Nature Crafts

  • Toad Cottages

    July 31, 2017 Toad Cottages

    I saw this idea in a book we checked out from the library recently, “Toad Cottages and Shooting Stars” by Sharon Lovejoy, and thought it was just the cutest! Such a simple and fun summertime craft for kids of any age! Around our house the kids are always finding little critters under rocks and flowerpots ...

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  • Color Changing Carnations

    February 24, 2017 Color Changing Carnations

    The latest experiment in Our Beautifully Messy House is one of the most colorful ones yet – Color Changing Carnations! It’s pretty simple to throw together and you will start to see results within a day! You can do this experiment with any white flowers…daisies, roses, even Queen Anne’s Lace…but carnations are cheap and abundant ...

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  • Celery-Rose Print Shirts

    February 2, 2017 Celery-Rose Print Shirts

    If you’re a frequent reader of the blog, you know how much I love printing with the girls…citrus prints, finger prints, leaf prints, cardboard tube-heart prints, and now celery prints! They’re the perfect replica of a rose flower! Like most of our printing projects, the girls and I put these on shirts today so they ...

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  • Homemade Stovetop Potpourri

    December 9, 2016 Homemade Stovetop Potpourri

    As I’m writing this our house smells like….you guessed it…Christmas!!! Stovetop potpourris seem to be the “in” thing these days, replacing seasonal candles and old school potpourri, and I am totally on board! Basically you gather a handful of ingredients, put them in a saucepan with water to simmer, and enjoy the fresh, seasonal smells ...

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  • Fall Leaf Mason Jar Lanterns

    November 17, 2016 Fall Leaf Mason Jar Lanterns

    I don’t ever seem to get enough of mason jar crafts…whether it’s a fairy house, a pumpkin lantern, or this week’s project…these festive FALL MASON JAR LANTERNS! The great thing about this project is that it’s very hard to mess the jars up and there are a few variations to try. I made these this morning with ...

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  • Mushroom Spore Prints

    October 27, 2016 Mushroom Spore Prints

    Did you ever make MUSHROOM SPORE PRINTS as a kid? They’re super-easy to make and super-beautiful! Lately the girls and I have found lots of mushrooms around the yard, at L’s school, and when out hiking in the woods! Mushroom spore prints are so mush fun to make…you’ll be out looking for mushrooms everywhere you go! When looking for mushrooms, ...

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  • Milk Carton Fairy Houses

    October 7, 2016 Milk Carton Fairy Houses

    Who knew milk cartons had so much potential??? They are perfect for making fairy houses and gnome homes! First off, a milk carton is just the right size for fairies…all it needs is a door and a few windows to make it feel like home. Milk cartons are also water-proof, providing adequate housing for both indoor and outdoor use. WB and ...

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  • Homemade Elder-Blossom Nectar

    June 15, 2016 Homemade Elder-Blossom Nectar

    Inspiration for our HOMEMADE ELDER-BLOSSOM NECTAR came from one of my favorite children books, “Linnea’s Almanac” by Christina Bjork and Lena Anderson. L rediscovered the Linnea books a couple weeks ago and has been poring over each page. In the July section of the book is a recipe for Elder-Blossom Nectar. Since I had never ...

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  • Rain Boot Wreath

    April 9, 2016 Rain Boot Wreath

    I’ve seen old rain boots up-cycled into flower planters before, so I thought, “Why not use them for a Spring wreath!?” This RAIN BOOT WREATH was so quick and easy to put together and the outcome is adorable…perfect for Spring! I could’ve gone out and bought some new boots that weren’t dirty, worn, and broken in spots, but that ...

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  • Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs (with Onion Skins & Cabbage)

    March 24, 2016 Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs (with Onion Skins & Cabbage)

    How beautiful are these Easter eggs!?! Ever since I was a kid and read about dying eggs in onion skins in a nature-craft book, I’ve wanted to try it. I couldn’t believe how easy they were to make and how bright and colorful they turned out! The orange-brownish eggs were dyed in the onion skins, ...

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