Acorn Crafts

Earlier this week I wrote about the acorn wreath I made with my genuine, imported, grade-A acorns but what I didn't mention is that I have many more uses for these cute little guys, more than that one post could hold.

So I'm listing the other ideas here so that next fall when you're out walking and you see all those acorns on the ground you not only think fondly of me but also have some fun activities of your own to do.

I'm going to need more acorns!

If only there were this many things to do with pinecones . . .


1. Color some acorn buttons. Collect the caps of acorns and color them to make these beautiful jewel-like button tops using supplies you probably already have around the house. Suite 101.com has the full instructions and a wonderful reinforcement activity to use as a supplement.

After you make them you could leave them out in a bowl as a pretty nature-meets-nurture display, as miniature pottery for a fairy house or even . . .

2. Make an acorn bracelet. After you've created some beautiful acorn tops string them together to make a woodsy and surprisingly attractive bracelet. With or without the colored insides the bracelet is a fun activity with stylish results. Thrifty fun has a picture and the details.

3. Make an acorn cap whistle. We've done something similar with a blade of grass and my father used to carve willow whistles for me on spring camping trips but this is the first I'd heard of acorn tops turning musical. Seems like a trick you could use to really impress your children. Apparently larger caps are easier to learn with while smaller caps are louder. The caps I've got are too small but maybe next year I can get me some Texas-sized acorns and whistle up a storm. Science Toy Maker has the details.

4. Make elegant velvet acorns. Heather Donohue seems to have this down to an art form and if you ever thought acorns were insignificant before just wait until you see what beauties she's created.

Though I'd have to say if you really want to see what beauties she's created you'll have to look at her October 9th post. It appears that she is the proud new mother of twins Claire and Lachlan. That trumps acorns any day!

5. Make acorn napkin rings. These would be cute with natural acorns or the velvet acorns above but either way they'd work beautifully as napkin rings for your Thanksgiving table. I'd also make matching rings to fit around candlesticks, maybe a matching garland to twine around our chandelier.

Thanks to Martha's directions the possibilities are . . . well . . . endless.

6. Make an acorn box. I won't call it a snuff box, which is what Snuffhouse.org calls it because the thought of one of these cute little boxes holding tobacco is kind of disgusting but if you had a large acorn--I seriously need to get a hold of the big guys--you could make a darling hinged box for a tiny necklace or ring or even use as a tooth fairy box.

Shoot even a LifeSaver wouldn't be bad--better than snuff anyway. But regardless of what goes inside it's a fun little project and tiny is always fun. If I did this project I think I'd coat the inside with the same technique described in number one above. Those colors are so pretty.

7. Crochet an acorn necklace. Resurrection Fern has the complete tutorial but something about this project appeals to me. I think I would use ecru yarn and in the thinnest gauge I could manage, maybe even gold yarn would be fun. It would be cute with a tiny charm on the side as well--lots of ways to take such a simple natural wonder and make it fun to wear.

8. Make acorn pancakes. No, I'm not kidding you can actually make acorn flour to use in baking. For reals. Somehow this seems right up your alley Stephanie (if you're listening)--like something that would be good to do for the Make it from Scratch Carnival.

The collecting is easy it's the shelling that's the hardest part and you want to avoid using anything with holes or with a damaged top (my maggot story should have told you that already) but according to Ramshackle Solid who has a complete tutorial on the subject acorn flour is not only tasty but nutritious.

Apparently the squirrels are onto something.

9. Make acorn pumpkins. Yes, Halloween is over but pull off the tops, paint them orange and suddenly acorns are adorable little jack o'lanterns via Family Fun. You could also paint regular little doll faces on them or paint them different colors and numbers for a fun set of funny marbles. Maybe string them as beads? Whenever nature hands you something beautiful and smooth and round there are lots of ideas flowing. I'm afraid the only thing we've got that's round and rather smooth here are moose pellets. And I don't feel crafty when I look at them.

10. Make a Victorian parlor tree. According to Garden Guide.biz you can germinate an acorn into a fun gardening ornament by some easy steps. I have everything that's required and I think I'll try this with the kids this winter. It's always wonderful to grow things in the winter--it keeps me going.

Click their site for all the details.

11. Make acorn tops. In a world of electronics and beepings and buzzings kids would love the simple fun of an acorn top. My Simple Pleasure has pictures and instructions for taking a large acorn and making it into a quick and non-battery powered toy that would probably fascinated my plugged-in children with the simplicity of it all.

Give them a magic marker to decorate their toy and have a contest to see which acorn is the last standing.

12. Learn how to dry acorns properly. And finally as a parting note, here's a post at eHow that fills you in on how to dry your acorns. If I'd have done this I wouldn't have had near so many problems with pests (aka acorn weevils) but then I probably wouldn't have been able to squeeze a post out of either. So I suppose it's all about give-and-take.

Good luck and may your oak trees be full next year!

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