Nine Seasonal Craft Projects

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Collect pine cones on an autumn walk in the woods, then cosy up round the stove to make these tasty treats for the birds in your garden. Bird tables and garden feeders can be a vital source of sustenance for birds throughout the winter, and this high-fat snack is fun to make with your little ones who will love learning about the different birds who come to feast! Melt a little lard in a saucepan, and remove from the heat before stirring in some wild bird seed mix. Attach some sturdy cotton to an open pine cone, and carefully dip into the cone into the pan, taking care as the mixture will be very hot, and lay them to rest on a baking sheet or waxed paper. When the cones are dry and hardened, hang them in a tree or from your bird table then get your binoculars ready to spot who comes to have a snack!

Leaf Garlands

A long piece of yarn and a plastic safety needle are all that is needed to make beautiful leaf garlands to decorate the trees and fences around your garden, and provide a welcome shelter for hibernating bugs to hide until the spring. Simply tie a knot in one end of the yarn, and thread the needle to the other, then push the needle up and through the centre of large, bright coloured autumn leaves. When your garland is fished, remove the needle, and tie it across a fence, wall, or tree in your garden. Make sure it will not be a hazard to visiting birds and mammals, and be sure to remove it in spring by which time the leaves will have begun to rot away, and any resident creepy crawlies will have moved on.

Conker Painting

Conker fights have always been a fun, traditional part of autumn, but there are lots of other fun things you can do with conkers. Line a deep tray (such as a baking tray) with plain paper and squirt in a few blogs of poster paint in different colours. Add a few conkers, and let children roll them back and forth through the paint by tilting the tray this way and that. The resulting marbled patterns are so beautiful that the paper can easily be used afterwards to make greetings cards, or even eco wrapping paper! Using a non-toxic paint will make sure that the conkers can be planted or fed to wildlife afterwards.

Apple Boats

It may be too chilly for a dip, but don't pack your paddling pool away just yet! Slice apples in half, and then let children design their own paper sail, which can be secured by threading a cocktail stick or skewer through the paper, and then inserting the end into the centre of the flat side of the apple. Bring in a STEM element for older ones by asking what size, position, or shape of the sail and mast makes the most stable boat.

Beautiful Hanging Leaves

It can be disappointing to kids when the lovely leaves they gathered on their nature walk turn brown and crumble away. Why not preserve them and display them indoors as an autumn focal-point instead? Dry the leaves out on newspaper for 24 hours after collecting. Choose the brightest colours for best results. Use a double boiler (or a heat proof bowl over a pan of boiling water) to gently melt 2-3 oz of bees wax, taking care not to let it boil or burn. Remove from the heat, and carefully dip each leaf into the liquid wax, then lay it onto a sheet of wax paper. Once the leaves are cool and dry, which only takes a few minutes, they can be used in crafts, or hung suspended from decorative branches or bamboo canes to make a pretty wind chime for your child's room or play space.

Seashore Gems

A walk along a windswept seashore after an autumn storm is just like a treasure hunt! So many beautiful and interesting shells, stones, driftwood, and even wild crystals such as quartz and agate can be thrown up by the waves at high tide. It's easy to end up with mountains of beach treasure cluttering up the place, so why not put it to use by turning it into wearable eco-art? Carefully press small shells, pebbles, or smooth sea glass into a thick circle of polymer clay. Make a hole in the top of the clay to hold string for a necklace, then bake carefully in the oven following the instructions of your chosen clay. When cool, thread onto a necklace or bracelet, or glue onto a brooch, hair clip, or keyring blank. These make wonderful gifts for family and friends as well.

Mini Habitats

Give your child a jar filled with a little layer of sand or soil, and a small toy animal, and challenge them on your next nature walk to gather items that can be added to the jar to make a cosy habitat for their little friend. Dried moss, bark, twigs, pebbles, and seeds could all be added, but make sure your child is supervised, so that you can be sure they gather safely and responsibly.

Wizard Wands

Put on your wizard capes and witches hats, and get into the seasonal spooky spirit! This is the perfect way to add a little magic to your next woodland walk. Choose a stick that is a comfortable shape and size to hold as a wand, then spend time decorating it to look really magical! You could wrap it round with coloured yarn or raffia, use paint, food colouring, or eco-glitter (which is biodegradable), or attach crystals and other decorations using polymer clay for a really professional result.

Nature Print Table Cloth

Preserve all those happy memories of nature trails and autumn forays with this wonderful piece of family art that will get everyone round the table creating together—perfect for a rainy afternoon or autumn evening! Cover your dining table with several layers of protection such as newspaper or oil cloth, then spread a large plain table cloth, thick bed sheet, or any other plain material that is large enough on top. You can use shop-bought fabric paints for this, but you may prefer to make your own, using acrylic or poster paints mixed with equal parts of white PVA glue. Place the paints into wide shallow dishes, and then use items such as leaves, seeds, sliced apples, or pieces of patterned bark to dip into the paint and print onto the cloth. Once the cloth has dried a little, it can be hung on a washing line to dry completely. If you like, you can finish off by laying an old sheet over the top and hot pressing with an iron to fix the colours, and make the table cloth washable at 30 degrees.