On the day of a birthday party, fresh flowers can add a fragrant punch of color that enhances the space. But what can you do with flower bouquets once the party has ended? Rather than tossing wilting flowers into the trash, transform them through fun and engaging craft activities.
You’ll show your kids that there are many ways to repurpose old things. And you’ll end up with a beautiful project. Read on as we explore four kid-friendly crafts that use birthday bouquets.
1. Create Stunning Suncatchers
Suncatchers are always a hit as the focus of a craft project. And you can put old flower petals to use to create them. Have your kids help remove petals from an old bouquet while you cut clear contact paper into pairs of shapes.
Your kids can help place the petals on the sticky side of one piece of contact paper. They can make a specific design or be freeform with the arrangements. Then carefully attach the other piece of contact paper to secure the petals between them.
Punch a hole near the top of one side and trim any ragged edges to create a cleaner appearance. Let your kids choose a window or sliding glass door to display their suncatcher. Then they’ll be able to enjoy watching the sun shine through the delicate and colorful petals.
You can ensure a safe experience by opting for non-toxic materials and demonstrating care when handling scissors. Be vigilant with younger children to make sure no one puts anything in their mouths.
2. Use Dried Flowers for Bookmarks
You can turn pretty flowers into beautiful bookmarks with a little patience and care. If you got your daughter flowers for her birthday, don’t throw them away. Save the best ones to use as the decorative star of a fun craft activity that can become a treasured reading companion.
To make pressed-flower bookmarks, gather flowers in good condition and put them between parchment paper. Then sandwich the parchment between the pages of a thick book, and wait a few weeks.
When you check the flowers, they’ll be flat and dry. Place them on a bookmark-sized piece of cardstock, and seal them in place with clear contact paper.
Since dried flowers can be fragile, be sure to help younger children arrange them. Also, don’t seal the flowers until they are totally dry, or else you may get mold.
3. Turn Petals into Bath Salts and Potpourri
Children who take baths may enjoy the idea of creating fragrant bath salts to make the experience even more enjoyable. With a little Epsom salt, essential oils, and dried petals, kids can wind up with delightful bath salts.
As another option, kids can turn dried petals into potpourri. First, it’s important to completely dry the flower petals. Place the petals on a tray, and wait a few days.
Then put the petals in a bowl with some cinnamon sticks, dried citrus, or other fragrant additions. The result will be a beautiful collection of scents that can bring a decorative flourish to any room. And you’ll help teach your child about sustainability by reusing old petals.
4. Craft DIY Greeting Cards
If your kids love drawing and making pictures, have them create their own greeting cards using dried flowers from a birthday bouquet. Start by drying the petals from your favorite flowers. Press them as you would to make a pressed-flower bookmark so the petals are nice and flat.
After that, your kids will have pretty flowers to incorporate into their designs. Use non-toxic glue and a delicate touch to adhere the pressed flowers to the cardstock. Let your kids draw design elements or recognizable animals or landscape features around the collaged petals.
Your kids can add text, too, to wish someone a happy birthday or offer holiday greetings. Kids can hone their writing skills while making something they can share with friends or family. And a personal, handmade gift is always more meaningful than something from the store.
Learn How to Reuse Bouquets
Birthday bouquets can be repurposed as anything from potpourri to bookmark decorations. Work with your child to stretch their creativity and help them see the value in giving new life to old things. A simple bouquet-focused craft project can be a great rainy day activity, and your
