DIY Project
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Nature · Fall · Kids

Nature paintbrushes

Tie leaves, pine needles and grass to sticks and find out what kind of marks each homemade brush makes.

Nature paintbrushes
LevelBeginner
AgesAges 5 to 8
Time45 minutes
Cost$0 to $4
SummerFallOutdoorsGroupsDollar store

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

How to make it

Safety

Skip any plant you don't know, especially anything with 3 leaves together, which could be poison ivy.

  1. Step 1: Go on a hunt
    1

    Go on a hunt

    Collect sticks and things with interesting textures. Pick only from the ground when you can.

  2. Step 2: Build the brushes
    2

    Build the brushes

    Bundle each material at the end of a stick. Wrap a rubber band around it tight.

  3. Step 3: Set up paint
    3

    Set up paint

    Squirt paint onto paper plates. Lay big paper on the ground or a picnic table.

  4. Step 4: Test each brush
    4

    Test each brush

    Dab, swipe and twist each one. Pine needles make spiky lines. Leaves make soft smudges.

  5. Step 5: Make a picture
    5

    Make a picture

    Use your favorite brushes together on a fresh page.

Edie's tip

Label each test stroke with the brush that made it. It turns into a nature chart.

Written by the DIY Project team. How we check · Report a mistake

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