Mother’s Day Crafting

Mom always thought you were a little crafty. Surprise her with a hand-made flower.

An image of Gloria Kenyon.
Gloria Kenyon
Public Programs Coordinator
May 8, 2020
Artwork with flowers

Double-stamped flowers for Mother's Day.

Mother’s Day is on Sunday and if you’re not able to get your mom an Alexander Calder Pin, you can create a similar flower with just a few supplies you likely have in your house. (Please note, this craft is designed for pre-school and elementary aged children with help from an adult.) Using just one paper towel roll you can make two different flower crafts. Let’s get started. 

Supplies needed

  • Paper towel roll, cut in half (two tubes) 
  • Scissors 
  • Construction Paper 
  • Paint 
  • Paint brush 
  • Glue 
  • Ruler and Pencil (if desired to measure)

Let's Get Started

Flower Craft #1: Stamp a Flower

A photograph of a child making a stamp flower with a paper towel roll.

Let the stamping begin! Junior craft master beginning his Mother's Day project.

Pour paint into a tray 

Squeeze the paper towel tube into an oval shape and place one end into the paint, move it around a bit to ensure full coverage. 

Stamp onto your paper in a flower petal pattern. I liked the look of a double petal and double-stamped mine. You can do one, or several to create a small bouquet. 

Paint a center, stem, and leaves. Paint inside the petals, maybe add some glitter. What does your mom like? Let dry. 

Flower Craft #2: Craft a 3-D Flower

A flower made from folded paper.

Crafting a 3-D flower from pieces of paper towel roll. 

Cut one half of the paper towel roll into ½-inch circles. You can measure these out if you want to be precise. The cutting action should gently smash them to an oval shape.  

Cut one piece of your half-inch pieces open and roll into a spiral to become the center. You can unroll an extra oval and lay flat and be the stem. 

Paint the ovals in your mom’s favorite color. Paint the center spiral green or yellow. Paint the stem green. Have an extra oval? Make it a leaf. Use your imagination! Let dry. 

Glue parts to construction paper.  

After you share with your mom, please share with us @americanart. Happy Mother’s Day! 

This is the fourth blog post we've published on crafting at home. We'll be publishing another at-home craft with the craft master soon. In the meantime, check out our video library of crafting projects from past Handi-hour events.

Categories

Recent Posts

Detail of Phoebe Kline. She is sitting in front of orchids and smiling.
Docent Phoebe Kline began at SAAM in 1974 and she's still going strong
A photograph of a woman in front of artwork
More visitors and new exhibitions highlight a season of change.
 Stephanie Stebich, SAAM's Margaret and Terry Stent Direction in the museum's Lincoln Gallery. Photo by Gene Young. 
Stephanie Stebich
The Margaret and Terry Stent Director, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
Marian Anderson and symbols that surround her life
William H. Johnson portrayed the singer in multiple paintings, including in his Fighters for Freedom series.