How to Make Maple Seed Dragonfly (Nature DIY Craft)

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How to Make Maple Seed Dragonfly (Nature DIY Craft)

Learn how to make the cutest little DIY Maple Seed Dragonflies with a few objects found in nature.

This fun craft project is perfect for a school or youth activity group, Summer camp craft, or sweet handmade gift, great for all ages, and perfect for Earth day crafting too.

Just a few natural materials and you've got the sweetest little dragonfly decoration.

DRAGONFLIES APPEAR WHEN LOVED ONES ARE NEAR

Nature crafts are a favorite, they are easy to make, gather supplies and so fun!

This cute dragonfly made with a stick and helicopter seeds would be perfect for a little fairy garden or shelf sitter in the house.

If you love dragonflies, this is a great way to make a bunch--use them for Christmas tree ornaments, Valentine cards, attaching to a party garland and even adding a hairclip for a fun wearable!

Let's get started--if you are working with small children, they will love going on a nature treasure hunt with you to find all the crucial parts!

DRAGONFLIES APPEAR WHEN LOVED ONES ARE NEAR Nature crafts are a favorite, they are easy to make, gather supplies and so fun! This cute dragonfly made with a stick and helicopter seeds would be perfect for a little fairy garden or shelf sitter in the house. If you love dragonflies, this is a great way to make a bunch--use them for Christmas tree ornaments, Valentine cards, attaching to a party garland and even adding a hairclip for a fun wearable! Let's get started--if you are working with small children, they will love going on a nature treasure hunt with you to find all the crucial parts!

Supplies Needed for Maple Seed Dragonfly:

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Maple Seeds (4 per dragonfly)
Stick (thin and about 3 inches long)
Walnut Half (or a rock, bark or other natural platform)
Hot glue gun and glue sticks (or Permanent Glue Dots)
Gold Glitterific Paint (or Mod Podge and glitter, or Glitter Glue)
Paintbrush
Colored Acrylic Paint (optional)
Dragonfly Glaze (optional)

STEP 1: NATURE WALK

Begin by taking a nature walk.

Look around for fun items to craft your maple seed dragonfly with.

Look for maple trees during the Spring, or check the ground around them any time of year, and find at least 4 Maple tree seeds. (I have 2 maple trees in my yard, so it's really easy here)

Remember those little helicopters? I'd get tons of them in my arms and drop them all off my back balcony and watch them flutter to the ground.

Also find a thin stick, that will be the body of the dragonfly.

Look for something fun to have your dragonfly sit on.

I found a half a walnut shell (the crows here love them and drop them in the road to break them and peck out the nut) and the inside of the shell has a little heart shape, perfect for Valentines!

STEP 1: NATURE WALK Begin by taking a nature walk. Look around for fun items to craft your maple seed dragonfly with. Look for maple trees during the Spring, or check the ground around them any time of year, and find at least 4 Maple tree seeds. (I have 2 maple trees in my yard, so it's really easy here) Remember those little helicopters? I'd get tons of them in my arms and drop them all off my back balcony and watch them flutter to the ground. Also find a thin stick, that will be the body of the dragonfly. Look for something fun to have your dragonfly sit on. I found a half a walnut shell (the crows here love them and drop them in the road to break them and peck out the nut) and the inside of the shell has a little heart shape, perfect for Valentines!

STEP 2: DRAGONFLY BODY

Plug in your glue gun and get it heating up. (This Cricut hot glue gun is amazing, it heats up almost instantly!)

Now cut the stick down to make the body of the dragonfly, about 3 inches long. It's best if your stick has a little thickness on one end to make the perfect head of the dragonfly, no additional nature needed.

Use a hobby knife or scissors and make sure you are a a cutting mat or disposable work surface.

STEP 2: DRAGONFLY BODY Plug in your glue gun and get it heating up. (This Cricut hot glue gun is amazing, it heats up almost instantly!) Now cut the stick down to make the body of the dragonfly, about 3 inches long. It's best if your stick has a little thickness on one end to make the perfect head of the dragonfly, no additional nature needed. Use a hobby knife or scissors and make sure you are a a cutting mat or disposable work surface.

Now add a little dab of hot glue to the back of the stick and place it on the walnut shell, or the sturdy surface you found.

Make sure it's "perched" on it, so it adds that element of realness to it, with the stick not quite centered, since the wings are very close the head on a dragonfly.

Let the hot glue dry.

NOTE: If you want to use something other than hot glue, it's tricky, because things like tacky glue just don't cure fast enough. Try using permanent glue dots.

Now add a little dab of hot glue to the back of the stick and place it on the walnut shell, or the sturdy surface you found. Make sure it's "perched" on it, so it adds that element of realness to it, with the stick not quite centered, since the wings are very close the head on a dragonfly. Let the hot glue dry. NOTE: If you want to use something other than hot glue, it's tricky, because things like tacky glue just don't cure fast enough. Try using permanent glue dots.

STEP 3: DRAGONFLY WINGS

Next, decide which of the maple seed helicopters would be the best front wing and which are the best back wings.

Lay them out in order before rushing in and gluing them in place.

Now, add a dab of glue or a glue dot to the back of the seed and adhere it to the stick body, pretty close to the end, that is the head.

STEP 3: DRAGONFLY WINGS Next, decide which of the maple seed helicopters would be the best front wing and which are the best back wings. Lay them out in order before rushing in and gluing them in place. Now, add a dab of glue or a glue dot to the back of the seed and adhere it to the stick body, pretty close to the end, that is the head.

If you are using hot glue, this is a pretty small item to be gluing on, so use caution.

Again, if you are crafting with kids, use glue dots for these steps.

Hold the seed in place after gluing until the hot glue sets up and holds on it's own.

Repeat the gluing process for all four of the nearly translucent dragonfly wings.

I love that these little helicopter seeds mimic the pattern and sheerness of a real dragonfly!

As you place the final dragonfly wing, decide if you are going to keep your little bug friend all natural or if you are going to add embellishments.

I really love the natural nature look...so I compromised.

That's basically it!

This is such a simple, darling and fun upcycled craft that comes together super fast after a fun nature treasure hunt.

You can leave your little flyer as is...or give it some decorations!

STEP 4: DRAGONFLY GLITTER

To keep my dragonfly as natural as possible, I love the natural look, I just decided to add gold FINE Glitterific paint to the wings.

It's clear based with fine pieces of glitter, literally no messy glitter!

Just paint a thin layer on the top of each maple seed wing to add the perfect amount of glitz to your little dragonfly.

STEP 4: DRAGONFLY GLITTER To keep my dragonfly as natural as possible, I love the natural look, I just decided to add gold FINE Glitterific paint to the wings. It's clear based with fine pieces of glitter, literally no messy glitter! Just paint a thin layer on the top of each maple seed wing to add the perfect amount of glitz to your little dragonfly.

If you are hoping to make this craft last a little longer, be a little more creative or just feel like adding more, go ahead and embellish more!

You can use acrylic craft paint to paint the dragonfly body or the rock/bark/shell it's sitting on.

Add some rhinestones or other items found in nature...like moss, leaves, pebbles and more!

Once satisfied with the decorating, let the paint dry completely.

If you are hoping to make this craft last a little longer, be a little more creative or just feel like adding more, go ahead and embellish more! You can use acrylic craft paint to paint the dragonfly body or the rock/bark/shell it's sitting on. Add some rhinestones or other items found in nature...like moss, leaves, pebbles and more! Once satisfied with the decorating, let the paint dry completely.

Now this cute little natural dragonfly is ready to adorn your shelves, be given as a gift, hung on a tree or a magnet glued to the back and stuck on the fridge.

I picked small maple seeds and I love the delicate look.

I love the dragonfly sitting on the heart shaped walnut shell.

It's just perfection!

Now this cute little natural dragonfly is ready to adorn your shelves, be given as a gift, hung on a tree or a magnet glued to the back and stuck on the fridge. I picked small maple seeds and I love the delicate look. I love the dragonfly sitting on the heart shaped walnut shell. It's just perfection!

THOSE WE LOVE DON'T GO AWAY, THEY FLY BESIDE US EVERY DAY.

Dragonflies are often sentimental to those who have had loved ones pass, seeing a dragonfly as a good omen, a wink from heaven.

This little dragonfly sitter makes a great handmade and heartfelt gift for someone that is mourning.

THOSE WE LOVE DON'T GO AWAY, THEY FLY BESIDE US EVERY DAY.

That's it!

Make a darling dragonfly with maple seed wings, perched on a walnut shell!

Hope this tutorial gave you all the inspiration and explanation you need to make your own or instruct a group on how to make these little magical dragonflies.

It's the perfect nature craft for Earth day, Valentine's day or just because.