Crafts are somewhat of a dying art in an age where the pull of screens and digital activities is so strong. Never fear – I have put together a list of 101+ Nature Crafts for Kids that your whole family can enjoy. Boredom doesn’t have to lead to excessive screen time if there’s always a craft activity ready to go!
I will always advocate for creative, hands-on activities, because the benefits are truly enormous; kids can learn so much about their own creativity and style by making things with their hands. Plus, craft is incredible for fine motor skill development.
The best part?
You can make craft using all-natural materials. Nature is so vibrant and colourful, perfect for incorporating into any arts and crafts activity, plus they’re ecofriendly!
Try out some crafts from this list of nature-inspired activities and get your kids excited about creating!
Stick nature crafts for kids
Sticks are a great craft supply because you can find them pretty much anywhere you see trees. If you haven’t got a back yard, don’t worry – consider taking a stroll to the nearby park with your kids for a stick collecting spree, then get stuck into these fun crafts.
Stick Fairies
If your kids like fairies and magic, they will be absolutely delighted by these Stick Fairies. Leaves make for beautiful wings!
Stick people
Make little stick people out of y-shaped twigs and bright yarn. This activity is completely adorable – your kids are sure to love making their mini-me!
Stick letters
This is a great craft for decorating backpacks or hanging on bedroom doors. Your kids can make the first letter of their name out of sticks and yarn, personalizing it with their favourite colours.
Raffia nature stars
Decorate the playroom or your child’s bedroom with these gorgeous stick stars. A simple yet gorgeous decoration that will bring nature into your home.
Stick painting
How great are simple activities? This craft only requires two materials – paint and sticks – and the result is a beautiful collection of bright, decorative sticks. A super age-flexible craft activity for kids who love using colour.
Twig posts
If you’ve got old flowerpots lying around at home, adding sticks around the outside is a simple way to spruce them up. Try this craft with your kids and plant some flowers to finish it off.
Stick spider webs
Find some sticks and spin and twist the twine around them. These are perfect for Halloween!
Twig picture frame
Display your treasured family photos in these beautiful DIY frames, perfect for wall hangings or tabletop decorations.
Stick butterflies
Make these easy nature butterflies with your kids and use them as decorations or add them into another craft, like a collage. Your child will be delighted to see what they can make with just sticks and leaves!
Flower Nature Crafts
Flowers are a spectacle of nature, bringing colour and beauty to any outdoor space. Make use of the flowers in your yard by using them as a craft material, like in these activities:
Nature glitter
Not only is plastic glitter a nightmare to clean up, it’s also terrible for the environment. Switch to nature’s glitter by collecting flowers and cutting them into confetti – the result is even better than the shiny stuff!
Shoe flowerpot
If you’ve got shoes lying around that no one uses anymore, consider turning them into flowerpots. This is a great activity for teaching your kids about reusing and repurposing.
Nature bookmarks
Is your child beginning to read? Encourage their reading development with this beautiful flower bookmark craft.
Dandelion craft
Pet rocks, with a floral twist! Collect dandelions with your kids and use them to make beautiful rock-people.
Plastic free suncatcher
Capture the sun’s rays with this dreamy flower-gelatin suncatcher. Colourful and squishy to touch, your kids are sure to find great joy in making and using this sensory craft.
Leaf nature crafts for kids
Like flowers, leaves come in all shapes and colours, making for a wonderful craft material. Leaves are abundant in nature and easily collected. Make use of nature’s confetti with these activities.
Nature Heart garland
Use leaves to make little hearts and string them together. These can be used as decorations inside or outside, and they’re super simple to make.
Leaf handprint
Handprint painting with leaves, the perfect way to add a bit of nature to the page. Trace your child’s hand on a leaf and use it as a patterned stamp.
Handsewn leaves
Teach your child a new handy skill by stitching patterns into leaves. Leaves make for a great practice piece, and the final product can be used as a cute decoration.
Nature confetti
Leaves come in a vast range of colours, especially in the fall, making them the perfect material for confetti. Try out this eco-friendly confetti alternative for your next kid’s party (or just for fun!)
Hungry caterpillar Nature Craft
Who doesn’t love the Very Hungry Caterpillar? Recreate Eric Carle’s beloved hungry critter using leaves from the backyard. Your kids will be delighted to create their very own caterpillar picture.
Leaf soft toy
This is a more involved craft and takes a little longer than the others, but the result is absolutely worth the patience and effort! Teach your kids how to create their own soft toys using gorgeous leaf patterns.
Robot leaf craft
Get your child’s imagination running with this fun robot activity. Kids can design a robot using leaves in different shapes and colours, personalizing it however they’d like.
Snake leaf craft
Turn a big, round leaf into a slithering snake in just a few simple steps.
Letters and leaves
Practice learning letters and words in a fun, nature-filled way by stamping letters onto leaves. Encourage your child to mix and match the leaves to form words.
Embossing leaves
As leaves are very similar to paper in thickness and feel, embossing leaves works like a charm. Create delicate designs on leaves with your kids and use them in other crafts or simply admire them.
Leaf shape play
If you’ve ever played with felt pieces on a felt board, this activity has a similar idea – but with leaves! Cut out different shapes and sizes and encourage your kids to arrange them however they’d like.
Nature candle holders
Leaves look beautiful when lit up by candlelight. Get creative with candle jars and create a special gift/home decoration.
Nature Crafts using wood
Wood comes in different textures, colours, and smells, ideal for use in craft activities. If you have access to wood pieces, enjoy using this versatile natural art material to create with.
Bug hotel
Kids are often mesmerized by the lives of insects. Capture their fascination with this adorable bug hotel that helps to make the bugs in your yard feel right at home.
Wooden texture stamps
Textured wood is the perfect material for making stamps out of. Your child will get hours of enjoyment out of these nature-friendly stamps!
Wood slices
The art of weaving presents an opportunity for your kids to slow down, relax, and focus on learning a useful skill. Your child can use these wood slices to practice on.
Wood slice bracelets
Encourage your child to make meaningful gifts for their friends with these wood slice friendship bracelets, customizable and simple to make.
Bird house
Welcome birds into your backyard with this lovely wooden bird house. This is a great way to get your kids interacting with nature, as they will be able to inspect birds up close.
Nature crafts for kids using vines
Vines are a great natural medium for weaving. If you are yet to discover the peaceful joys of weaving, I would so encourage you to give it a go!
Nature butterfly wings
If your kids love dressing up, they will love making and using these beautiful DIY wings. They’re made out of weeds, so you can recycle those annoying weeds in your garden and put them to good use!
Backyard weaving frame
Create a calming activity for your kids to wind down after a long day with this delightful outdoor weaving frame. Weaving is so simple yet so enjoyable, and something the whole family can do together.
Nature star weave
Harness the bright colours of fallen leaves and weave them with sticks to create these gorgeous nature stars!
Nature weaving frames
If you have old photo frames sitting around, repurpose them into some DIY weaving frames for your kids. Weaving is the perfect wind-down activity for when your child needs something peaceful and relaxing to do.
Nature basket
You and your child can master the art of weaving with these simple and useful woven baskets, made using natural materials.
Stone/rocks nature crafts
We as people don’t pay rocks much attention – after all, they don’t really catch the eye! Still, rocks can make great craft supplies if you add a bit of creativity and imagination, like in these fun activities:
Space rocks
Ever painted a pet rock? This is the same concept, but space themed. Get your kids thinking about our incredible universe by painting planets, astronauts, and stars onto rocks.
Story stones
Does your child love the ‘Old MacDonald’ nursery rhyme? Allow them to interact and engage with the story by making some of these story stones (printable).
Fairy Door painted rocks
Fairy gardens are a wonderful way to get your kids excited about gardening and being outside. Simply paint doors onto rocks and add them into any garden space to easily convert it into a fairy garden.
Flower rocks
These flower rocks are a lovely decoration for your gardens and tabletops. Allow your kids to get creative and paint colourful flowers onto pebbles.
Bee rocks
Have fun painting cute little bees onto rocks. Teach your kids all about bees and their role as nature’s helpers while you paint!
Watermelon rocks
Brighten up any potted plant or garden space with these bright (and delicious-looking) watermelon rocks.
Hedgehog painted rocks
Your kids will love making these adorable hedgehog rock pets. A cute addition to any potted plant, toy box, or windowsill.
Gorgeous Garden Markers
Clearly identify where you’ve planted seeds in your garden and which seedlings are which with garden markers made out of rocks. Weather-resistant and brightly coloured, these helpful rock markers will add a bit of fun to your veggie garden.
Cactus rocks
Want to give your kids a pet cactus, but worried that the spikes will be dangerous? Make these pet rock cacti instead – your kids will be delighted to have their very own cactus friends on their windowsill or bedside table.
Woodland animal rocks
There’s a reason why a lot of our favourite childhood storybooks featured woodland animals – they’re so adorable! Paint woodland animals onto rocks with your kids and encourage them to make some stories of their own.
Tattoos on rocks
Beautify the rocks in your garden using temporary tattoos!
Grass nature crafts for kids
It grows pretty much everywhere, Yep, Grass. You’ll never run out of natural craft materials!
Grass hearts
These grass hearts are so simple yet so beautiful, a lovely craft activity for you and your kids to enjoy together outside.
Grass pompoms
These spiky grass pom poms are completely adorable and easy to make. They look great as decorations for parties or around the house/garden.
Eggy grass heads
Get into some Easter craft with your kids by making these cute grass heads out of eggshells – your kids will love the finished result!
Grass head animals
In this activity, you can make a soil-stuffed animal that grows grass out of its head-like hair. How cool! Kids adore stuffed animals, and they are sure to enjoy these animal grass heads.
Shell Crafts
Shells are one of nature’s most incredible creations. They are intricate, delicate, and structurally fascinating, perfect for use in craft activities.
Playdough and shell creatures
Shells should never be collected if they still have living creatures inside… but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your own creatures! Your kids can make sea snails out of playdough and add real shells to create their very own sea critters.
Tropic fish shells
Make little fish out of the shells you find on the beach. All you need is the shells, some tropical coloured paint, and googly eyes!
Shell puppets
In this craft activity, your kids can turn their shell collection into adorable puppets that they can interact and play with.
Seashell wreath
Use shells to create a beautiful keepsake wreath. Your kids can have fun collecting a variety of shells to put into this lovely decoration.
Shell and clay hearts
If your kids collect shells on your next beach trip, consider preserving them in a stunning clay heart decoration. All you need are cookie cutters and clay – just add the shells!
Crystal shells
Explore some cool science with your kids and make these stunning borax crystal-coated shells overnight.
Doodle shells
Allow your kids to hone their drawing skills and have fun doodling on rocks with sharpies. Decorative rocks can be used to add colour to pot plants and windowsills.
Melted crayon shells
Heating crayons can make a paint-like material that is fun to work with. If your kids are old enough to be cautious around heat, they will be able to safely enjoy this activity and create some beautifully coloured shells.
Sand Nature Crafts for Kids
Sandpits are lots of fun, but that’s not the only use for it! There are so many ways to utilize sand in your craft activities. Here are some of my favourites:
Colored sand play
Brighten up the sandbox with coloured sand play. This recipe is simple and affordable – no need to fork out lots of money on coloured sand in store.
Painting with sand
Set up an outdoor sand play space and encourage your kids to try ‘painting’ with coloured sand. This activity can be reset many times, and kids will be delighted by the tactile nature of sand.
Sandcastle craft
Sand adds a cool 3D effect to art activities. With sand, glue, and a colouring-in page, your kids can colour in the lines using normal or coloured sand.
Sand molds
Use sand to create molds and fill them with plaster-of-Paris. This activity is a simple and affordable way to create paintable molds of anything your child can think of.
Sand beads
Sand is so versatile that it can even be used to make beaded jewelry! Have a craft day with your kids and create these beautiful beads out of sand, glue, and paint.
Bean and Seed Nature Crafts
Not only are beans and seeds super tasty, but they also make great natural craft materials. Read on to see how you and your kids can use them in your next craft activity.
Bean animal art
Use beans as mosaics and create tactile 3D paintings. These are super satisfying to make; your kids can create a picture of their favourite movie character, animal, or anything they’d like.
Wildflower Seed bombs
Teach your kids about giving back to the earth with these wildflower seed bombs. They can be given as gifts or used in your own backyard.
Seed paper
Mix seeds with old recycled paper to create textured, decorative paper that you can use in art activities or gift to others.
Acorn people
Collect some acorns with your kids and show them how to create adorable little acorn people. These make wonderful decorations!
Cardboard bird feeders
Got used up toilet rolls lying around? Put them to great use with this simple bird feeder. Coat the outside of a cardboard toilet roll in seeds and watch as birds flock to your garden.
Pinecone nature crafts for kids
Pinecones are so cute! They are the perfect natural material for making craft, and there’s so much you can do with them. Collect a bag of pinecones with your kids and get creative.
Pinecone firefly
If you have smaller pinecones leftover that no one wants to use, consider making these pinecone fireflies. Baby pinecones are the perfect size for these DIY critters.
Pinecone spiders
Next time Halloween rolls around, consider making these creepy-crawly pinecone spiders with your kids. They will love making these out of pipe cleaners and googly eyes… though the finished product is more cute than spooky!
Pinecone hedgehogs
Pinecones are super spiky, so of course, you should make little hedgehogs with them. Your children can have their very own spiky friends to sit on their windowsill or bedside table.
Pinecone fairies
Make these special fairy gifts with your kids using pinecones, paint, and felt.
Pinecone lamb
The spiky exterior of pinecones means that materials like felt can be easily stuck to the outside. Wrap pinecones in pulled felt and create these adorable sheep with your kids.
Pinecone flowers
If you look down from the top of a pinecone, the spikes almost look like petals. Get painting with your kids and make a bouquet of pinecone flowers. You won’t need to worry about keeping them watered!
Pinecone wreath
There’s something so festive about pinecones. Paint them to make a vibrant and colourful hanging wreath.
Ombre pinecones
Why purchase decorations for around the home when you can easily make them out of natural materials? These ombre pinecones would make an absolutely stunning centerpiece, and they are so easy to create.
Pinecone foxes
There are so many things you can create with felt and pinecones, like these cute foxes. Encourage your kids to get imaginative and see what other animals they might be able to make.
Pinecone pineapples
When leaves are added to the top, pinecones look (and feel) just like a prickly pineapple! Have fun making these summery decorations with your kids.
Yarn pinecones
Colourful holiday decorations are as simple as wrapping some yarn around pinecones! Try out this craft activity with your kids these holidays.
Clay and Mud Nature Crafts for kids
Now for the messy crafts. It’s true – working with clay and mud often requires a bit of clean-up afterward, but it’s all worthwhile when you see the smiles of delight on your kids’ faces!
Handprint keepsake
Make a memento of your child’s tiny hands to look back on and compare as they get older. All you need is some clay and natural decorations to make a beautiful keepsake.
Mud ice creams
With this activity, your kids will have loads of fun setting up a mud ice creamery outside. Get creative with toppings – use flowers and leaves (but remember not to eat them!)
Mud collage
Simply mix some mud, collects some natural materials around your garden and start creating!
Clay nature hearts
Make simple Valentine’s Day gifts with your kids using clay and flowers.
Salt free dough portraits
This is a great activity for a creative stroll in the woods. Bring along some playdough and encourage your kids to make faces on the bark of trees using the dough and whatever natural materials they can find.
Mixed media nature crafts for kids
These crafts don’t necessarily fit into a category, but they are all super fun and nature-focused. Keep this list on hand for your next craft day.
Birds nest
If you want to teach your kids about birds and spark their interest in animals, making a bird nest is a great way to do so. Observe the birds making nests in your backyard, then make beautiful nests of your own.
Nature crowns
Create beautiful, natural dress-ups for your kids using leaves, flowers, vines, and ferns. They will be delighted to wear these crowns while playing in the yard.
Nature mermaids
Your kids can dress up their very own mermaid with these lovely printables. Simply add leaves, flowers, and any other natural materials.
Earth Moss Ball
Celebrate Earth Day every day with these mini earth moss balls. All you need is yarn, moss, and water!
Nature princesses
Are your kids Disney fans? If so, they’ll love dressing their favourite Disney princesses up in colourful flowers and leaves. Download these printables if you need a quick and easy craft activity on the go.
Nature Paint brushes
Materials like pine needles, grass, ferns, and stalks make excellent natural paintbrushes. Make some of these brushes next time your kids feel like painting – they’re super simple to put together.
Nature silhouettes with paper plates
Help your kids to focus on nature’s colours and textures with these paper plate stencils.
Pokémon nature crafts
If your child is obsessed with Pokémon, get into these Pokémon nature crafts and make the characters out of natural materials.
Marble nature
Have you ever done marbling? Marbling creates beautiful and unique designs on paper. Use sticks, leaves and feathers to paint marbled designs onto nature!
Nature head
Collect some flowers and leaves from around the garden with your kids, then spend some time dressing up these cute printable faces!
Nature bunny mask
Looking for some Easter-themed craft activities? Try out this simple nature bunny mask – your kids will love dressing up and hopping around in these.
Nature masks
Let your kids become superheroes with these masks decorated by nature.
Nature fairy houses
Make these adorable nature fairy houses with your kids and add them to your garden for a magical touch.
Nature and playdough
Playdough is such a fun and versatile medium; add some sticks, flowers and leaves, and you’ve got a simple nature craft activity. Your kids will love using their imagination to make things out of playdough and nature.
Nature boats
Get the whole family outside by making nature boats. Not only are they simple to make, only a few materials are needed, and you can have fun racing them down a creek (or floating them in the bathtub!)
Now that you’ve got a full list of 101+ nature crafts for kids, and the whole family to enjoy, it’s time to get creative! Make your next craft day all about nature. Even if you find yourself doing a craft activity that isn’t on this list, challenge yourself to find some way of incorporating nature into it. Natural materials really are so beautiful and so versatile – adding them into your arts and crafts is easier than you might think!
If your kids do any of the crafts I’ve mentioned here and you want to share the results, be sure to tag me in the photos – I’d love to see how they turn out!
Yours in nature,
Penny x
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