As the garden begins to bloom, we’re finding inspiration in the bright colors of the season. This month, we’re sharing two sensory-rich ways to bring that "Garden Magic" indoors using simple items you likely already have in your kitchen.
Whether you’re reimagining our Chewtensils® as a unique stamping tool for a tulip garden or transforming coffee filters into a watercolor bouquet, these crafts are designed for minimal mess and maximum creativity for your little artists.
Chewtensil® Tulip Garden
Who knew your favorite training forks could double as the perfect art tool? The textured silicone tines of Bumkins Chewtensils® fork create a beautiful, layered shape that looks just like a spring tulip! It’s the perfect shortcut for little artists to "grow" a whole garden of blooms with a simple stamp.
Materials Needed:
🌷 Bumkins Chewtensils®
🌷 Bumkins Silicone Grip Tray
🌷 Any washable paint
🌷 Any paper
🌷 Bumkins Splat Mat
Instructions:
1. Prep Your Palette: Fill the sections of your Silicone Grip Tray with different spring paint colors. This makes it easy for little hands to dip their "stamps" without mixing all the colors at once.
2. Dip & Stamp: Have your child dip the back of the Chewtensil® fork into the paint in the tray.
3. Create Your Tulip: Press the fork firmly onto the paper, then lift. The three tines naturally create that iconic tulip silhouette! Repeat across the page to "grow" your very own tulip garden.
4. Add the Details: Use a finger or a paintbrush to add green stems and leaves to each tulip.
5. Easy Cleanup: When the masterpiece is done, simply toss the Chewtensils® and the Grip Tray in the dishwasher!
6. Enjoy your little one's beautiful work of art! 🌷
Watercolor Coffee Filter Flowers
Transform a kitchen staple into a dreamy spring bouquet. This craft is a wonderful way to let your little one explore colors by mixing them and watching them blend across the paper like magic.
Materials Needed:
🌸 Coffee filters
🌸 Scissors
🌸 Paintbrush
🌸 Bumkins Silicone Grip Plate, Little Dippers, and Splat Mat
🌸 Any watercolor colors
🌸 Pipe cleaners
Instructions:
1. Fold 4 coffee filters together in half three times until you have a wedge. Cut to round off the widest part of the wedge. When you unfold the filters, you should have a flower shape (similar to how you create a snowflake design.)
2. Prep Your Station: Place the Splat Mat over your counter to protect from spills. Place the cut flower coffee filters (all 4) onto your Silicone Grip Plate.
3. Add a few Little Dippers to the side of the plate and fill them with water and just a few drops of watercolor paint.
4. Get Painting: Using a paintbrush, have your little one paint the filter. Don't worry about being precise, the more water and color, the better they blend!
5. Watch the Magic: Observe how the colors bleed together to create soft, petal-like gradients. The Grip Plate helps keep the wet filter contained as they work.
6. Let your filters dry for a few hours. Once the filters are dry, take two filters at a time, pinch the center of the filter and twist.
7. Add the Stem: Wrap a pipe cleaner around the two twisted bases to secure the flower and create a long, flexible stem.
8. Style Your Bouquet: Repeat until you have a full "garden" that never needs watering!
Beyond the beautiful results, these crafts are a win for development. Stamping with Chewtensils® helps build fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, while watercolor play introduces early science concepts through color mixing.
The best part? You don’t need a specialized craft kit to make memories, just a little imagination and some simple items you already have lying around the house. Don’t forget to share your beautiful creations with us by tagging @bumkinsbaby on Instagram!
