Welcome to Nature’s Craft Box, where we’ve gathered 20+ easy nature-inspired arts and crafts for kids to make all year round.
From leaf art to seashell crafts and crafts with flowers, pinecones and more – these projects are designed to inspire creativity and foster a deeper connection with the natural world.
Suitable for kids of all ages from preschool to the young at heart; you are guaranteed to find a nature-themed art and craft activity for you.
Explore the Collection of 20+ Easy Nature Arts and Crafts for Kids
Recommended Materials:
- Assorted leaves, pinecones, acorns, bark, rocks, and seashells
- Glue or Mod Podge
- Paints and paintbrushes
- Colored markers or pencils
- String or thread
- Craft paper or cardboard as a base
- Optional: Googly eyes, beads, colored paper, pressed flowers and glass jars
Mixed Nature Crafts Ideas
1. Acorn Mice by the Kids Craft Room
Your kids will love making adorable Acorn Mice – they’re cute and squeaky fun!
2. Bug Hotel by Happy Toddler Playtime
Learn how to make a bug hotel using an array of natural materials that can be found in the forest, park or garden.
3. Chestnut Crafts Animals by Red Ted Art
Get crafty with chestnuts to create adorable animal figures.
4. Lion Leaf Craft by Easy Peasy and Fun
Transform leaves into a roaring lion in this imaginative craft.
Pinecone Craft Ideas
5. Pinecone Apple Tree by Buggy and Buddy
Craft a beautiful apple tree using pinecones, a perfect autumn-themed activity.
6. Pinecone Owls by Fireflies and Mudpies
Get creative with pine cones, acorns, and bark to make these adorable Pine Cone Owls. So easy and fun!
7. Pinecone Winter Owls by Easy Peasy and Fun
Transform a regular pinecone into an adorable owl craft, perfect for enhancing fine motor skills.
8. Pinecone Indian Corn by Buggy and Buddy
Explore fall vibes by creating corn using pinecones in this delightful craft.
Flower Craft Ideas
9. Hammering Flowers Art by Taming Little Monsters
Learn to use the color from flower petals to make art in this engaging and creative activity.
10. Nature Mandala by Rediscovered Family
Use a variety of natural elements to create intricate and beautiful mandalas.
11. Flower Animal Nature Craft by Hello Wonderful
A lovely combination of cardboard and flowers to create an adorable rabbit.
12. Sleeping Lion Flower Craft by Arty Crafty Kids
This delightful craft is designed to engage children of all ages, including preschoolers, in a whimsical and hands-on activity.
14. Pressed Flower Lanterns by One Little Project
Create beautiful lanterns using pressed flowers and jars.
15. Flower Painting Hair Design by Arty Crafty Kids
Explore painting flowers and designing hair with this creative nature craft.
16. Pressed Flower Pinch Pots by Little Pine Learners
Beautiful hands-on craft using clay and dried flowers.
17. Easy Flower Suncatcher Craft by Nurture Store
Explore mandala and pattern creation with flowers to create these beautiful sun catchers.
Leaf Art Ideas
18. Watercolor Spray Leaf Art by Hello Wonderful
Incredible results with a spray bottle and watercolors!
19. Leaf Butterfly Art by Hello Wonderful
Use leaves to craft stunning butterfly art.
20. Fall Leaf Art by Frugal Fun for Boys
“Create gorgeous fall leaf art – with just paper, black crayon, and watercolor paints”
Frugal Fun for Boys
21. Mixed Media Leaf Painting by Projects with Kids
“Create easy leaf printing art with watercolor paint and acrylics… The result is colorful and dramatic and a fun twist on traditional leaf printing!”
Projects with Kids
22. Leafy Collages
Creating leaf collage art is a fantastic way to combine outdoor adventure and creativity.
Here’s how you can make a leaf collage of a sun, cat, self-portrait, and fish using leaves your kids collect during an outdoor walk:
Materials Needed:
- Assorted leaves (different shapes, sizes, and colors)
- Glue or Mod Podge
- Paper or cardboard as a base
- Optional: googly eyes, colored paper, or additional nature materials
Step-by-Step
- Leaf Gathering: Take a walk in nature and gather an assortment of leaves. Look for various shapes, colors, and sizes to give your collage diversity and texture.
- Preparation: Lay out all the collected leaves and sort them by size and shape. Organize them into piles based on the creatures or self-portrait you plan to create.
- Choosing a Base: Select a sturdy piece of paper or cardboard as your base. This will be the canvas on which you’ll arrange and glue the leaves.
- Use the images to recreate one of the featured animals or create a fun, nature inspired self-portrait!
Seashell Craft Ideas
23. Handprint Shell Keepsake by Arty Crafty Kids
Capture memories with a handprint keepsake using seashells.
24. Glitter Seashell Picture Frame by One Little Project
Add some sparkle to seashells and make a beautiful picture frame.
25. Seashell Collage by Art Bar
Dive into the world of seashells and create a beautiful collage.
26. Painted Seashells by Handmade by Charlotte
Simply paint the seashell’s in beautiful patterns and colors.
Rock Painting Ideas
27. Owl Painted Rocks by Arty Crafty Kids
Start with a pair of big eyes and a little peak, and the rest can be free styled to create a gorgeous and unique looking owl.
28. Ladybug Rock Painting
Start with a large red oval and a smaller black oval to create the ladybugs head. Draw a pair of eyes with chalk markers or paint, add a few dots and ta-da – you will have a rock painted ladybug.
29. Rainbow Rock Painting
Paint a beautiful rainbow in colors of your choosing and within the last arch, draw a little smile and a pair of sleepy eyes to create the impression of a face. Use a pen to add “hair” like shape.
30. Monster Rock Painting
Monsters can have one eye, two or twenty! start with a big colorful body. Paint or affix googly eyes and draw a smile, set off teeth or a big open black mouth.
Benefits of Crafting with Nature for Kids
Crafting with nature is super fun for kids!
When they use leaves, pinecones, rocks, and seashells, they can learn about how cool nature is and discover the beauty of different shapes and colors.
It’s like a colorful adventure! Plus, they get to be really creative and use their imagination to make amazing things.
It’s like a fun puzzle where they figure out how to put the pieces together.
Making crafts with nature can also make them feel relaxed and happy—it’s like nature’s way of giving them a big hug!
And by using natural stuff for crafts, they learn to take care of our Earth and use things wisely. So, crafting with nature is not only a blast, but it helps kids appreciate nature and be creative little artists!
Final Thoughts
Crafting with nature is a wonderful adventure for kids, filled with creativity and learning. It’s like exploring a colorful world right outside our door!
From leaves to pinecones, each natural item brings a unique beauty and excitement to the craft table.
Not only does it spark creativity and imaginative play, but it also helps children understand the importance of caring for our environment.
