Have you ever seen cute little creatures made out of nuts and shells? This little walnut shell mouse is one of my favorite little projects to make. In literally just a few minutes you can have a fun little character made with natural elements and a bit of glue. While it is a kid-friendly craft, it's ideal for anyone to make.

Walnut Shell Mouse

I have been experimenting with nuts for a while in crafting. My glitter acorns are a great fall craft and decor idea, but that's not all. I've made a lot of cute items from pistachio shells, including this upcycled pistachio shell candle holder. You may usually just toss these into the garbage, but I have made a whole new life for them!

This little walnut shell mouse is a great addition to your fall decor, or for playtime right next to the cute pistachio shell hedgehog I made last year. These are just simple crafts that can be a part of a larger project or just a simple little mouse to tuck into the corner of a shelf for fun!

Can I Make This with Different Nuts?

Yes. If you want to use something different you have on hand, go for it! Acorns, pecans, walnuts, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, and more can be trimmed or cracked to use for a little mouse creature. You just need a flat bottom and rounded top to add with your other items to create the look of a mouse.

What Can This Be Used For?

Looking at this, you may think there really isn't much it can be used for, but you are wrong! It's such a cool little small craft that can be incorporated into many things in your home. Below are some of my favorite ideas for this little mouse.

Add to one of these fairy gardens as the main resident or just an extra creature.
Tuck into this fairy house made from a soap bottle.
Use in a mantle decoration alongside these farmhouse style fall lettered mason jars or even next to a bouquet of these fall roses made from leaves.
Make for your kids to use during pretend to play with their other dolls and action figures.
Use as part of a homeschool lesson on small rodents.
Read Stuart Little to your kids and use this as a prop to move around and play with while they listen to the story.
Put next to this rustic foam hedgehog to create a woodland creature display or diorama.

How Can I Customize My Walnut Shell Mouse?

Does your child like to make things their own with unique looks and styles? If so, they may want to do something a bit different when making this little mouse. Below are some great ideas that add an extra look to the mouse for fun.

Use googly eyes instead of a marker.
Add buttons for the ears.
Paint or spray it all with a different color.
Add some glitter for sparkle.
Use a sparkly or glitter pipe cleaner for the tail.
Add sequins all over the shell to make it look like it's wearing an evening gown.
Add a hat for a boy mouse or a pink bow for a girl mouse.

What Glue Can I Use that is Safe for Kids?

I typically use hot glue for projects because it is convenient, inexpensive, and I know it will stick for a long time. If you are making these with kids, you'll want to reach for a quality non-toxic craft glue or school glue. These will work but may take longer to dry and are not as strong so you may find a mouse without an ear within a few weeks where hot glue would keep for years.

Supplies Needed

How to Make a Walnut Shell Mouse

On a light-colored piece of felt, trace and cut out two small ovals (¼") to create ears for your mouse. Then cut a 4" to 6" length of pipe cleaner.

Glue the two ovals on the "front" of the walnut shell to create the ears.

Twist the pipe cleaner a little to give it a "wave" then glue it on the underside of the walnut shell opposite where you glued the ears.

Use a fine-tipped black marker (Sharpie), to color a dot on the very pointed end of the shell to create a nose.

Then, add two small dots just below the ears for the eyes.

Display or use alongside

More Fall Kids Crafts

I love crafting with the kids. It's always so much fun to see what they create, and even to watch their pride when they make something beautiful. Below are some more fun ideas to make with kids of all ages. These are themed for the autumn season, but many could be made any time of the year. Bookmark, print, or pin these crafts to make soon!

Yield: 1

Precious Upcycled Walnut Shell Mouse Craft

Turn a walnut shell into an adorable little mouse using just a few supplies and a bit of glue! A great project for kids to make!

Active Time 5 minutes

Total Time 5 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $0

Materials

Walnut shell
Pipe cleaner
Felt
Black marker

Tools

Scissors
Hot glue gun
Hot glue stick

Instructions

On a light-colored piece of felt, trace and cut out two small ovals (¼") to create ears for your mouse.
Glue the two ovals on the "front" of the walnut shell to create the ears.
Twist the pipe cleaner a little to give it a "wave" then glue it on the underside of the walnut shell opposite where you glued the ears.
Use a fine-tipped black marker (Sharpie), to color a dot on the very pointed end of the shell to create a nose.
Then, add two small dots just below the ears for the eyes.
Display or use alongside your favorite fall diorama.

Finished Project Gallery

This is a perfect idea to use with kids for learning about woodland creatures!

Add a bit of glitter to them to make them sparkle!