Top 15 'Backyard-Foraged' Craft Supplies to Explore with Kids for a Zero-Cost Art Afternoon
There’s a special kind of magic that happens when a child’s imagination meets the great outdoors. I remember spending entire afternoons creating elaborate, leafy kingdoms in my backyard, where a smooth stone was a king’s throne and a fallen twig was a knight’s sword. In a world filled with curated craft kits and endless screen time, we sometimes forget that the most incredible art supplies don’t come in a box—they’re scattered right outside our doors, completely free of charge.
This isn't just about saving money; it's about reconnecting. It’s about teaching our kids to see the world with an artist’s eye, to notice the intricate veins on a leaf, the smooth texture of a river rock, or the vibrant color of a fallen petal. It’s a sensory experience that grounds them in the natural world, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and a deep appreciation for the environment. An afternoon of "backyard foraging" is more than just an art session; it's an adventure waiting to unfold.
So, let's trade the glitter and glue sticks (just for today!) for the treasures hidden in plain sight. Here are 15 of my favorite foraged craft supplies that will transform your backyard into the most inspiring, zero-cost art studio you’ve ever had.
1. Fallen Leaves
The humble leaf is the undisputed champion of nature crafts. Available in a breathtaking array of shapes, sizes, and colors—from the fiery reds of autumn maples to the deep greens of summer oaks—leaves are incredibly versatile. They are nature’s own paper, confetti, and collage material all rolled into one. The simple act of searching for the "perfect" leaf can be a mindful activity in itself.
Encourage your kids to notice the differences. Is it smooth or bumpy? Does it have a pointed tip or rounded edges? For a classic activity, create leaf rubbings by placing a leaf under a thin piece of paper and rubbing the side of a crayon over it to reveal its delicate veins. You can also make whimsical animal collages—a large, round leaf for a body, smaller ones for ears, and tiny leaves for eyes. For a longer-lasting project, press leaves between the pages of a heavy book for a week or two, then use them to decorate cards, bookmarks, or suncatchers.
Pro-Tip: For vibrant leaf prints, paint one side of a fresh leaf with acrylic paint and press it firmly onto paper. The result is a beautiful, detailed stamp of nature’s own design.
2. Sticks & Twigs
Sticks are the fundamental building blocks of the natural world, and they should be a staple in your outdoor art kit. They are the skeletons for sculptures, the frames for masterpieces, and the wands for magical spells. Their raw, rustic texture adds an element of wildness to any creation. Look for a variety of thicknesses and lengths to maximize their potential.
A handful of sticks can be tied together with yarn or twine to create a rustic picture frame for another piece of nature art. Challenge older kids to build miniature log cabins, teepees, or complex geometric sculptures. Younger children will love creating their own magic wands by wrapping a special "handle" stick with colorful yarn and attaching ribbons or feathers. You can also create a "journey stick" by collecting small, interesting items on a walk and tying them to a single stick as a memento of your adventure.
3. Rocks & Pebbles
There is something deeply satisfying about the weight and smoothness of a good rock. Pebbles are nature’s canvases, just waiting for a splash of color. Collecting them is half the fun—sorting them by size, shape, and color is a fantastic early math activity. Before you start, give your collected rocks a good wash with soap and water and let them dry completely.
Painted rocks are a classic for a reason. You can create "story stones" by painting different characters, objects, and settings on individual rocks, then use them to tell collaborative, ever-changing stories. Another wonderful trend is creating "kindness rocks"—paint a cheerful picture or an uplifting message on a stone and leave it in a park for a stranger to find. For a simpler activity, use paint pens or permanent markers to draw intricate patterns, mandalas, or funny faces. You can even create a permanent tic-tac-toe board on a large flat stone, using smaller painted pebbles as the X's and O's.
4. Acorns & Nuts
These tiny treasures, often found scattered beneath oak and hickory trees, are the perfect material for small-scale creations. The combination of the smooth nut and the rough, textured cap makes acorns particularly charming. They feel like little gifts from the forest, perfect for tiny hands to collect and count.
Acorn caps make wonderful hats for tiny dolls or gnomes made from twigs. You can paint the nuts bright colors and place them in a bowl for a seasonal decoration, or use a hot glue gun (with adult supervision) to create adorable little creatures by adding googly eyes and felt limbs. A single acorn cap can become a miniature teacup in a fairy's tea set, while a collection of them can be strung together to make a rustic garland or necklace.
Safety Note: Before crafting, it's a good idea to bake your acorns on a baking sheet at a low temperature (around 175°F / 80°C) for an hour or two to ensure any tiny critters have vacated the premises.
5. Pinecones
With their fascinating fractal patterns and woody texture, pinecones are a three-dimensional wonder. They can be painted, deconstructed, or used whole to create an endless variety of crafts. They are sturdy, easy to find, and kids love their unique shape. A simple hunt for the biggest, smallest, or most perfectly shaped pinecone is an adventure in itself.
A classic and beloved project is the pinecone bird feeder. Just cover a pinecone in peanut butter (or a seed-butter alternative) and roll it in birdseed. Hang it from a branch and watch your feathered friends enjoy the feast. Pinecones also make fantastic bases for creature creations—add felt wings and big eyes for an owl, or craft a spiky hedgehog. Around the holidays, they can be painted green and decorated with tiny pom-poms to become miniature Christmas trees.
6. Flower Petals & Blossoms
While we should never pick flowers from living plants without permission, the ground is often littered with fallen petals and blossoms, especially after a windy or rainy day. These vibrant, delicate materials offer a burst of natural color that is fleeting but beautiful. Think of them as nature's own watercolor palette.
One of the most magical activities is making "nature potions." Give your child a jar of water and let them mix in flower petals, leaves, and a bit of dirt to create their own swirling, colorful concoctions. For a less messy project, press fresh petals onto clear contact paper, seal it with another sheet, and trim it to create a gorgeous, light-filled suncatcher. You can also arrange petals on paper to create a temporary mosaic, taking a picture to preserve the memory of the art before the petals wilt.
7. Feathers
Finding a feather feels like discovering a secret message from a bird. Their softness, unique patterns, and lightweight nature make them a captivating craft supply. They add a touch of delicacy and movement to any project. It’s a philosophy Goh Ling Yong and I share: the simplest materials often inspire the most profound creativity, and a single feather can spark a whole world of imagination.
Feathers make wonderful, natural paintbrushes. Simply dip the tip in paint and see what unique strokes you can create. They can be tied to the ends of sticks to make arrows for a DIY bow or added to a dreamcatcher woven from a flexible twig. Of course, they are also a perfect addition to any collage, adding texture and a sense of wildness to a leaf-and-twig creation.
A Note on Ethics: Always collect feathers that have been naturally shed. Remind children not to disturb birds or their nests in the search for this special supply.
8. Seeds & Seed Pods
Nature is full of fascinating seeds and pods, from the whirlybird "helicopters" of maple trees to the spiky balls of the sweet gum tree or the long pods of the catalpa. Each one is a marvel of natural engineering, designed for travel and growth. Their varied shapes and textures make them excellent for adding detail and interest to art projects.
Maple seeds can be tossed in the air for endless fun, but they also make great dragonfly wings when glued to a small twig. A collection of different seeds can be glued onto cardboard to create a stunning, textured mosaic. Fill a clean, empty plastic bottle or a sealed cardboard tube with small seeds or pebbles to create a homemade maraca. This combines art with music for a multi-sensory experience.
9. Bark
Fallen pieces of bark are like textured canvases or wooden tiles. Look for pieces that have naturally peeled off trees, especially after a storm. The rough, grooved outer side and the smoother inner side offer two distinct surfaces to work with. The scent of damp bark alone is enough to transport you deep into a forest.
Thick, curved pieces of bark make the perfect roofing material or walls for a fairy house or gnome home. The smooth side of a flat piece of bark can be used as a natural canvas for drawing on with chalk or soft charcoal. You can also do bark rubbings, similar to leaf rubbings, to capture the unique, rugged texture of a tree’s skin.
10. Grass & Weeds
Don't overlook the humble grass and "weeds" in your yard! Long, flexible blades of grass can be used for weaving. Show your kids how to make a simple braid, or try weaving them through a loom made from a forked stick. Many common weeds, like dandelions and clover, have beautiful flowers that are perfect for pressing or adding to nature potions.
One of my favorite simple tricks is to make a "paintbrush" from a thick stalk of grass. Just bunch one end together and tie it tightly with another blade of grass, then trim the ends to create bristles. It’s a fun, rustic tool for painting with mud or watercolors. Dandelion heads, with their sunny yellow faces, can be dipped in water and used to "paint" on a sidewalk or a large rock, leaving a faint yellow mark.
11. Mud & Dirt
Yes, really! It’s time to embrace the mess. Mud is the original sculpture medium. It’s earthy, it’s sensory, and it’s irresistibly fun for kids. All you need is a patch of dirt and a bit of water to unlock a world of creative possibilities. This is primal, hands-on art at its finest.
Create "mud paint" by adding water to dirt until you get a paint-like consistency. Use your grass paintbrushes or your fingers to paint on rocks, bark, or even the sidewalk (it will wash away with the next rain). You can also use mud for sculpting. Make mud pies and decorate them with pebbles and leaves, or try building small figures and letting them dry in the sun. It’s an incredibly tactile experience that connects children directly to the earth.
12. Moss & Lichen
Scrape a little moss or lichen from a fallen branch (never a living tree!) to add a touch of soft, vibrant green to your projects. These tiny, intricate plants add an instant touch of aged, magical forest to anything they adorn. Moss is wonderfully soft, while lichen comes in a variety of fascinating, almost alien-like shapes and colors.
Moss is the perfect carpeting for a fairy house or a soft bed for a gnome. It can be glued onto a diorama to create a lush, green landscape for toy animals. A tiny patch of moss in a jar with a few pebbles can become a miniature terrarium. The unique textures of moss and lichen are wonderful for adding detail and realism to any small-world play scene you and your kids might build.
13. Snail Shells
In many gardens, you can find the delicate, empty shells left behind by snails. Their perfect spiral shape is a wonder of nature. They are fragile, so they teach gentle handling. Finding an intact, empty snail shell feels like discovering a tiny, abandoned castle.
These shells make beautiful, natural decorations. They can be painted with tiny brushes or left in their natural state. A snail shell can become a hat for a small twig doll, a boat for a fairy, or a decorative element in a miniature garden. You can also glue them onto a picture frame or a small box to add a touch of natural elegance.
14. Sand & Gravel
If you have a sandbox, a gravel path, or live near a beach, these granular materials are fantastic for adding texture. Sand and gravel engage the senses through touch and sound and can be used in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art.
To create texture paint, simply mix a bit of sand into some craft glue or paint. When it dries, it will have a wonderful, gritty feel. You can also create sand art by "drawing" a design with liquid glue on a piece of cardboard, then sprinkling colored or natural sand over the top. Shake off the excess to reveal your design. Small pebbles and gravel are also perfect for creating paths to fairy houses or for making mosaics on a flat surface.
15. Water
This last one might seem odd, but water is perhaps the most essential—and fun—natural art supply. It’s a binder, a medium, and a tool all in one. It brings mud to life, cleans our hands, and can be an art project all on its own. It's the element that connects many of the other supplies on this list. As the team here at the Goh Ling Yong blog loves to say, creativity flows from the simplest sources.
On a hot, sunny day, one of the best activities is "pavement painting." Give your kids a bucket of water and some old paintbrushes and let them "paint" on the sidewalk, driveway, or a wooden fence. The dark strokes of water will evaporate in the sun, creating an endlessly resetting canvas. Water is also essential for floating leaf-and-twig boats in a puddle or a tub, and of course, it’s the key ingredient for making that perfect mud paint.
Your Backyard Art Adventure Awaits
The true beauty of using foraged supplies is that there are no rules. A stick doesn’t have to be just a stick; it can be anything a child imagines it to be. This kind of open-ended, child-led play is crucial for developing creativity and confidence. By stepping away from the craft store and into our own backyards, we give our children the gift of resourcefulness and a deeper connection to the world around them.
So, the next time you hear "I'm bored," grab a small basket or a bucket and head outside. You’ll be amazed at the treasures you find and the masterpieces you create together. The best art box in the world is waiting just beyond your door.
Now I’d love to hear from you! What are your family’s favorite nature craft supplies? Share your go-to finds and project ideas in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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