Let’s talk about one of the quirkiest (and cutest!) spring crafts you’ll ever try with your kids: Broccoli Cherry Blossom Printing. Yep, you read that right. We’re turning broccoli into a paintbrush—and trust us, it works so well.
If you’re a fan of unexpected art tools (hi potato mashers, cotton swabs, and bubble wrap), this one’s going to be right up your alley. Broccoli florets make the perfect little stamp for cherry blossom petals, and the texture is just too good. Plus, it’s a super fun way to sneak in a little fine motor practice, color exploration, and sensory play.
We did this on a rainy afternoon with leftover broccoli in the fridge (no shame), and it quickly became a favorite. My kids loved the surprise of using food as an art tool, and I loved how beautiful the finished paintings turned out—no perfection required.
Why You’ll Love This Broccoli Blossom Craft
- So easy to prep—no fancy materials needed.
- Great for preschoolers, toddlers, and big kids.
- Amazing texture that gives the look of real cherry blossoms.
- Perfect for spring crafts or an art-meets-nature lesson.
- It’s broccoli… as a stamp. What’s not to love?
Materials
- Tree template (see below) or Brown marker or paint (for branches)
- Broccoli floret (just a chunk from a larger head is fine)
- Pink paint (or mix red + white)
- White cardstock or construction paper
- Paper plate or shallow tray (for paint)
- Optional: clothespin or small handle to grip the broccoli
How to Set It Up
1. Draw your tree.
Scroll down and print out one of my adorable tree templates on white or blue paper (the light blue paper gives off such a fresh spring vibe!). Or you can use a brown marker or paint to draw your tree trunk and branches on a blank sheet of cardstock. Keep it simple—just some curved lines branching out from the center or side. You can do this step ahead of time for younger kids.
2. Prep the broccoli.
Cut a chunk of broccoli off the stalk and blot it dry with a paper towel. If it’s too small for little hands to grip, you can clip a clothespin to the stem or stick in a fork for an easy handle.
3. Pour the paint.
Squeeze a little pink paint onto a plate. We like to use a couple of shades (light pink, dark pink, even a little white or coral) so the blossoms have dimension.
4. Start stamping!
Dip the broccoli into the paint and gently press it onto the paper around the branches. Let kids experiment with light and heavy pressure or mixing colors on the floret. The irregular shape of the broccoli gives it that perfect “clustered petal” look.
5. Let it dry and admire.
Once they’re done, set the artwork aside to dry. These turn out so pretty, they’re great for hanging up as spring décor or turning into cards for grandparents.
This broccoli cherry blossom craft is such a fun way to welcome spring. It’s playful, creative, and gives kids the chance to explore texture and color in a totally hands-on way. And hey, if it gets them a little more curious about veggies at dinner, we’re calling that a bonus win.
So grab that floret and let’s get painting—broccoli never looked so good!
Free Tree Template
Grab your free tree template here:
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
