Spring is an excellent time for nature-inspired art projects for kids. This month’s “Art with Alyssa” project provides instructions to make nature pendants, which make wonderful gifts for Mother’s Day or friends and loved ones on birthdays. Kids love making impressions from natural elements, such as found flowers, leaves or twigs.
SUPPLIES
Flowers, leaves and twigs
Gardening shears
Wax paper, parchment or plastic mat
Crayola Model Magic, DAS Air-Hardening Modeling Clay or homemade salt dough
Pencil or bamboo skewer
Acrylic paint
Small paintbrush
Water cup
Optional: Spray sealant such as Krylon Crystal Clear Acrylic
DIRECTIONS
- Gather natural elements such as small flowers, leaves and twigs from the ground or cut them in your own garden.
- Cover workspace with an opened large paper bag or plastic cloth and use a piece of wax paper, parchment or plastic mat under clay.
- Pinch off a piece of clay about the size of a walnut. Roll into a ball and flatten into a disk. Note: Make sure the clay you’re not working with is covered so it doesn’t dry in the meantime.
- Poke a hole in the top big enough for string or ribbon. No hole is necessary if you don’t want to make a necklace.
- Arrange flowers, leaves or twigs onto clay as desired. Note: When pressing leaves, be sure the thick veins are face down in the clay. Press item firmly into clay to create imprint.
- Allow pendant to dry and harden.
- Paint impressions with bright colors or leave the pendant natural.
- Once paint is dry, spray with acrylic coating to seal and protect.
- Add string or ribbon to create a necklace.
Alyssa Navapanich is an award-winning art educator who teaches art to elementary school kids in East San Diego County. Find dozens of her awesome projects by putting Art with Alyssa in our search bar.
