Grow a cardboard garden, pound colour from flowers, spin blossoms into motion, and fill play with the energy of spring.
Introduction
Flowers always (always) find their way into Smudge, and especially when spring begins to stir.
My mum filled our family home with flowers in every season, and that habit has stuck with me. Now my own house is never without a vase or two, and the studio is no different! Bringing nature inside feels good for the soul, and it gives artists endless ways to play. In this theme, blossoms turn into murals, petals pound their way into fabric, cardboard sprouts into gardens, and still lifes remind us to look a little closer.
From Smudge to You
Below you'll find the collection of creative activities we've used to bring this theme to life at Smudge. Each one is an invitation to play, experiment, and see where the materials take you. Pick and choose what excites you and adapt them to your own space.
A taste of what's inside
installationsAll ages
Turn cardboard into a living world that grows with every new piece.
Gather these before you start.
7 more inside this theme
Experience 2
sculpture
Things with wings and sparkly bugs, oh my!
Experience 3
creative-exploration
A forever favourite for kids (and adults!) everywhere.
Experience 5
sensory-play
Start with large pieces of cardboard and imagine a garden that has no limits. Gather cardboard scissors, tape or glue, and bright paint mixed with a little white for extra vibrancy. MakeDo tools are brilliant for strong joins but masking tape or a glue gun will do the job too.
Children cut and join cardboard into giant flowers, tall stems, and wild shapes that don't even have to exist in any real garden. Big brushes or sponges quickly cover shapes in bold colour. Over time the garden expands and changes, growing with each new addition.
Add bugs, butterflies, or magical creatures made from smaller scraps. Let the installation evolve over a week or more, photographing its growth as a record.
Pour and plant and play with a tiny garden in a tub.
Experience 6
print-making
Dip a bloom and stamp the page.
Experience 7
painting-drawing
Noticing all the gorgeous colours and forms of Spring!
Experience 8
collage
Mosaics and more!