# Sticky Garden Window Art
> Tape contact paper to a window, sticky side out, and let kids press fresh petals, flowers and leaves onto it to make mice, butterflies and other figures. It is a simple spring nature activity that also works indoors.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/spring-activities-for-kids-sticky-garden/
- Ages: 3–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: low
- Time: prep 25 min, activity 30 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 2 kids
- Skills: nature-observation, fine-motor, creativity, memory, matching
- Cautions: ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 sheet Clear contact paper (self-adhesive)
- Fresh flowers and petals
- Leaves from the same plants
- Tape (household)
- 1 sheet Large sheet of poster board (optional)
- 1 piece Magnifying glass (optional)

## Safety
- Some garden flowers and leaves are toxic if eaten. Use plants you know are safe, and don't let kids put petals or leaves in their mouths.
- Supervise young children closely. Petals and small flower heads are small pieces.
- Kids with pollen or plant allergies may react to fresh flowers. Wash hands after play.
- Choose a window kids can reach while standing on the floor. An adult tapes up the contact paper.

## Before you start
- Have a large sheet of contact paper and some tape ready.
- Pick a window the kids can reach comfortably.

## Steps
1. Collect flowers and leaves, choosing flowers that are almost falling off the plant.
2. Spread the flowers and leaves out on a large sheet of poster board.
3. Look closely at them with a magnifying glass.
4. Adult: tape a large sheet of contact paper to the window.
5. Peel off the backing so the sticky side faces you.
6. Press petals, flowers and leaves onto the sticky side to make a figure, like a mouse.
7. Make more figures, like butterflies, until every piece has its place.
8. Step back and enjoy your sticky garden on the window.

## Tips
- For the sake of nature itself, it is best to use flowers that are almost falling off of the plant.
- Collect the leaves along with the flowers. Every single nature piece had its place and served a specific purpose in the creative process.
- The sticky side is the fun side! Sticky and kids go hand in hand.
- Outdoor activities are great, but if you can have fun with spring activities INSIDE the house for that much-needed 'home-bound' time, that's a win in my book.
- Expect some 'my butterfly is better than yours' bickering. Ours got over it and started enjoying the process eventually.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2014)

### Engaging spring activities for kids using contact paper and fresh flowers from your garden.

Come spring, we love hanging out in our backyard, our lawn and even on our super-friendly neighbor's lawn. We love [**nature play**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/nature-play-2/) and both the kids are in their elements when surrounded by nothing but nature. Our generous neighbor is always giving us fresh flowers along with exciting stories about his childhood memories of making perfumes, playing with petals etc. Inspired by his stories, we have found multiple ways to play with fresh flowers.

1. **[Fresh flowers Play dough](https://www.funlittles.com/fresh-flowers-play-dough-play/)**
2. **F[resh Flowers sensory play](https://www.funlittles.com/sensory-activities-quick-play-idea-with-fresh-flowers-and-sand/)**
3. **[Fresh flowers scavenger hunt](https://www.funlittles.com/scavenger-hunt-for-kids/)**
4. [**Fresh Flowers spring potions**](https://www.funlittles.com/spring-activities-explore-outdoors-and-make-flower-potions/)

There are also a ton of nature inspired **spring activities for kids** on our recent round up. We collected a bunch of their favorite flowers. For the sake of nature itself, it is best to use flowers that are almost falling off of the plant...



The kids, (5.5 and 3.5 yrs) spread them out on a large sheet of poster board and observed them using a magnifying glass. We collected both the flowers and the leaves from the plant.



I taped a large sheet of contact paper to my window sticky side facing towards me. Tape the contact paper to the window and peel off the backing to reveal the sticky side. This side is the fun side!! Right? Sticky and kids go hand in hand! This the **[Con-Tact Brand Paper](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G6N62W0/?tag=blmemo-20)** I always buy and tend to keep them handy. We have put them to use in so many ways that it has become a staple over here. All [**contact/adhesive paper activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/contact-paper/) here. With the nature bits and contact paper taped, it was time to get playing and creating. My 5.5 year old was excited to create with her flowers and leaves. She was especially proud of her Mr. Mouse to the left and a bunch of butterflies.

*(Outdoor activities are great! But if you can have fun with spring activities for kids INSIDE the house for that much-needed "home-bound" times, then I call that a win in my book.)*

Every single nature piece had its place and served a specific purpose in the creative process. My 3.5 year old joined in and made her own figures.. It was fun to watch both the girls create something with flowers, leaves and sticky paper. OF course there was bickering, teasing (read "my butterfly is better than yours" type of "conversation") Yet they got over them and started enjoying the process eventually.



After so much thought and a very strict selection process here is a cute mouse made with flower petals and leaves.



Apparently we have a cute Lala Loopsy butterfly from my 3.5 year old.



A regular butterfly again..



A princess butterfly..I love the use of flowers and petals.



Another learning element we did ( I couldn't snap pictures of that activity)

When we gathered the leaves along with the flowers I mentioned to my 5.5 year old to observe the flowers-leaves combination pattern. Later I collected all the flowers and stuck them on the contact paper. Then her **challenge was to match the leaves to the flowers**. It was a great memory recall exercise for her.



Thanks for reading





Find even more ideas for [**spring activities for kids**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/season/spring-season/) on our category page

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