Summer is full of colors, scents, and little treasures that kids often collect along the way—flowers, leaves, blades of grass, or small twigs. This time, you don’t have to just let them dry out in a vase. You can turn them into a little summer project that will keep the kids entertained time and time again.
Start with a family outing. In the garden, a meadow, or on a walk around the neighborhood, look for interesting flowers and leaves, and notice their shapes, colors, and differences. Each child can create their own little collection and choose the plants they like best.
Back home, it’s time for pressing. Place the flowers and leaves between sheets of paper in a heavy book and let them rest for a few days. This way, the children will also learn that some things take time—and their joy will be all the greater when they open the book again and discover perfectly flat flowers ready for further creativity.
And then the most creative part begins. Using plain cardboard and clear tape, you can create a simple herbarium-style picture in which the flowers will look as if they’re floating in the air. Everyone can create their own little meadow, floral pattern, or completely abstract composition.
The result won’t just be a decoration for your window or wall, but also a memory of a specific walk, trip, or vacation day. And feel free to create a whole series during Indian summer—one picture from your vacation, one from the garden, and another, perhaps, from a walk at Grandma’s.
You can find out how to make the picture here.