Finally, spring is on the horizon. It has been a long winter and it doesn’t look like the cold will leave us soon but spring is coming. As soon as the time is near, I get so excited I start to celebrate by getting out the craft supplies and making something fun. Flowers are a classic symbol of spring so what better way to begin the spring flings then to create flower arts and crafts? The project below is easy to implement and adjust for all grade levels. It is a great family activity or an activity for a homeschool co-op or even Sunday school class.
Flower Impressions
What You Need:
- Flowers, real or fake
- Construction or drawing paper
- Water soluble non-toxic block printing ink (Tempera or acrylic paints may be substituted.)
- Tray for the ink such as a reused fruit or vegetable tray
- Brayer, spoon or craft stick
What You Do:
- Go outside and have your child look for and select a few different types of flowers or leaves for her project. Try to find a variety of shapes, sizes and textures. You can make a print from most any flower. Find a use for dandelions, for instance, or even reuse old silk flowers to create incredible abstract art in a variety of patterns and colors.
- Pour the printing ink into the tray. Spread the ink out with the brayer, spoon or craft stick. Make sure that the ink is not spread too thin, as your child will be dipping the flowers into the printing ink.
- Ask your child to dip and press a flower into the ink. Encourage her to choose for herself the part of the flower that’s dipped in.
- Have your child firmly press the flower onto the construction paper.
- Remove the flower and repeat.
- Invite your child to experiment with printing different parts of the flower and different types of plant life.