Nature Craft – Sticky, Easy, Framed Nature Collages
We are spring wildflower crazy around here these days. With the weather warming up and blossoms starting to bloom, afternoons are spent in the garden, wandering through our neighborhood park and returning home with pockets full of cool things we collected along the way.
The problem with pockets full of anything is that, really, once you get home there’s no place for anything to go and all of those great little treasures end up – well – in the trash can (gasp).
So, I’ve been on hunt for a fun nature craft project that is all about turning these spring walk discoveries into keepsakes. Then I found Leslie Kauffman’s cool DIY Preschool blog (she now maintains DIY Kindergarten) where she had an inspiring idea to make sticky, framed nature collages that kiddos can take with them out into nature and decorate with gems found on the daily walk.
These are SO GREAT for kids who love collecting. They are SUPER easy to make, really easy to use and perfect for hanging on the wall when you are all finished.
Here’s what you need:
- Leftover cardboard (thick stuff like pizza boxes work great),
- Contact paper, and
- Scissors.
Directions:
1. Measure out two pieces of Contact Paper that your tiny person will be able to manage carrying around.
2. Cut strips of cardboard that will be solid from one end of the Contact Paper to the other.
3. Peel the back off of one sheet of Contact Paper and then press the cardboard around the edges to make a frame.
4. Get ready for a walk and head outside with your collage background.
5. Do lots of collecting and stick the cool things you find to the Contact Paper.
6. Head home and spread out your collage on a flat surface.
7. Take that second piece of Contact Paper, peel the back off and lay it over the top of the collage to keep everything in place.
There you have it – a great spring kids craft project that gets everyone outside, moves everyone into nature discovery mode and makes a pretty picture that’s perfect for the wall when you are all finished.
Have a great Tuesday!
Category: ARTS & LITERACY, Crafts, Nature's Classroom
About the Author (Author Profile)
Robin Rivers is Our Big Earth’s Publisher and Sr. Partner. Able to survive on coffee alone. Often can be found leaping tall buildings with the help of great friends. Predisposed to odd hats and the color orange. In love with imagination, her kids and that crazy guy who married her.Subscribe
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- Craft Tutorials - Spring Crafts for KIds | Our Big Earth | March 22, 2011
I saw this project too and loved the idea of having the art work finished by the time you get back home.
We’ll be trying it at school soon.
Love this!!! As a very “uncrafty” (is that a word??) mom, this is right up my alley! The little ones will love it too and I won’t have to carry all the treasures back in my pockets!
My plan (should we finally find a house to buy) is for each kid to plant their own small garden with whatever vegetables or flowers they want. This would be an excellent way to showcase their work. Thanks Robin.
Love this craft idea! I wanted to do a nature craft with my girl scouts that didn’t require dried flowers and leaves. I plan to use the new tie-dyed duck tape to go over the card board to give these a nice border. Can’t wait to see what they will look like!