Natures Art Box: From T-Shirts to Twig Baskets, 65 Cool Projects for Crafty Kids to Make with Natural Materials You Can Find Anywhere

by Laura C. Martin and Laura C. Martin

Book Overview

Take your child's creativity outside Laura C. Martin offers 65 art projects that kids can make with materials found right in their backyard. There's no limit to the imaginative possibilities as children mix paints from colorful flower blossoms, dig clay for molding elf-sized furniture, and craft functional twig baskets. Cultivating a respectful engagement with nature while developing artistic skills, Nature's Art Box is an inspiring handbook for the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580174906
• ISBN13: 9781580174909
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Storey Publishing
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 8.5" x 10.8"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Lots of great ideas, may be better suited for older children

First off, I really like this book and the ideas offered. It seems though that many of the activities are more involved than I have time for or too involved for the ages of my children. There are some easy activities here though; one which we will be doing soon - the Melon Seed Necklace. I think as my children get older we will be using this book more often. This book would be a good addition to your home library if your children are 7-8+ years old.

Teaches Children to Appreciate Mother Earth

This book is awesome. I checked it out from the library on a whim and ended up loving it so much that I plan to buy it for my daughter. The beginning of the book provides basic information about the artistic gifts the earth provides for us to use, and then each chapter addresses different materials and creative projects that children can make from them. I've read some bad reviews of this book, and frankly I believe that a person who would feel that way clearly doesn't see the point in instilling in their child a relationship with nature or any sense of organic creativity, but instead tosses them plastic toys and video games and puts them in front of the television. If you want to use a natural approach to art with your children and show them the beauty and value of nature, I recommend this book.

Great kids nature craft book!

First of all, you have to remember that this is a KIDS craft book. :-) My two boys have both really enjoyed doing crafts out of this book. They are 12 and 8 yrs. A lot more in depth than other nature craft books I have seen for kids.

Wonderful Nature Crafts - Great projects

Here in the Northeast US, we're still gripped by the icy fingers of winter. Hopefully, spring will come soon. Meanwhile, I'll while away the gray days with Nature's Art Box, a sturdy and well-written hardcover book with 65 nature crafts projects for kids. This book is appropriate for parents, teachers, home-schoolers and group leaders. It's a nature crafts course for educators in a cosy, attractive book. The book is divided into several sections based on different types of natural materials: * Vines, Twigs, Cones, and Moss * Gourds, Pods, Husks, and Seeds * Clay Stones, Sand, and Shells * Paints, Inks, and Dyes * Flowers and Leaves * Stamps, Stencils, Molds and Seals The introduction and appendix are full of helpful information on gathering materials and other crafts supplies to create the projects. The projects vary in complexity - some are very simple, and others require adult supervision. Safety tips and instructions are plentiful. Here's a sampling of the 65+ projects included: * Bark and Moss House * Angel Ornament * Okra Pod Canoe and People * Sand Painting * Shell Buttons * Homemade Natural Paint * Fern Print * Dried-Flower Fairy * Leaf Rubbing Gift Wrap Right next to this book on a shelf, I picked up a nature crafts book that was lovely to look at, with elegant design and great photography. But the projects were scanty and simplistic. This book is the antidote - it is full of information, projects and ideas. You will turn to it year after year, season after season. Highly recommended.