Get Crafty with Nature

We love to get outside in the nice weather. Spending time in the woods or near water makes me feel so connected to nature. Every nature walk or beach trip I can’t help but pick up bits of nature that I find interesting. Rocks, shells, moss, acorns, etc. They all wind up in my pockets and then at my house. I can’t bear to part with them, but they also look silly sitting in piles everywhere. I finally got the bright idea to use them to make craft projects!

Birch Bark House

I love how flexible yet strong birch bark is. I’m always picking up pieces of it that the trees have shed (especially when I’m out hunting for Chaga). I decided to make a house using the birch bark and some other treasures from nature. To start, I formed the birch into a house, similar to how you would with a deck of cards to make a card house. Then I used hot glue to hold it together. I used sheets of bark from hardwood trees to make the roof and then used my acorn and moss bits to create a lawn, a chimney, and other features. Super cute! And now I have a place for my clay fairies to live. Check out or blog post about fairy houses!

Jewelry

As you may have guessed, I love keeping nature with me all the time. As I was looking at the acorn tops and other bits, I thought I might be able to make a neat necklace or bracelet. I started by soaking the acorn tops in water so they wouldn’t crack. Then I drilled a hole through the center using the smallest drill bit I have. Voila! Acorn top beads! I strung these alternating with wire wrapped stones and beads to create a unique necklace. And I had enough left over to make a bracelet too. I love having something from nature to wear when I can’t be outside.

Do you collect bits of nature too? What do you do with them to preserve and display them?