How to make walnut babies

Traditional crafts simply are the best, this is probably why they are traditional! They stand the test of time. And crafting with material scraps and walnuts is great fun. Walnuts are pretty and tactile and it is great to look at "everyday objects" in a different way. Materials Walnut, wooden bead, pipecleaner, glue, ribbon, felt (you can use fabric scraps too, but in the classroom felt is easier, as you don't have to worry about "fraying edges") Method 1. First you need to split the walnut carefully and try and get two intact pieces. The best way of doing this is to get a kitchen knife or a screw driver and insert it into any weak spot you can find on the nut. Then on a chopping board, give it repeat taps until it comes apart. Do this for the children. 2. Cut a ribbon, knot it and glue the knot to the bottom of the walnut – this is the loop you will be able to hang your baby by later. 3. Cut out a pillow and glue it down – it doesn't really matter which end. 4. Glue the bead onto the pipecleaner. Wrap the pipecleaner round your finger. This will give the baby a "body" and prop the bead up. Place the baby into the walnut. Add a little glue under the head resting on the "pillow". 5. Glue on the blanket – the blanket can be square or triangular, or a semi-circle, to fit the shape of the walnut. 6. Draw on eyes and mouth. Felt tips do run into the grain a little, so you may want to paint these on or varnish your bead first. Hang in your tree and admire. Like walnut crafts? Check out Red Ted Art's mouse racing or walnut boats ! • For hundreds more superb learning resources free at your fingertips, go to the Guardian Teacher Network