This nature dreamcatcher craft isn’t necessarily an activity for children, teens maybe, but not little children. There’s some technique involved and it’s perfect for those with some veteran fine motor skills. What I’m trying to say is that I made this gorgeous dreamcatcher without my children. I made it on my own.
It feels odd though, mentioning that my children didn’t help me, considering my blog is about connecting children with nature. But I can craft alone, can’t I?
It’s okay to sit down quietly on your own and let your fingers manipulate natural materials. Â It’s okay for your children not to be involved every time you craft. It’s a different kind of loveliness.
As mothers we spend so much time giving ourselves to our children, but there’s simple pleasures to enjoy when nature crafting on your own. This nature craft dreamcatcher is a good place to start if you’re looking for some alone time.
What you may not realize is that crafting alone, and showing your nature creations to your kids, inspires them too!
Nature Dreamcatcher Craft Materials
- Wood slice (buy or DIY)
- Tattoos
- Moist cloth
- Leaves, feathers and other nature treasures
- Good quality glue and paint brush
- Fine string
- Screw hook
- Hot glue gun
- Drill with a drill bit smaller than the thickness of the wood slice
- Sewing pin
How to make the dream catcher
- Make sure all your natural materials are clean and dry.
- Start by adding the tattoo to the wood slice. I’d encourage you to read this article on how to add tattoos to nature before starting. There can be some technique to it.Â
- Â Once you have the tattoo on the wood slice, protect it by adding two layers of good quality clear-drying craft glue over the surface of the wood.Â
- Tie your nature treasures to some very fine string. You can add extra tattoos to the leaves to bring just a little more magic to your nature dream catcher too.Â
- Â Next, carefully drill tiny holes into the side of your wood slice. Make sure you space them evenly.
- Add a tiny bit of hot glue to a pin head. Quickly add the end of the fine string to the glue and push the pin into one of the holes you just drilled. Add all the other nature treasures to the wood slice just like this. If you need to give it a little extra support you can add more hot glue to the pin head and add more glue to where you’ve attached the string in the hole.Â
- Next, screw a hook onto the top of the wood slice and add some more string and viola — finished!
- Hang it on a window, in your car or on your bed. So pretty!
My children may not have made this glorious nature dream catcher craft with me but they were inspired by my creation, which drove them to make their very own nature dreamcatchers — a post for another day.
Yours in nature,
Penny
Thank you!