How to Make a Nature Collage Picture Frame with Your Kids
Here's the thing about kids and nature walks — they always want to bring something home. A rock, a feather, a particularly interesting stick. And honestly? Let them.
Because those little treasures from outside? They make the most beautiful craft you'll do all summer.
This nature collage picture frame is one of our favorite activities for families staying at the Ellicottville Farmhouse. It starts on the trail, ends on your wall, and costs almost nothing to make. Best of all, every single frame turns out completely unique — because no two nature walks are ever the same.
What to Collect on Your Walk;
Before you make anything, you need to go exploring. Head outside and look for:
Flat leaves and petals in interesting shapes or colors
Small flowers, feathers, or seed heads
Tiny pebbles or smooth stones (optional)
Small twigs if you want a rustic twig-frame look
The farmhouse property is perfect for this — the pond area, the open land, and the tree line all have something to offer. Check the Ellicottville events calendar too if you want to time your stay around a summer weekend that adds extra energy to the trip.
What You'll Need Back at the Farmhouse - Shop My Links
A plain wood or cardboard picture frame — no glass, or just use the shell
Glue, glue stick, or Mod Podge (Mod Podge is our top pick — it glues AND seals)
A small brush or paper towel to spread the glue
Pro tip: grab a few plain wood frames from Dollar Tree, Michaels, or Amazon before your trip. They're inexpensive and work perfectly for this craft.
How to Make It — Step by Step
Step 1. Clean the frame and lay it flat on a table. This is your canvas — take a second to get excited about it.
Step 2. Arrange your natural finds around the frame edges before you glue anything. Leaves, flowers, pebbles, feathers — play with the layout until it feels right.
Step 3. Use glue or Mod Podge to stick everything in place, overlapping pieces slightly for a full, layered look.
Step 4. Let it dry completely. Great time for a snack, a walk, or a fireside sit while you wait.
Step 5. Once dry, pop in a favorite photo or a piece of kids' artwork and hang it up as a forever memory of your Ellicottville trip.
Fun Ways to Make It Extra Special
Make a family forest frame — have everyone contribute their favorite leaf or flower for one big frame together
Use it to frame a photo from the hike itself — nature meets memory in the best way
Leave one frame at the farmhouse as a rotating guest collage — add your leaf to the tradition!
Download the Free Printable Craft Guide
Want a beautifully formatted version of this craft to print and bring along? We've put together a full one-sheet guide with all the steps, supply list, and fun ideas laid out and ready to go.
👉 [Download the Free Nature Collage Craft Guide — PDF]
Ready to Try It in Ellicottville? The farmhouse is the perfect home base for a summer trip that's equal parts adventure and slow-down. Open land, a pond out back, a firepit, and 15 minutes to the village — it's the kind of place where crafts like this just happen naturally.
Check availability and book your stay at the Ellicottville Farmhouse
