At-Home Master Class

"Even though we’re all staying inside, spring is blooming outside. These paper flower crafts are easy ways to bring the outdoors in, and let a little bit of joy bloom. As the author of Celebrate Everything— and the mother of three daughters—I know that even in difficult times, families need to come together to celebrate each other. These paper flowers aren’t just fun crafts, they also work as decor to make spring occasions still feel special, whether it’s Easter, Passover, Mother’s Day, graduation or birthdays for kids whose parties have had to be postponed.

"Half the fun is in making the paper blooms, the other half is using them to make someone feel special—and there are an infinite number of ways to do both. All you need to plant the seed of creativity is a printer, paper, and whatever your kids are loving coloring with these days. Here are my tips for putting a little spring in your family’s steps." — Darcy Miller, Celebrations Expert, Illustrator and Author

1. DIT (Do It Together): That’s my twist on DIY, and it’s perfect for making a wreath out of paper flowers. Parents and kids can download the template, print, and cut out the flowers, and kids of any age can color them in using paint, crayons, pastels, whatever! Together, glue them to a wreath form made out of the rim of a paper plate, and you’ve got a sign of spring to hang on your door or in the window to cheer passersby. (For a how-to, click here.)

2. Let Kids Set the Table: This is a great time for children to take on responsibility, whether it’s for mundane chores (the fork goes here) or setting a fun scene for a stay-at-home special event. If you’re celebrating an occasion, and need to make this dinner feel different than the last dozen, kids can cut out flowers to use as place cards, glue them to toothpicks or wooden skewers to add to flower arrangements or use as cake toppers, or scatter across the table like confetti. Download our template for a matching napkin ring to add even more spring swing to your tabletop.

3. Play Dress-Up: Glue the flowers onto a paper crown (find a template here) or to a ribbon for a hair wreath, or tape one to a wooden skewer as a fairy’s wand.

4. Say It With Flowers: Tape the blossoms to paper to create a custom card to say hello, Happy Birthday, Happy Mother’s Day or “Thanks for all you do.”

5. Make Someone’s Day: Put several blossoms together into a paper bouquet to mail to grandma or hold up in your google classroom Zoom meeting to surprise a teacher. Tape blooms all over a present for instant gift wrap or use one as a gift tag. Whatever way you make the most of your paper flowers, they’re sure to spread cheer—and make kids feel proud of their talents as (paper) floral designers.