Drilling gumnuts for future nature craft projects

Since moving to QLD (2.5 years ago), 

there are two things we have had trouble locating.

Large gumnuts, and pinecones without spikes!

Both common when we lived in both Western and Southern Australia.

Photo Source: Simon Food Favourites

and then... On a recent outing, we found fallen Large Gum nuts!

 

To use them for craft, they need to be empty.

So we all sat under the house, to drill our individual projects.

(My children are never far away...) 

*Please Note: 

• I have placed two small pieces of thin timber either side of the gumnut, in the vice - to prevent it cracking when I tighten the vice.
• I am using a hand drill to drill slowly and have more control. If using an electric drill - use a very slow setting, to achieve the same gentle result.

 

Scooping out the last of the wood and seeds with a pointed file, 

they are all now clear to fit a candle, or something else...

or hang from a mobile without any debris creating a mess inside the house.

Gumnut Confetti!

I thought this was so pretty, when I had finished my work. 

I hand-picked all of the seeds from the confetti, 

and have planted some around and put some away for future planting.

 Now that we finally have found these gum nuts,

I think we'll soon be making more table centre pieces and natural candle holders.

Or maybe Found treasure mobiles.

I have some other ideas too...


Bloodwood capsule brooch - Silver Wire
I would love to try this.
I would love to wear this!

And for some ideas from around the World Wide Web -

Mummy musings and mayhem -   Toddler seed pod stamping 

Irresistible ideas for play based learning -   Miniature playscapes

My little bookcase -   Snugglepot & cuddlepie activity

Childhood 101 -   Gumnut gnomes

Rhythm & Rhyme -   Gumnut ornaments 
Happy Whimsical Hearts - Poppy seedpod painting
Octavia and Vicky - Gumnut babies play

Red ted art -   Gum nut octopus

                     -   Christmas elves

 ღ