Sticks and Stones: Nature Crafts for Happy Campers

Heading outside? Leave the toys behind and take advantage of natural materials to create these fun crafts and playthings that will last long after your outdoor excursion ends.

1. Stick Wrapping

Materials: Yarn or embroidery floss, scissors, found sticks and twigs.

Tie strand of yarn or floss around stick and secure with knot. Wrap around to desired width. Knot the end around the twig. Trim close to the knot and tuck into the remaining wrapped part.

2. Flower Fairies

Materials: Paper, Crayons or paint, glue, nature finds such as flowers, ferns and leaves.

Draw a figure on a piece of paper and use your found materials to glue on wings, clothes, magic wands and fairy crowns.

3. Rock Painting

Materials: Found rocks, paint.

Wash found rocks and pebbles and paint with watercolor or acrylic to make bugs, faces, alphabet letters, handprints and more.

4. Driftwood City

Materials: Driftwood, paint, glue (optional)

(Budding architects will love this one). Using found pieces of driftwood, paint the surface and draw buildings and homes using permanent marker. Optional: glue finished buildings to smaller pieces for use as a base.

5. Nature Crown

Materials: Assorted flowers and leaves, paper, double sided tape.

Cut one 3-inch strip of paper that equals the circumference of your child's head plus 2 inches for overlap. Cut two strips of double-sided tape that equal the length of your piece and lay them on the paper. Decorate your crown with collected materials. Fit crown to head and attach with small piece of tape.

Got a craft idea or photo of your own? Send it to us at info@squamishmom.ca .