a free natural canvas by painting oak apples, which are plentiful near oak trees. Children enjoy painting them, and we advise choosing pigments that can be broken down.
PINECONE CRAFTS
Pinecones can be used in a variety of creative ways for crafts. To get started, try any of the crafts using pinecones on the list below:
- Rhinestone Pinecones | Rhythms of Play – This easy fine-motor nature exercise and craft for kids will add a little bling to the pinecones you find in the great outdoors.
- Make rhinestone pinecone decorations for your Christmas tree with the help of this easy pinecone craft DIY from Rhythms of Play.
- Kids’ pinecone crafts and games | Rhythms of Play – Here is a list of enjoyable pinecone crafts and activities for both adults and children.
- Rosebud Card with a Pinecone | Rhythms of Play – Make this simple and lovely rosebud card for mom, grandma, nana, aunt or teacher with a little pinecone and a twig. (See below)
ROCK CRAFTS AND STONE ART
Here is a selection of activities for both young and old using rocks in nature. Pick one of these painted rock projects or rock crafts, and start rocking!
- How to Paint Rocks | Rhythms of Play – Painting rocks is an enjoyable outdoor activity for both children and adults. Utilise the rock painting suggestions on our collection of rock craft ideas to learn how to paint rocks.
- With the help of these adorable painted rock fairy houses, you can transform any yard into a fairy garden.
- Craft: Stone Owl | Rhythms of Play – With this easy nature project for kids, you can turn stones into owls.
- Balancing a rock Rhythms of Play: Stone Stacking Art This enjoyable nature art exercise for children and adults involves stacking rocks on top of one another to make amusing stone sculptures. (See below)
SHELL CRAFTS
Make natural crafts with the shells you gather on your daily outings and family vacations. Once completed, shell crafts make excellent presents. The selection of shell crafts and art ideas below can serve as inspiration:
- DIY Handprint Shell Frames Shells can be used to embellish wooden frames for the Keepsake | Rhythms of Play project. Add pictures, artwork, prints of hands or feet inside after that. Last but not least, hang them up or give them as presents.
- Rhythms of Play | Shell Sunflower This easy nature craft guide shows you how to make sunflower crafts out of shells.
- Owls Made of Stone and Shell | Rhythms of Play – For both youngsters and adults, try making this adorable stone and shell craft. Bicuspid shells in small sizes make excellent owl eyes!
- Make a relaxing sensory bottle for youngsters by adding seashells to any bottle from the recycling bin. The project is from Rhythms of Play.
- Use shells to create the straightforward daisy craft shown in the image below from Rhythms of Play’s “Easy Shell Daisy Nature Craft.”
SUN ART AND CRAFT ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
- Create lovely arts and crafts in the sun with Rhythms of Play’s Make Sunprints activity. Putting natural items on sun print paper and letting them bake in the sun is a STEAM activity that kids of all ages will appreciate.
- Kids can create art using shadows and recycled DIY chalk paint with the help of this shadow outdoor STEAM project from Rhythms of Play.
TWIG STICK AND BARE BRANCH ARTS, CRAFTS, AND DIYS
Twigs, sticks, and bare branches can be used in a variety of inventive ways to make nature-inspired arts and crafts. Check out the collection of twig craft ideas below for some entertaining nature activities you can create using sticks of any size and shape, including driftwood:
- Enjoy flowers year-round in your house with this simple twig craft idea for children and adults, Easy Felt Flowers on Twig Stems. Moms, grandmothers, and teachers, in particular, adore receiving a single felt flower or a full bouquet on twig stems.
- Paintbrushes from nature | Messy Little Monster – This enjoyable outdoor activity for youngsters involves making paintbrushes from natural materials.
- Rainbow Wind Chimes | Happy Hooligans – Making your own rainbow-colored wind chimes is a simple kid-friendly outdoor activity.
- Windchimes with Sea Glass and Driftwood | Rhythms of Play – Here is a garden craft that both children and adults may construct using sea glass beads and a piece of driftwood, or a branch.
- Yarn Sticks | Babble Dabble Do – To make this simple nature craft, go on a stick hunt outside and then gather a bunch of yarn to wrap the sticks in.
- Use sticks and other objects from nature to weave amazing works of nature art in “Nature Weaving” by The Chaos and the Clutter.
- Easter Tree in the Spring | Rhythms of Play – With this enjoyable DIY project, you can decorate an Easter egg tree at home or in the classroom with children of all ages.
- Rhythms of Play: DIY Butterfly Tree With this simple DIY, you can create a butterfly tree centrepiece for your dining room table or window.
- Giant Stick Spider Web | Rhythms of Play – Use sticks to create a spider web decoration for Halloween.
- Real Autumn Leaves on a Thankful Tree | Rhythms of Play – To make a gratitude tree, use bare branches and seasonal foliage.
- Rhythms of Play: DIY Rainstick Musical Sensory Bottle – With this straightforward see-through rainstick created from sticks and other naturally occurring and recyclable materials, kids of all ages love to comfort themselves. (See below)
WALNUT SHELL CRAFTS
Try some of these kid-friendly walnut shell craft and art ideas.
- Make ornaments for the Christmas tree with this simple walnut shell craft project, the Walnut Shell Manger Ornament via Rhythms of Play.
- Use craft sticks, peg dolls, and a half walnut shell to create this easy homemade nativity scene, which is featured on Rhythms of Play.
- A wonderful nature project to make after reading the well-known nursery rhyme Hickory Dickory Dock is the Walnut Mice by Red Ted Art.
- No Time for Flash Cards with the Walnut Turtles Did you know that you could construct with turtle shells using walnuts? Love it!
NATURE CRAFTS AND NATURE ART PROJECTS FOR KIDS
Create arts and crafts using natural materials by using any of the nature craft and nature art ideas in this extensive list. Additionally, you might like this collection of kid-friendly outdoor learning activities.