Spring is in the air, and what better way to celebrate the season of growth and renewal than by diving into a craft that brings the beauty of flowers indoors? The Straw Painted Flowers craft is a simple, engaging activity that allows children to explore their creativity while experimenting with colors and textures. This project not only produces vibrant, eye-catching art but also provides a wonderful sensory experience. Using everyday materials, kids can create their own floral masterpieces that burst with color and life, making it a perfect craft for a sunny afternoon.
The beauty of this craft lies in its simplicity and the unique technique used to paint the flowers. By transforming plastic straws into makeshift paintbrushes, children can explore an unconventional method of painting that yields stunning results. This activity not only encourages kids to think outside the box but also allows for a fun exploration of how different tools can create varied textures and effects. So, gather your materials, and let’s create a garden of straw painted flowers that will brighten any room!
Materials For Straw Painted Flowers Craft:
- Plastic straws
- Watering Can flower pot template (find it at the end of the post)
- Scissors
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Green and purple paint (or any colors of your choice)
- Paper plate
- White paint (to mix with purple for lilac)
- Thin paintbrush
How to Make Straw Painted Flowers:
- Cut Out the Watering Can Flower Pot: Print and cut out the watering can flower pot template (find it at the end of this post) and trace it on a sheet of construction paper to cut out. Or on a sheet of construction paper, draw the three parts of a watering can: the pot, the handle, and the spout. Invite your child to help cut these pieces out.
- Assemble the Watering Can: Glue the cut-out pieces or cut out onto another sheet of paper to form your watering can flower pot.
- Prepare the Paints: Pour green and purple paint onto a paper plate. If you want to create lilac flowers, mix white paint with purple to get the desired shade.
- Paint the Stems: Using a thin paintbrush and green paint, draw stems coming from the top of the watering can.
- Prepare the Straws: Use the scissors to make several slits at one end of two straws. Spread the slits apart to create a star shape. This will be your flower stamp.
- Paint the Flowers: Dip the prepared straws into the purple (or lilac) paint, then stamp the flowers along the green stems. You’ll see the beautiful star-shaped flowers come to life.
- Let It Dry: Set your artwork aside to dry.
How My Kids Created This Craft:
My kids were thrilled with the idea of using straws as paintbrushes. They eagerly made the slits in the straws, excited to see how these would turn into flowers. As they assembled the watering can on their paper, they meticulously planned where each stem would go. Dipping the straws into the paint and stamping them onto the paper was met with delight at each flower’s reveal. They experimented with how much paint to use and how pressing differently created varied flower shapes. Watching their garden grow on paper was truly a joy.
Tips for Success:
- Make sure the slits in the straws are evenly spaced to create the most uniform flower shapes.
- Although I am not a fan of plastic straws they are better for crafting than paper straws as they hold up to the paint longer.
- Experiment with different colors and combinations to create a vibrant garden.
- Cover your work surface to protect it from paint spills.
Skills Learned:
- Fine Motor Skills: Cutting, gluing, and precise stamping all contribute to the development of fine motor skills.
- Creativity: Choosing colors and designing their flower garden allows children to express themselves creatively.
- Problem Solving: Kids learn to troubleshoot as they figure out how much paint to use and how to best create their flower stamps.
- Sensory Exploration: The process of mixing paints and the texture created by stamping with straws provide a rich sensory experience.
This Straw Painted Flowers craft is more than just an art project; it’s a celebration of creativity, an exploration of materials, and a delightful way to welcome the beauty of spring into your home. So why not make this the next activity you and your kids dive into? The results are sure to be as unique and wonderful as the process itself.
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.
Watering Can Flower Pot Template
Straw Painted Flower Craft
Materials
- Plastic straws
- Scissors
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Green and purple paint (or any colors of your choice)
- Paper plate
- White paint (to mix with purple for lilac)
- Thin paintbrush
Instructions
- Prepare the Straws: Use the scissors to make several slits at one end of two straws. Spread the slits apart to create a star shape. This will be your flower stamp.
- Cut Out the Watering Can Flower Pot: Print and cut out the watering can flower pot template (find it at the end of this post) and trace it on a sheet of construction paper to cut out. Or on a sheet of construction paper, draw the three parts of a watering can: the pot, the handle, and the spout. Invite your child to help cut these pieces out.
- Assemble the Watering Can: Glue the cut-out pieces or cut out onto another sheet of paper to form your watering can flower pot.
- Prepare the Paints: Pour green and purple paint onto a paper plate. If you want to create lilac flowers, mix white paint with purple to get the desired shade.
- Paint the Stems: Using a thin paintbrush and green paint, draw stems coming from the top of the watering can.
- Paint the Flowers: Dip the prepared straws into the purple (or lilac) paint, then stamp the flowers along the green stems. You'll see the beautiful star-shaped flowers come to life.
- Let It Dry: Set your artwork aside to dry.
