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Cute & Easy Crafts for Kids

Kids Get Crafty: Chestnut Streamer Toy

‘Tis the Season to Get Crafty – tra la la la la laaaa… certainly Autumn crafts are all in at the moment.. the trees are starting to change colours, the woods are littlered with Acorns and Chestnuts… Last week we made chestnut creatures and chestnut pencil toppers… this week we have a Chestnut Streamer Toy or “Kastanien Flugball” in German.

I can’t claim that this Streamer Toy was my idea, I first saw it on Labbe.de.  I thought it look liked a fun idea and then we discovered that not only looked fun, but hearing the streamers flutter in the wind SOUNDS fun too. Gorgeous all round!

The Book

Red Leaf, Yellow LeafRed Leaf, Yellow Leaf, by Lois Ehlert.

A “Fall” classic by the wonderful Ehlert. Although many poeple get this book out in Autumn – thanks to all the beautiful Autumn colours, this is actually a great book to look at the “life cycle of a tree”. It starts of with the “helicopter seeds” from a big maple tree.. how it falls, it lands, how some are taken by animals and others grow into seedlings in springs… how a tree then grows and how maybe it is then “harvested” by a nursery for people to buy and plant in their gardens. The book is once again beautifully designed – with Ehlert’s wonderful collages. It includes all seasons and at the end you get a handy section with tips on how to Plant a tree – how to choose one, when to plant it, where to plant it.. etc. Most definitely a great choice of book!

And of course a Chestnut tree starts is life with a conker…

The Craft

This is very quick and simple… once made take out and play!

Materials: Chestnut, tissue paper cut in strips, scissors, glue

1) Make a hole with your scissors or chestnut tool.

autumn crafts

2) Cut some tissue paper strips. Twist at one end and insert with lots of glue. We made one with blue/ red/ white streamers and a “firey” one with yellow, orange and red!

kastanien flugball

3) Let dry.

kastanien flugball

kastanien flugball

4) Let fly!!!

We had great fun with these at the park.. they even bounce a little as they hit the ground (do it too often on a hard ground and your chestnut will crack) and be warned: dogs and cats LOVE these too….

See our full set of Chestnut DIYs here:

This is one of my most precious childhood memories - crafting with conkers (also known as horse chestnuts or buckeye crafts) - I love the smooth texture and the fun chestnut crafts you can make. Here re 15 lovely ideas for Fall

Looking for more Nature Crafts for Autumn? Take a peak at these!
Nature Crafts for Fall

Enjoy!

Filed Under: Autumn, Kids Craft, Nature 37 Comments

Comments

  11. Esther says

    I love the Chestnut streamers! I like them flying in the sky and you have got wonderful pictures of them flying in the air! a child in me is wishing to fly some in the air:-)

    Reply

  14. Rashmie @MommyLabs says

    My daughter loves reading about the lifecycle of a tree. Sounds like a lovely book, Maggie. And, the craft is way too much fun! Wow, we have to try this. 🙂

    Reply

  15. se7en says

    Now that is a totally cute piece of craftiness!!! And would you look at that… this week the link worked for us!!! Yay!!! Hope you have a great day!!!

    Reply

  17. Isil says

    Absolutely gorgeous, thanks for the inspiration! Oh once again an Ehlert book, must buy one of his books,coming across on many blogs. I can’t find them at the library.

    Reply

    • Red Ted Art says

      Isil, I think Ehlert is a “key children’s author” in the US – a bit like Julia Donaldson and Oliver Jeffers here.. which is why you will have seen many of the books around, but not in our UK libraries!

      Reply

  18. Jacke says

    Those look so fun! And your photos are wonderful 🙂 We love the Ehlert books. Actually, I have Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf and Leaf Man on hold at the library. We’re picking up today! Now we have an activity.

    Reply

    • Red Ted Art says

      Oh no! I can post you some of ours?!?!?!? 😉 Do you have any other similar-ish things were you live??

      Reply

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