On a recent trip to one of Britain's finest arboretums, I took our trusty craft bag with us for when I would be presented with the obligatory sticks. The place was full of wonderful vistas and so I suggested to The Boy that he collect me four sticks of equal length and a variety of interesting treasure to decorate our finished product.
How To Make A Picture Frame
You'll need:
- 4 sticks of equal length, or 2 pairs of sticks of equal length
- natural string
- collection of leaves, conkers and pine cones to decorate the frame
- Swiss army knife
Encourage children to only choose twigs and natural 'treasures' found on the floor, creating a respect for the natural world.
- Lay the four sticks for the frame on top of each other to create a square. Carefully wind a length of string around each of the joins, overlapping and winding from one corner to the other. This will hold them in place.
- Complete for each corner, winding any extra string along the sides which will help create somewhere to secure the 'treasures'.
- Tie a selection of pine cones to the frame and thread leaves and flowers through the string.
- To attach conkers, I pierced a hole through the fruit to thread jewellery wire through and wind it onto the frame.
- Tie some string from two corners to create a loop to hang it from a tree in your garden at home!
- This activity is great for:
- fine motor skills and hand-eye co-ordination; winding the string around the sticks.
- design skills; how can we join the sticks together? Can we find items to make it look attractive?
- communication; questioning and discussion.
- self-esteem; achievement!
- having FUN!
'Create some wild art' is #18 on the National Trust's list of 50 Things To Do Before You're 11&¾
I REALLY like that! Will have to have a think of what I could do with these! (you know, aside from photos ^_^)
Love how it is a frame for nature! *runs off to pin to Early Years ideas board* 😉
So simple, but really effective. My boys are always playing with sticks and leaves. We'll have to give this a try.
What a really lovely activity, simple but yet really beautiful.
Another great outdoor crafting activity to add to my list. Your frames look really effective!
What a great idea, just brilliant. POD is younger than The Boy but she'd love to make these. Are you running a 50 things linky? We're in Surrey and joined the NT recently, love their properties 🙂
An amazing creation. We made a natural picture frame for mothers day but it wasn't as good as this
What a lovely piece of craft work!
That looks like great fun, we have a big stick collector here #countrykids
Lovely idea, will have to give it a go, especially to tick that off the list for the NT 50 things! Not got that one yet. #CountryKids
I love this – I have a huge pile of sticks at my front door now I have a use for them x
wow thats lovely 🙂 x
Piling through the 50 things list. This reminds me of our organic raft building. Lovely ideas and perfect for all Country Kids.
Love the frame! We collected a lot of jasper rocks on our recent diamond hunting trip. I am planning on having my son use them to decorate a picture frame. We may use your idea instead of buying a frame at a craft store. Thanks for sharing.
I think this is a great – wild art craft idea and we are going to give it a go for sure 🙂
Thanks for sharing x
Laura
So easy and very nice too. We still get lots of sticks, but he is getting better about leaving them behind. Our green waste bin used to be full of sticks.
it does make me smile to see you with your magic craft bag, but it is such a good idea and very handy to ahvr when out and about.
the frame looks fantastic – so neat and tidy. Mine would not be so neat lol x
How clever, what a wonderful idea
That' so cool x
We haven't made stick frame in ages.Something for next we're out I think.Popping over from Country Kids.
Me and Chloe love nature crafts, we will have to try this one x