Red Ted Art's Blog » Blog Archive » Kids Crafts: Sunflower Thank You Cards

Bringing Colour & Art to Children's Hearts

Home » Card making, Kids Craft, Painting

Kids Crafts: Sunflower Thank You Cards

29 June 2011 43 Comments

What isn’t there to love about Sunflowers? What better motif for Fingerprint Thank You Cards! This year we decided to take part in Nurture Store’s Sunflower Challenge, which is also linked to raising funds and awareness for the Compton Hospice. And to celebrate the challenge coming to an end at the end of the month, Nurture Store has challenged us to a sunflower craft! Hooray!

I was a little “annoyed” with myself for missing the opportunity to make our Sunshine Flag into a Sunflower Flag… But I didn’t think of it that day. Hey ho. Instead… we made some lovely Sunflower Thank You Cards using our fingerprints (we seemed to be forever saying thank you to people – this time it is Granny and Grandpa again for all their babysitting at the weekend). They were quick. Easy and hopefully “lovely”.

The Book

Well.. one book springs to mind straight away Camille and the Sunflowers, Laurence Anholt... this is the story of Vincent van Gogh through the eyes of a young postman’s son Camille (himself a subject of van Gogh’s paintings) It is indeed a little sad, as van Gogh life itself was one of non-acceptance and only late recognition. But it is beautifully told – bringing to life van Gogh’s paintings, as well as teaching your children about “being different”.

The Craft

Like I said: quick and easy, as we were “late” with out inspirational craft. But I love the result and I know Granny will to: Fingerprint Sunflower Cards!! Materials: Card stock (or paper folded), yellow paint, black or brown paint, green pen. Fingers.

1. Mmh, oh, so you can’t see much on this photo.. but Red Ted is basically putting some yellow blobs on the card. Followed by black little blobs…

2. Then I let him do what he wanted… a big “messy” picture for Grandpa…

3. Add the stems and leaves. And FINISHED.

And here is our sunflower – I am pretty certain it isn’t the tallest, so will not win, however, it was the first to bloom! We have more in the backgarden, that are as tall as me – but they are from a different batch of seeds!

On the 27th June it is 125cm (49.5″) tall – including petals it is 130cm, but they are starting to wilt… Our “other one” is a whopping 170cm. I am impressed.

For more Kid’s Craft ideas, click here for a full list. If you have been crafty with your kid’s be it at home, in the kitchen or outdoors, I would love for you to link up:

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Loading ...

43 Comments »

Julia Skinner said:

I love sunflowers so would love to get one of these. Definitely going to tell the teachers about this one!

# 29 June 2011 at 7:06 am

Ross Mannell said:

A simple yet effective idea. I think children would love this activity, especially if they’re allowed to do a messy picture afterwards.

Ross Mannell (teacher)
Australia

# 29 June 2011 at 7:13 am

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Aaah thanks Julia, you always leave such nice comments! And yes, Ross, messy is always good!

# 29 June 2011 at 7:22 am

cathy @ NurtureStore said:

Such a pretty sunflower Maggy. Thanks for all your support with the Sunflower Challenge.

# 29 June 2011 at 8:15 am

Red Ted Art (author) said:

My pleasure Cathy – it is great to see the kids get all excited about the beautiful flowers and how big they are getting!

# 29 June 2011 at 8:21 am

se7en said:

Hehe I was waiting for your post to link up!!! We are dying to read that book and it is just not in the library!!! Love your sunny sunflowers!!! Have a good day!!!

# 29 June 2011 at 4:10 pm

artsy_momma said:

How perfect for grandparents! Can I feature the cards in an upcoming saturday’s spotlight all about sunflowers later this month?

# 29 June 2011 at 4:28 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Oooh how lovely! Would be fabulous to be featured by you again thank you!

# 29 June 2011 at 5:02 pm

Zoe said:

Lovely looking cards Maggy! I’ve yet to measure ours… first thing tomorrow morning!

# 29 June 2011 at 6:41 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

I am pretty certain yours will be bigger!!

# 29 June 2011 at 6:53 pm

Anna @ The Imagination Tree said:

Gorgeous! I want to see a CLOSE up of the cards, thanks

# 30 June 2011 at 12:42 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Ah thanks.. and uhm.. we have posted 3 of them already.. but you know, I am sure I took more photos… will have a dig in the photo file!

Thanks for all the other lovely comments..

# 30 June 2011 at 1:36 pm

Rashi said:

Very cute cards Maggy, Thanks for sharing such a wonderful activity for kids.

# 30 June 2011 at 4:08 pm

Amy @ Hope Is the Word said:

I love it!

# 30 June 2011 at 8:23 pm

mummiafelice said:

Those are just amazing. So simple, but so beautiful. I’ve been really bad with crafts for the kids lately. Must change that!

Thanks for linking up!

# 30 June 2011 at 8:37 pm

Ann said:

Cute idea!

# 1 July 2011 at 9:42 am

RAT Links 6.30.11 | Hope Is the Word said:

[...] @ Red Ted Art’s Blog reviews a book about Vincent van Gogh: Camille and the Sunflowers, and she includes a go-along art activi…. I’m making mental notes of good picture books about artists for study later this year, and [...]

# 1 July 2011 at 10:07 am

Fun Frugal Mommy said:

Fun idea and I love the messy pictures. : ) I’m now following. Please come visit me at http://www.funfrugalmommy.blogspot.com

# 1 July 2011 at 12:58 pm

Chris at Thinly Spread said:

Is there anything jollier than a sunflower?! These are lovely, thanks for sharing. x

# 1 July 2011 at 3:19 pm

Katie Morag – Something For The Weekend! | Thinly Spread said:

[...] 3. Finger Print Sunflower Cards at Red Ted Art [...]

# 1 July 2011 at 4:20 pm

JDaniel4's Mom said:

The people that receive these will love them. What a wonderful craft.

# 1 July 2011 at 6:22 pm

Red Ted Art (author) said:

I hope so!!!

# 1 July 2011 at 6:29 pm

Candace @ NaturallyEducational said:

These are so lovely. I’ve been afraid to plant sunflowers because we don’t get much light. Maybe next year…

# 1 July 2011 at 7:08 pm

Emma said:

Lovely, so simple, but so sweet. x

# 1 July 2011 at 7:50 pm

Roopa @putti prapancha said:

Love how you made them into cards! We made handprint sunflowers:)

# 2 July 2011 at 4:19 am

Red Ted Art (author) said:

Oooh handprint flowers are lovely too!

# 2 July 2011 at 6:35 am

Lindsay said:

I absolutely adore sunflowers. With 6-7 year olds this week we re-told the story of Camille and the Sunflowers and created artworks using paint and pastels. Lovely fun. )

# 2 July 2011 at 12:03 pm

Kristy said:

Very cute! I like how you let him make whatever he wanted afterward, which was a messy picture. We have some fabulous messy creations at our house, too. Visiting you from the Read. Explore. Learn Summer Reading Challenge.

# 2 July 2011 at 12:51 pm

Delaney said:

What a cute idea!
http://sweetteaserendipity.blogspot.com

# 3 July 2011 at 12:11 am

Fran said:

My girls will love doing these! We did thumbprint chicks at Easter but never thought of Sunflowers, is there a happier flower?
Found the link on BritMums btw

Fran x

# 4 July 2011 at 11:04 pm

maryanne @ mama smiles said:

Simple and pretty. Perfect =)

# 5 July 2011 at 5:06 pm

Callie Feyen said:

I LOVE this! They turned out great, and I love the book you used to go along with it. Such a lovely story. (stopping by from weteach)

# 5 July 2011 at 8:45 pm

Isil said:

thanks for linking up to Book Sharing Monday,what a beautiful book!

# 6 July 2011 at 8:31 pm

Sunflower Thank You Cards-Book Craft · Lesson Plans | CraftGossip.com said:

[...] Red Ted Art is one of the hottest kids craft blogs out there…not to mention that they have the most book crafts of any blog out there ( which happen to be my favorite.) They pair up this craft with the book Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt which I have not yet read, but her explanation sounds wonderfully beautiful. I love how simple this craft is, yet it turned out beautiful…I’m sure Granny will love them! You may also like… [...]

# 8 July 2011 at 1:19 am