How To Make A DIY Nature Mandala Craft For Kids

This DIY Nature Mandala Craft is a fabulous opportunity to get kids outside! Kids will love searching for leaves, flower petals, blades of grass, pine needles, and other outdoor treasures that they can use to create this meaningful circle craft.

In the Eastern tradition of ancient Tibet, mandalas are part of the spiritual practice, made with intricate designs of colored sand. It’s a beautiful creative process that yields a gorgeous piece of art.

If you’re like me, it seems like we are always looking for activities to do with our kids that are engaging, fun, and creatively expressive. The good news is that you don’t have to be an expert at working with fine sand to introduce this restorative practice to kids. You can make your own mandalas using items you find in nature!

This nature mandala craft will get you outside with your kids for some epic nature scavenger hunts, and it’s a great opportunity to engage in conversation and learning, too! 

Talk to your kids about the objects they find….what does that plant do for our environment, what kind of flower is that, what kind of plant will that seed produce, what type of tree did that leaf come from?

You can also incorporate color identification, geometric patterns, and mandala patterns into the conversation. Nature mandala art creates designs using circular patterns – kind of like what spiders make when they create spider webs!

When they have completed their nature mandala, be sure to show your little artists that you love their beautiful, impressive artwork by displaying it throughout your home – or in a window!

You can make nature mandala crafts several times a year to highlight seasonal changes and natural rhythms of life that happen in your yard – it’ll feel like a brand new activity each time!

And that’s just the beginning of getting them outside! Make some DIY Sidewalk Chalk then check out these ideas for Fun Yard Games!

Supplies Needed

This nature mandala craft is simple and fun to make, but you’ll need a few supplies. Here’s what you’ll want to gather together:

• Natural materials – flowers, leaves, and any other interesting items you find that aren’t too bulky, like pine cones (flat is best so that the Press’N Seal sticks together
• Scrapbook Paper – poster board or construction paper can also be substituted
• Press’N Seal – there are other craft products that will work but this is most economical
• Two Bowls – one small and one bowl slightly bigger than small bowl
• Scissors
• Pencil
• X-acto Knife – Best for precision cutting
• Small Piece of Yarn – a piece of string will work as well

How To Make A DIY Nature Mandala

I love crafts that use natural supplies, and this craft is a prime example. Besides, it turns out so beautifully!

Step 1 – Find Your Items

Begin by going on a nature hunt to find things you would like to use to decorate your mandala craft. Collect flower petals, leaves, small twigs, or anything else you may find beautiful in nature.

Step 2 – Trace Circles In Scrapbook Paper

Now use the large bowl to trace a circle with the pencil on your scrapbook paper.

Take the smaller bowl and place it inside the larger circle on the scrapbook paper. Trace an inner circle on the paper.

Step 3 – Cut Out The Circles to Make Your Project Frame

Cut the large circle out with X-acto knife or scissors. Then cut the inner circle out with the X-acto knife. This will create a circular frame.

Step 4 – Make Mandala Background

Roll out the Press ‘N Seal. Place the frame on top. Use the X-acto knife to cut around the outside of the frame only.

Press the frame down with moderate pressure to make sure it sticks well to the Press ‘N Seal.

Step 5 – Create Your Nature Mandala

Begin pressing all your natural objects from your treasure hunt (the petals, leaves, twigs, seed pods, and other items) onto the Press ‘N Seal in a symmetrical, circular design.

Start in the center of your mandala and fill the entire frame with a series of circles.

Step 6 – Make a Hanger to Display Your Craft

Last, tie a piece of yarn or string around the frame to create a hanger!

Enjoy your nature mandala and the beauty of nature!

DIY Nature Mandala Notes And Tips

• Embrace bright colors! The best nature mandalas utilize vibrant colors and textures to create a unique design!

• I would suggest that you make your frame width at least 1- 2 ” wide. If it is less than that, it might be too flimsy and if it’s bigger, you won’t have as much room in the center for your treasures.

• If you’ve collected something from outside such as leaves that are moist or damp, allow them to dry completely before pressing. Otherwise they may not stick.

• Want your mandala to keep a little longer? Cut out two same size pieces of Press ‘N Seal. Once you have everything placed on your mandala, take the second piece and place over the first piece to preserve the natural items.

• Give the kids a muffin tin to take with them outside to collect and carry their findings.

• Try making a new mandala each season – there are SO many interesting things mother nature has to offer!

Variations To Try

• Give the kids crayons or markers and let them decorate the frame either before or after adding the nature items.

• If the weather doesn’t cooperate by allowing you to go outside to collect items to make nature art, use items from inside the house such as buttons, yarn, thread, pipe cleaners, sequins, or beads.

• Create your nature mandala in different shapes such as a square, heart, octagon, rectangle, star or diamond.

FAQs

What is a mandala?

A mandala is a geometric arrangement of symbols in a circular design. The purpose of the mandala is to help transform our minds and to assist with self-healing.

An easy way to explain it to your child is that mandalas are made with special circles that start at the center and extend out from there. You can create mandalas with a huge variety of colors.

Do I have to place my nature findings in a symmetrical pattern?

Not necessarily! 😉 Let the kids design their mandala any way they choose. Just let their creativity come alive as they design.

More DIY Activities To Try With Your Family

If you love this DIY nature mandala craft idea, be sure to check out all of these fun activities so your family and kids will never get bored.

• 5-Minute Non-Toxic Easy Homemade Playdough
• DIY Bristlebot
• How To Make Outdoor DIY Puffy Paint
• Outdoor DIY Puffy Paint
• Fireworks Painting Craft Tutorial
• Easy Colorful Kite Popsicle Stick Craft

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