25+ Nature Crafts for Fall

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Get ready to head outdoors with your kids to gather supplies to create some fun nature crafts for fall! 

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25+ Nature Crafts for Fall

Acorn Crafts

Crafty PSA: BAKE any acorns or other nuts before using them in crafts. (Soak them in some water to get the dirt off and bake at 200º-250ºF for an hour.)

Trust me, I learned the hard way, there are often things hibernating inside them, and you don’t want them to warm up and hatch inside your house. It is quite a nasty surprise when one suddenly finds little creepy crawlies squiggling about on the dining room table.

  1. Acorn Mouse – You might not mind these little mice being found around your house – they’re kinda cute!
  2. Acorn Photo Frame – Snap a picture of your kiddos out collecting acorns to feature inside your new photo frame!
  3. Marble Acorn Necklaces – A super cute way to make wearable art! 
  4. Acorn Wreath – Rather than that picture-perfect wreath hanging on your front door, let your kiddos create one of their own!
  5. Acorn Cap Jewels – This is a fun craft and a science experiment in one! – Idea from Kiwi Crate
  6. Squirrel Acorn Craft – This is an easy and adorable kids’ craft from Mama Instincts.
  7. Acorn Gnomes – These are ADORABLE. – Idea from Icybooh on Flickr
  8. Acorn Candle Holders – So simple, and they would look lovely as autumn décor! 
  9. Whimsical Acorn Bells – Kids will have fun making their own musical art with this craft!

Leaf Crafts

There is a great post from Buggy and Buddy about preserving leaves using two methods: glycerin, and wax paper. I will have to try the glycerin. Wax paper, which is what I remember doing as a kid, did not work particularly well.

  1. Fall Leaf Spray Painting – Don’t worry, your little ones won’t be using real spray paint for this craft!
  2. DIY Leaf Luminaries – Psst…glue required! 
  3. Colored Salt Dough Leaf Impressions – The veinier the leaves – the better for this craft! 
  4. Leaf Rubbings – Okay, this is my little plug for autumn nature study. I love to do leaf rubbings and have since I was a child. Not only do they make lovely window décor, but you can see the details of a leaf in the rubbing that can be difficult to see sometimes. This post has pictures of their lovely leaf rubbings, as well as book recommendations. – Idea from Edventures
  5. Fall Leaf Crowns – Let your princes, kings, princesses and queens have fun creating their own colorful fall crowns!
  6. Leaf Pinwheels – How pretty these will be with the many colors of fall!
  7. Pressed Leaf Bookmarks – Your bookworms will have fun creating their own bookmarks.
  8. Suncatcher Wind Chimes – Autumn leaves look so pretty in the sunshine, don’t they? I love this idea that uses canning rings. Take some of your leaf pile, and make a lovely suncatcher to hang in your window, or on your porch. – Idea from Hands On As We Grow
  9. Autumn Leaf Magnets – These would be so pretty on your refrigerator (or other magnetic surfaces)! Idea from Filth Wizardry

Pine Cone Crafts

Note: You should bake pine cones as you would acorns, in the oven at 200º-250ºF for an hour (I’d recommend putting them on baking sheets lined with foil to catch any pitch). Don’t wash them, though. Pine cones close up when they are wet.

  1. Splatter Painted Pine Cones – There’s no right or wrong way to create these works of art!
  2. Pine Cone Turkeys – Perfect decor for your Thanksgiving dinner table!
  3. Pine Cone Spiders – Cuter than the real creepy crawlies that come out of nowhere.
  4. Pumpkin Pine Cone – What says fall more than a pumpkin?
  5. Pine Cone Bird Feeders – This is a craft and a nature study activity all in one! Hang them in your yard and watch the birds come in for a feast.
  6. Butterfly Pine Cone Puppets – What kind of story will your little ones tell with their fall butterfly puppets?
  7. Pine Cone Fairy – This has no practical use whatsoever, but I couldn’t resist sharing this pine cone fairy forest. – Red Ted Art
  8. Farm Animal Pine Cones – You may not be able to have a farm of your own, but this craft will allow your kids to have farm animals inside!
  9. Pine Cone Snowy Owls – Okay, just one last pine cone craft, because who doesn’t love snowy owls? – Idea from Art Experiences for Tots

I hope you feel inspired to try some fun fall crafting with your kiddos!

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