Who would have known that a simple baking supply could make spectacular cupcake liner flower art? As we often say, the simplest ideas are usually the best, and this one is as simple and adorable as they come.
The surprise of cupcake liner flower art
Kids love a surprise, and cupcake liners glued to the center of a piece of paper are exactly that.
- “Are we making cupcakes?”
- “Why is this glued to the paper?”
- “Is it somebody’s birthday?”
The confused conversations I have overheard over the years when our students see the prepped papers sitting in the middle of the table are precious and full of curiosity.
And just like that, they’re hooked.
Related: A giant 10-foot flower coloring banner is the perfect activity for flower-loving kids and artists.
Cupcake liner flower art is gorgeous process art
You might have heard the phrase “process over product” before, and it’s an important philosophy in early childhood.
The quick version: preschool art is about the process, not the product. The joy and learning come from the doing, not the final result.
When children are given art supplies, a paper with a cupcake liner glued to the middle, and are asked, “Can you make a flower?” the final results are truly gorgeous.
Some kids make giant, colorful petals, while others make small, monochrome petals. You might even see some kids add butterflies and bees to the background.
No two pieces will be the same, and it’s truly an opportunity for process art to shine.
Try some of our other favorite process art projects, too:
- Orizomegami Dip-and-Dye Art – Friends Art Lab
- Outdoor Toy Paint – Busy Toddler
- Baking Sheet Printmaking – Friends Art Lab
- Paint Popsicles – Friends Art Lab
Materials
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- Cupcake liners – we used white, but you can use any color you have on hand
- Glue
- White paper
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
Directions
The directions are as easy as you can imagine.
Begin by gluing a cupcake liner to the center of a white paper (we cut our paper into squares).
Next, invite your child to add petals to their flower.
Tip: Instead of providing kids with a sample to copy, invite them to create flowers from their own imaginations. Children tend to copy samples, so we do not use one to avoid all the flowers looking the same.
Try this with your finished cupcake liner flower art
- Make a garden: whether you’re doing this with a class or at home, these are ADORABLE when displayed together on a wall like a flower garden.
- DIY cards: these could also make fun three-dimensional greeting card art.
- Switch it up: if your kids really love this project and want to make more, try using different art supplies the next day to keep the creative juices flowing (ex: paint the first day and markers the next).
Are those bells on the paintbrushes?
Yes!
Why are they there? Well, I am so glad you asked.
We never miss an opportunity to sneak a little bonus sensory learning into our art projects.
If you take a pipe cleaner, thread on a couple of bells, and wrap it around the top of your paintbrush, you have the sweetest, happiest jingles while you paint.
Now when you paint, you’ll enjoy the light music created simultaneously.
FAQ
Any that can safely use the materials.
Not at all! This was just an optional, bonus sensory addition.
You could substitute for paper cups, tissue paper, or rolled construction paper.
