If you looking for ways to keep your kids amused, take a look at these arts and craft ideas. Children like to make things and it is yet better when Mom or Dad or both participate.

Autumn is a great time for taking the children out into the woods to gather nuts, cones and leaves for their craft jobs. You will be amazed at how many arts and craft ideas are given by nature. You may spray cones and leaves with silver and gold paint and use them to make table decorations or maybe Christmas wreathes for the door. Nut wreathes are a nice change to commercial Christmas wreaths and can be eaten afterwards if the kids can wait that long.

Get some unshelled hazelnuts, chestnuts, walnuts and brazil nuts and gather a few ivy leaves to include some greenery. You will also require some varnish, glue, small sized paint brush, wire and a ribbon. A glue gun can be helpful but it is not a necessity. Paint the shells of the nuts using some varnish to enhance the natural beauty. You may also varnish some ivy leaves and leave them to dry whole night.

You can create the wreath base from twisting some small branches together into a circular shape but you can even purchase ready made ones very inexpensively also. Work your way around the wreath attaching the nuts in place. It makes sense to use the bigger nuts first and then use the smaller hazelnuts to allow fill in any existing gaps. Try and vary the different colors to make the wreath appear pretty. Decorate using the ivy leaves and finish with a stylish ribbon. The kids will have a wonderful time putting this altogether and will be thrilled when people stop to admire their creations.

Arts and craft ideas can turn into gifts also. Any nut lovers would love to receive the above wreath as a present for the holiday season.