Nature's Art Box: From t-shirts to twig baskets, 65 cool projects for crafty kids to make with natural materials you can find anywhere [Paperback]

Laura C. Martin (Author), David Cain (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 2003 | Age Range: 9 and up

Whether it's a city park, a suburban backyard, a farmer's field, or the sandy seashore, there's a treasure trove of natural art materials out there. Twigs, vines, pinecones, flowers, leaves, rocks, shells, moss, feathers - they're all gifts of the earth. Add just a few inexpensive store-bought items, such as glue, string, and wire, and anyone can create beautiful, natural works of art.

In Nature's Art Box, writer, gardener, and nature-crafter Laura Martin offers 65 fun projects kids will love to make, using materials they can find just about anywhere. She explains how to make paints and inks from flowers and other plants; how to use shells, moss, seedpods, and cones to embellish large objects; how to build elf-sized furniture; how to decorate picture frames, birdhouses, and keepsake boxes with woodland treasures; and how to dig clay, weave vines, and make natural dyes to color T-shirts.

While Martin teaches kids to see the possibilities of the natural world, she also teaches them to respect what the earth offers. She warns them against stripping bark off live trees, plucking every flower in the field, and clearing the ground of every nut and seed. Nature's Art Box helps kids learn to be good artists and conscientious stewards of nature's resources.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-Martin contends that nature provides us with an abundance of art supplies and she invites readers to make use of these bounties in these 65 projects. She classifies the activities according to the material required: vines, twigs, cones, and moss; gourds, pods, husks, and seeds; clay, stones, sand, and shells; paints, inks, and dyes; flowers and leaves; and stamps, stencils, molds, and seals. Each chapter includes information about historical and ethnic uses for the natural substances. Activities are rated by level of difficulty; all have easy-to-follow instructions. Projects range from baskets, picture frames, wreaths, necklaces, and gift wrap to body paint, amulet bags, and painted stones; from a chess set to shell buttons to an okra pod canoe and people. The projects display a respect for nature and art, and a simple, subtle beauty; they are not the cutesy, stylized projects described in so many contemporary books. Line drawings accompany the numbered steps and charming ink-and-watercolor pictures illustrate the completed projects. Some general crafting techniques are explained. The helpful appendix offers charts on the availability of various materials and their uses and gift suggestions. Bobbe Needham's Ecology Crafts for Kids (Sterling, 1998), which encourages the use of natural craft materials as well as recycled man-made materials, complements this title. Martin's unusual volume will be a great resource for crafters of all ages and abilities.
Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“…if you want to use nature to nurture your child’s creativity, then “Art Box” provides hours of activities.” – New York Daily News

 

"...you'll learn a little about conservation and a lot about art basics..." – Dallas Morning News

 

Run right out and get Nature’s Art Box…this is a fun book that will get kids outdoors…” – San Diego Union Tribune

 

"Nature's Art Box takes nature crafts to a more creative level." – Knight Ridder

 

“The beauty of Nature’s Art Box is that it entertains as well as educates. “ – Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

 

“Youngsters will see nature through the eyes of an artist and learn how to be stewards of the Earth.” – Indianapolis Star

 

“…the author encourages kids to see artistic potential in a handful of twigs, pinecones and more.” – Publishers Weekly

 

"The projects display a respect for nature and art, and a simple, subtle beauty...Martin's unusual volume will be a great resource for crafters of all ages and abilities." – School Library Journal

 

“…the book emphasizes seeing the world as an artist’s palate, there are also lessons on being kind to nature and how to collect items.” – St. Paul Pioneer Press

 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; First Edition edition (June 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580174906
• ISBN-13: 978-1580174909
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.6 x 10.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Nature Crafts - Great projects February 18, 2006

By AllCrafts Wendy VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

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.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Video Review March 9, 2010

By BeachBrights TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Length: 2:45 Mins

I am hoping that by doing a video review, potential buyers will get a better glimpse of what is inside this book. The book is not only crafting fun but teaches lessons on conservation, history and caring for out natural resources.

Enjoy-

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great kids nature craft book! September 10, 2007

By S. Christensen

Format:Paperback

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.