Fall is full of so much wonder and joy! It’s full of new adventures, explorations, sights, smells, colors, and sounds. So why not add a little magic to that wonder and curiosity with a creative craft centered around outdoor nature finds? These magic pipe cleaner stick wands have been quite the hit with my kids and will surely bring a little color and sparkle to your pipe cleaner crafting fun!
RELATED: This simple activity is a sneaky way to build fine motor strength as your child twists and wraps the pipe cleaners.
Make crafts out of nature!
Creating art out of things found in nature brings creativity to a whole new level. There’s something about combining a little exploration of seeking and finding your own craft materials that make an arts and crafts project that much more special. (Not to mention a terrific way to spend the days.)
So many things in nature can bring a whole new understanding to your child’s senses, awareness, and general appreciation for our beautiful world!
We always bring a bucket on our hikes to collect fun little finds. Some of our favorite nature items to create and play with are:
Many kids love to explore, collect, and dig all day long. And although the muddy footsteps can be pesky to clean up, they are so worth the joys of childhood. So the next time your kids go on a stick-collecting adventure, pull out the craft bin and start creating beautifully colorful magic nature stick wands that your kids will love all summer long.
How does this connect to learning?
Giving your child permission to create art using nature is more than just a fun activity. The gift of using the imagination and building confidence in independent play offers many benefits to learning. These magic nature stick wands are the perfect way to let kids create with their nature hunt findings!
- Builds on natural curiosities
- Color-awareness
- Decision-making
- Fine motor development
- Pretend play
- Problem-solving
- Sensory awareness
- Shape recognition
RELATED: Showcasing those unique pieces of precious artwork is important. Check out all of our tips for why and how to store artwork.
What happened as we did this craft activity?
When I first told my kids to go outside to find the best sticks they could find, they were halfway out the door before I finished explaining what we would be doing with them. My kids never turn down the idea of a scavenger hunt.
While they were busy exploring and searching for their sticks, I set out a few fun and colorful art supplies. When they returned with a bucket of sticks, they got busy creating, twisting, and threading their magic nature stick wands.
At first, I needed to assist in showing them how to twist, roll, wrap, and bead around the sticks.
We worked together and found ways that worked most efficiently and simply for them. But after a little practice together, they were off on their own, creating and decorating. And before we knew it, our bucket of sticks magically turned into a bucket of magic nature stick wands.
RELATED: Want to introduce nature to your child without the mess? Check out these awesome leaf sort and sensory bottles!
Supply List
Pipe cleaner stick wands are colorful, vibrant, and always unique. But making these one-of-a-kind magic nature stick wands is easier than you think. With a few nature-found sticks and art supplies you already have, your child will create and make up spells with their magic nature stick wands in no time!
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Grab your sticks and some items below to jazz up your pipe cleaner stick wands. Feathers, leaves, flowers (for the ends) also make magical toppers to the wands with a fun and whimsical item.
Pony Bead Kit
Pony beads work well and can be a bit tricky for tiny hands at first, but with a little practice, they can really help to strengthen fine motor skills.
Pipe Cleaners
Pipe cleaners, string (for wrapping) – teach your child how to twist, roll, and wrap around the stick for practice with fine motor development.
Set up pipe cleaner stick wand craft
Let’s set up this easy craft! Pile up the sticks, pull out a few crafty supplies from your art cart, and get cozy with this craft that will keep your child busy with creativity and ready for some magical imagination!
- Invite your child on a mini adventure outside to collect the perfect nature stick (and any other nature items they want to incorporate, i.e., flowers or leaves for the ends)
- Set out fun and colorful art supplies (pipe cleaners, beads, sequins).
- Start wrapping, rolling, and beading using any colors and patterns.
- Top the magic nature stick wand off with a fun topper for a finishing touch.
- Abracadabra, the wand is ready to play with!
Magic nature stick wands will spark the imagination!
Whether your child is wizard or fairy-obsessed, these magic nature stick wands are a simple and fun arts and crafts activity that keeps your kids engaged and entertained! These one-of-a-kind whimsical wands are the perfect craft to do outside after a nature hike or trip to the park. Happy hiking, crafting, and wand-making!
RELATED: Have a five or six-year-old? Check out these Kindergarten activities.
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FAQS
You can make many different types of arts and crafts and kid-friendly activities out of nature. Magic nature stick wands are a simple and fun craft that will leave your kids playing independently once they are done!
Combining things found in nature with art supplies that you already have at home makes for beautiful one-of-a-kind art projects. Looking and finding unique pieces of nature (sticks, leaves, flowers, etc.) will widen the scope of ideas that can be glued, taped or painted to one another.
Creating nature crafts offers so many benefits to kids. Using the organic curves and parts of nature to work with, nature crafts will enhance creativity and the imagination.
