20 OF The Best Nature Crafts For Kids

Last Updated on September 9, 2025 by Audrey

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Looking for fun, creative ways to keep your kids engaged with the outdoors? Nature crafts are the perfect blend of play, learning, and creativity. By using leaves, sticks, rocks, flowers, and other simple treasures from outside, children can create art projects that spark their imagination while building a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

In this post, we’ve rounded up 20 of the best nature crafts for kids—easy, affordable, and screen-free activities that will inspire hours of hands-on fun.

1. Paper Mache Lanterns

Paper mache lanterns are a fun way for kids to explore texture while working with natural materials. These nature crafts can be decorated with pressed leaves or flower petals to let the glow shine through, making them a magical addition to an evening backyard campout or kid’s bedroom. See how we made them here!

2. Sun Catchers

Sun catchers are simple nature crafts that use flowers, leaves, and other treasures kids find outdoors. When hung in a sunny window, they create beautiful patterns of color and light that celebrate the changing seasons. You just need embroidery hoops, contact paper, and pressed flowers to get started!

3. Nature Necklaces or Keychains

Kids love making wearable art, and nature crafts like necklaces or keychains are a perfect fit. Using small wood slabs and pressed nature, children can design keepsakes that remind them of their time exploring outdoors. Check out the full tutorial here.

4. Mobiles

Mobiles are versatile nature crafts that let kids combine twigs, feathers, shells, and leaves into hanging art. These projects encourage creativity while teaching balance and design in a hands-on way. You just need hoops, string, and whatever bits of nature you can collect!

5. Pressed Flower Butterfly Wings

I love nature crafts with a purpose, and these butterfly wings can get use over and over again for as long as they last! They’re perfect for dress up, fairy parties, or a fun photo shoot! See how to make them here.

6. Nature Crowns

Nature crowns are playful and imaginative nature crafts that kids can wear. By weaving in wildflowers, leaves, and grasses, children can create their own woodland headpieces perfect for outdoor play or storytelling. Check out how we made this whimsical twig crown here.

7. Fairy Gardens

Building a fairy garden is one of the most magical nature crafts for kids. Using stones, moss, bark, and tiny handmade accessories, children can design miniature worlds that spark imagination and wonder. Here are some parts and pieces to get you started:

• faux succulents
• wood slabs
• faux flowers
• fairy house
• butterflies
• mushrooms
• woodland animal figurines
• twigs
• pebbles
• moss

8. Mud Faces

Mud faces are messy, silly nature crafts that encourage creativity right in the dirt. Kids can sculpt funny or spooky faces on trees or boards, decorating them with leaves, acorns, and twigs. Check out how to make your own here!

9. Fire Starters

Nature fire starters are practical nature crafts that use pinecones, dried evergreen, and wax to make handy camping tools. While adults should handle the hot wax, kids can help collect materials and learn how nature provides useful resources. Check out the full tutorial here.

10. Leaf Tracing or Collage

Leaf tracing and collage are timeless nature crafts that blend art and science. Kids can trace leaves to study their shapes or layer them into colorful collages, capturing the beauty of fall foliage. Head out and collect a variety of leaves (look for all different shapes, sizes, and colors!) then head home and rub over them with crayons or glue them on to make a leaf collage.

11. Nature Weaving

Nature weaving is a hands-on way for kids to practice fine motor skills while working with natural materials. These nature crafts often use a stick frame and woven grasses, flowers, or yarn to create unique patterns. See how we made ours!

12. Walking Stick

Decorating a walking stick is a classic nature craft that turns a simple hike into a creative adventure. Kids can carve patterns, wrap sticks with colorful cord, paint, or add beads and feathers to personalize their outdoor companion.

13. Nature Rainbows

We love making these over and over again, and they look uniquely different each time depending on the season and what blooms are available. Head out and try to collect petals and leaves of every color, then use double-sided tape to arrange them by color into a rainbow shape!

14. Mud Painting

It’s a universal fact that kids love mud, so why not take advantage of it? They’ll have a blast creating fun paintings using mud mixed with paint! The result is a masterpiece with unique color and texture. Make sure to do this one outside and dress in play clothes!

15. Nature Confetti

Nature confetti is a fun and eco-friendly craft where kids punch shapes out of leaves and petals. These nature crafts are perfect for decorating cards, adding to collages, or tossing in celebration (without the need to pick up afterwards!)

Collect large leaves from outside and press them in a book for a couple days. Then, use fun shaped hole punches to create your confetti! Feel free to mix in flower petals for additional color and texture. (We used rose petals and lavender.)

16. Recycled Flower Petal Paper

This is a fun (and messy) project that kids will love! Not only will they get to have fun with texture, it’s also neat to see how paper is actually made. Throw in some flower petals for a decorative touch! See the full tutorial here.

17. Baskets

Weaving baskets is one of the oldest forms of nature crafts and teaches patience and hand skills. Children can try small versions using grasses, reeds, pine needles, or grapevine. Try a basket weaving kit to get started!

18. Picture Frames

Kids can glue or tie small twigs or popsicle sticks together to make rustic frames. These frames can hold pressed flowers, leaf prints, or even their favorite outdoor photo — making this one of the most charming and giftable nature crafts.

19. Clay Ornaments with Nature Prints

Clay ornaments with nature prints are lasting keepsake nature crafts. Kids press leaves, flowers, or pine needles into clay, creating textured impressions that can be hung as ornaments year-round.

20. Pounded Flower Art

Pounded flower art is a striking nature craft where kids hammer flowers onto fabric or paper to release their natural dyes. The result is a colorful print that captures the beauty of the outdoors in a totally unique way. Find more instructions here.

Conclusion

Nature crafts are more than just a fun way to pass the time — they’re an opportunity for kids to explore the outdoors, spark creativity, and connect with the world around them. Whether it’s making a mud painting, weaving with twigs, or designing a fairy garden, these simple projects turn everyday walks and backyard adventures into memorable moments.

The best part? Most of these crafts require little more than what kids can gather outside, making them both budget-friendly and eco-conscious. Get outside today and start creating!