Make Spring Flowers!

“Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade.” ― 
Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Spring is a season of new life and an array of blooms in the garden. Whilst our spring seems to be on hold this week with unseasonal thunderstorms...this cutting and rolling craft is a perfect indoor activity for your kids learning to use scissors!

What do you need?
Coloured or patterned paper
Scissors
Sticky Tape
Sticks (we used disposable chopsticks)

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What do you need to do?
There are 2 different flowers in the vase above.  

1) To make the spiky variety, you can draw the fringe on the edge of the paper ready for cutting.
2) Cut along the lines to make a fringe.
3) Stick the chopstick to one end of the fringe.
4) Roll the paper up as tightly as possible.
5) Stick down the end of the paper.
6) Holding the chopstick, peel down the fringe (turning the chopstick as you go) to make the flower.

1) To make the curled variety, you can draw a spiral shape.
2) Cut along the lines of the spiral.
3) Stick the chopstick onto the outer end of the spiral with the stick pointing towards the centre of the spiral.
4) Roll the paper up as tightly as possible.
5) Allow the spiral to unravel a little to get nice flower shape. 
6) Stick down the end of the paper.

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Mr 4 had a great time making these flowers. Each step required Mr 4 to use both his hands at the same time (bilateral coordination).  He has always loved cutting and this activity allowed Mr 4 to practise his eye-hand coordination skills in staying on the line and manipulation skills when turning the paper around during cutting.   

The flowers will of course look better if you draw your lines in pencil rather than a thick texta as I have done here. Some children will require a thick dark line to provide a strong visual guide for cutting.

Mr 4 needed some help when rolling the paper (especially when we were trying to figure out the best way to roll the spiral).  This photo shows you one he did independently!

Miss almost-8 came home after school and on finding the vase of flowers wanted to make some too.  She made the flowers using patterned craft paper which look great. 

I have seen "grown ups" do this craft on several sites on the net with some stunning affects in a variety of paper.  I especially loved one I saw using vintage paper which was amazing.  This craft is not about a perfect stunning posy... but rather an opportunity for your kids to get busy with their hands and have an end result.  

Can you make a "bunch of flowers" to give to a grandparent or teacher this weekend?

You may also like to try...

Paper Planes

Threading (or lacing)

Painting