March is National Craft Month, and we are here to celebrate! You’ll find many resources on our website about crafts for every season and holiday from St. Patrick’s Day to Halloween and everything in between. Here are some spring crafts that also go along with one of our favorite springtime books.
The Book:
Holly Bloom’s Garden by Sarah Ashman and Nancy Parent
Holly Bloom’s Garden is a delightful story about a girl named Holly and her desire to have a beautiful spring garden. This story follows Holly as she discovers both the joy and challenges in gardening. No matter what she tries, be it fertilizer, watering, or planting in the best soil, Holly just can’t seem to get her flowers to grow or keep her Daisies from drooping.
After much trial-and-error and great perseverance, Holly realizes there are more ways to grow flowers than with seeds and soil. Using inspiration from her creative father, Holly decides to garden a new way. She surprises her family by “growing” her own unique flowers from paper and paste, pipe cleaners and paint.
Holly Bloom’s Garden doesn’t just teach children about the joys of gardening, It also teaches them about patience, and the joy of being yourself and finding your own true talents – even if that makes you a late bloomer.
You can listen to Holly Bloom’s Garden or read it online.
In the book, Holly uses paper, pipe cleaners, paint, and paste to create some beautiful flowers. You and your little gardener(s) can do the same thing using the flower crafts below. These crafts are appropriate for children of all ages.
The Crafts:
1. Painted Handprint Flowers
This craft is great for those tiny hands and those that can manage this independently. They also make great gifts for loved ones (Mother’s Day is just around the corner!).
For this activity you will need paint, paper, paper towels, hands, and patience!
Step 1: Lay the paper out that you would like to use.
Step 2: Paint the palm of the child’s hand.
Step 3: Place the child’s hand on the paper.
Step 4: Repeat in as many spots and colors as you’d like.
Step 5: Once dry you can add stems to your handprint flowers. I also add my child’s name and the year.
Tip: You can also do this on tea towels, t-shirts, etc. to turn your handprint flowers into the perfect gift.
2. Paper Flowers
Another fun activity is making your own garden out of paper. All you need for this craft is some paper, something to write with, scissors, and glue. Be sure to do this one with an adult close by or let your older child do this with scissors because it does involve cutting.
Step 1: Choose the colored paper you’d like to use or have your child paint/color some paper.
Step 2: Trace your child’s hand on the paper of choice.
Step 3: Cut out the handprint
Step 4: Place the cut-out handprints on a blank piece of paper to arrange them into a flower.
Step 5: Glue the handprint cut outs onto the paper.
Step 6: Cut out a circle for the center of the flower.
Step 7: Glue the center of the flower in the center of your handprint flowers.
Step 8: Add your child’s name and the year!
These are just two fun crafts you and your child(ren) can do that are inspired by Holly Bloom’s Garden. For more craft ideas, and a delicious garden inspired dessert, check out the Flashlight Press website. To explore other wonderful children’s books and crafts/activities to go along with them, check out this page HERE.
