Natural materials

Crafts from natural materials

Autumn leaves, cones, dry twigs and smooth pebbles are among the most accessible craft materials there are. You do not have to hunt for them in shops, and the walk to gather them becomes part of the activity. Below you will find what you can bring home and what is best left where it is, how to prepare your finds for crafting and which simple things even very young children can make from them.

The best nature craft begins with an attentive walk. A child who picked every leaf for the collection themselves will remember that evening longer than any shop-bought toy.

— Editor's thought

Where this address came from

Archived address · now a reference page

This address used to hold an entry from someone else's personal diary. It has not survived and has no connection with our guide; we do not restore it.

It is now a reference page on crafts from natural materials, written from scratch for beginners and for activities with children.

What to collect

Fallen leaves of different shapes and colours — pick them up from the ground rather than tearing them off branches.
Cones, acorns, nutshells and seeds that have already fallen.
Dry twigs and pieces of bark lying on the ground.
Smooth pebbles and sand where collecting them is not prohibited.
Do not pick protected or rare plants, and do not dig up flowers.
Do not catch insects or use them for crafts.
Do not collect anything in nature reserves or other protected areas.

How to dry and store

Leaves for a pressed collection are laid between sheets of paper and put under a press — a stack of heavy books will do. In one to two weeks they will be dry and flat. Change the paper from time to time if it gets damp.

Inspect cones and twigs first, shake off any debris and leave them to dry somewhere dry and well ventilated. Finished materials are easy to store in labelled cardboard boxes; damp finds can go mouldy in sealed bags.

Simple crafts

A pressed-leaf album with labels noting where and when each leaf was found.
A photo frame covered with small cones, seeds and bits of bark.
A mobile made from a twig with cones and dry leaves hanging from it on threads.
A card decorated with a collage of pressed leaves.
A pebble arrangement on a cardboard base.

What this text is based on

Beginner guides to crafts from natural materials (general principles)
Instructions for craft glues and tools (general principles)

Threads, yarn, glue and paints vary noticeably from one manufacturer to another, so the label and instructions for the specific material or tool always have the final say. This guide describes general techniques and is no substitute for a hands-on lesson with an experienced maker.