Nature Crafts for Kids - Sticks

 

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 

Sticks. My grandson, who loves sticks and has kept a special collection on the family’s patio, is very imaginative with his twigs as long as it involves swordplay (“schwords”) or knives. And the occasional dinosaur.

For the rest of us, sticks can be non-lethal sources of creativity. 

Once you have gathered your sticks, prepare them for craft use by trimming with clippers (or a saw if they are very large). Bringing outdoor flora inside always includes the risk of bugs or dirt riding along, so prune your sticks to manageable size, then soak in a pan or sink of warm water with a splash of vinegar to take care of the bugs and remove any dirt or debris. 

They can be left on paper towels to air dry. It is safe to dry sticks in a very low oven (200-degrees) for 30 minutes to speed the process. 

Further preparation depends on the project. You may want to strip off bark, or even sand and paint or stain your sticks.

For some ideas on making stick toys, check here.

This twig-boat is cute, too.

Stick Wall Art

We’ve been collecting old picture frames from Goodwill to make low cost stick wall hangings. Remove the backing and glass from the frame, if included. If you wish, spray paint the frame your color of choice.

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay 

Cut the sticks the same length as the frame plus a couple inches longer. Leave the sticks natural, or spray paint them to coordinate with the frame. Place the sticks on the “wrong” side of the frame and fasten in place.

Our fastener of choice is glue, and hot glue works well on this project, but children will need adult supervision for this part. Another alternative is to use a staple gun to fasten the sticks to the back of the frame. Kids need supervision with this as well.

Start of hemp twine macrame on stick

Once the sticks are secure the wall hanging is complete – no glass or backing required.

Macramé Wall Hanging

I love macramé, and the basic knots are not hard to learn. With macramé cord, or smooth twine, create a simple wall hanging from an interesting stick. See our work-in-progress at right.

For a tutorial on a basic knot technique with a stick, watch this video.

Best wishes with your creative efforts!

Margaret