Spring Fever
Trees put on their best show, the air feels lighter, and even the tiniest flowers seem to lean forward and say look at me. Bringing that feeling into the studio means colour that feels alive, shapes borrowed from nature, and ideas that keep growing the more you play. Just like spring itself, creativity is full of surprises.
Fundamentals
Framer Fundamentals
Trees put on their best show, the air feels lighter, and even the tiniest flowers seem to lean forward and say look at me. Bringing that feeling into the studio means colour that feels alive, shapes borrowed from nature, and ideas that keep growing the more you play. Just like spring itself, creativity is full of surprises.
Steven Smith
INSTALLATION IDEA
INSTALLATION IDEA
CARDBOARD GARDEN
CARDBOARD GARDEN
The Set Up
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.
The Making
Children cut and join cardboard into giant flowers, tall stems, and wild shapes that do not 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.
Variations
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.
Materials
You might use:
- Large sheets of cardboard
- Cardboard scissors (my favourites are linked here in the Artist’s Toolkit)
- Poster paint mixed with a little white for extra vibrancy. Always think about the gorgeous ways these colours will be mixed together by tiny hands!
- Paint brushes or sponges
- MakeDo screws and toolkit
- Or alternatives: electrical tape, glue gun, masking tape
The Set Up
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.
The Making
Children cut and join cardboard into giant flowers, tall stems, and wild shapes that do not 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.
Variations
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.
Materials
You might use:
- Large sheets of cardboard
- Cardboard scissors (my favourites are linked here in the Artist’s Toolkit)
- Poster paint mixed with a little white for extra vibrancy. Always think about the gorgeous ways these colours will be mixed together by tiny hands!
- Paint brushes or sponges
- MakeDo screws and toolkit
- Or alternatives: electrical tape, glue gun, masking tape
The Set Up
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.
The Making
Children cut and join cardboard into giant flowers, tall stems, and wild shapes that do not 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.
Variations
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.
Materials
You might use:
- Large sheets of cardboard
- Cardboard scissors (my favourites are linked here in the Artist’s Toolkit)
- Poster paint mixed with a little white for extra vibrancy. Always think about the gorgeous ways these colours will be mixed together by tiny hands!
- Paint brushes or sponges
- MakeDo screws and toolkit
- Or alternatives: electrical tape, glue gun, masking tape
MAKERS TABLE IDEA #1
MAKERS TABLE IDEA #1
SPRING COLLAGE
SPRING COLLAGE
The Set Up
Save painted paper, magazine clippings, and sheet music for cutting into petals and leaves. Provide scissors, glue, and a mix of pre-cut shapes alongside full sheets for those who want to design their own.
The Making
Collage becomes a blooming garden one piece at a time. Children layer painted scraps, tuck leaves behind petals, or scatter shapes loosely across the page. Each arrangement has its own rhythm and energy. At Smudge we love reminding children that “collage” comes from the French word coller, which means to glue — because every piece is about sticking things together in new ways.
Variations
Spend a session first creating painted papers with texture tools like egg brushes or forks. Dry them in the sun, then cut and collage.
Materials
You might use:
- Old painted paper
- Scissors
- Glue sticks or PVA
- Pre cut shapes for quick starts
- Uncut painted paper for kids who want to create their own shapes
The Set Up
Save painted paper, magazine clippings, and sheet music for cutting into petals and leaves. Provide scissors, glue, and a mix of pre-cut shapes alongside full sheets for those who want to design their own.
The Making
Collage becomes a blooming garden one piece at a time. Children layer painted scraps, tuck leaves behind petals, or scatter shapes loosely across the page. Each arrangement has its own rhythm and energy. At Smudge we love reminding children that “collage” comes from the French word coller, which means to glue — because every piece is about sticking things together in new ways.
Variations
Spend a session first creating painted papers with texture tools like egg brushes or forks. Dry them in the sun, then cut and collage.
Materials
You might use:
- Old painted paper
- Scissors
- Glue sticks or PVA
- Pre cut shapes for quick starts
- Uncut painted paper for kids who want to create their own shapes
The Set Up
Save painted paper, magazine clippings, and sheet music for cutting into petals and leaves. Provide scissors, glue, and a mix of pre-cut shapes alongside full sheets for those who want to design their own.
The Making
Collage becomes a blooming garden one piece at a time. Children layer painted scraps, tuck leaves behind petals, or scatter shapes loosely across the page. Each arrangement has its own rhythm and energy. At Smudge we love reminding children that “collage” comes from the French word coller, which means to glue — because every piece is about sticking things together in new ways.
Variations
Spend a session first creating painted papers with texture tools like egg brushes or forks. Dry them in the sun, then cut and collage.
Materials
You might use:
- Old painted paper
- Scissors
- Glue sticks or PVA
- Pre cut shapes for quick starts
- Uncut painted paper for kids who want to create their own shapes
MAKERS TABLE IDEA #2
MAKERS TABLE IDEA #2
MAKERS TABLE IDEA #2
SPRING SCULPTURES
SPRING SCULPTURES
SPRING SCULPTURES
The Set Up
Provide florist wire or pipe cleaners, a strong base like a stick or bark, and extras such as beads, ribbons, or paper flowers. Goggles add to the sense of importance and keep eyes safe.
The Making
Children twist and bend wire into shapes that bloom upwards and outwards. Pipe cleaners make soft, colourful stems while wire allows for more intricate forms. The sculptures rise in all directions, creating a three-dimensional garden that feels alive and growing.
Variations
Work together on a giant group garden. Use the finished sculptures as a table centrepiece or part of a seasonal display.
Materials
You might use:
- Florist wire or 18 gauge craft wire
- Pipe cleaners for softer builds
- A base like a stick or large piece of bark
- Beads, ribbon, paper flowers, wool roving (for a more magical garden)
- Large goggles for fun and safety
The Set Up
Provide florist wire or pipe cleaners, a strong base like a stick or bark, and extras such as beads, ribbons, or paper flowers. Goggles add to the sense of importance and keep eyes safe.
The Making
Children twist and bend wire into shapes that bloom upwards and outwards. Pipe cleaners make soft, colourful stems while wire allows for more intricate forms. The sculptures rise in all directions, creating a three-dimensional garden that feels alive and growing.
Variations
Work together on a giant group garden. Use the finished sculptures as a table centrepiece or part of a seasonal display.
Materials
You might use:
- Florist wire or 18 gauge craft wire
- Pipe cleaners for softer builds
- A base like a stick or large piece of bark
- Beads, ribbon, paper flowers, wool roving (for a more magical garden)
- Large goggles for fun and safety
The Set Up
Provide florist wire or pipe cleaners, a strong base like a stick or bark, and extras such as beads, ribbons, or paper flowers. Goggles add to the sense of importance and keep eyes safe.
The Making
Children twist and bend wire into shapes that bloom upwards and outwards. Pipe cleaners make soft, colourful stems while wire allows for more intricate forms. The sculptures rise in all directions, creating a three-dimensional garden that feels alive and growing.
Variations
Work together on a giant group garden. Use the finished sculptures as a table centrepiece or part of a seasonal display.
Materials
You might use:
- Florist wire or 18 gauge craft wire
- Pipe cleaners for softer builds
- A base like a stick or large piece of bark
- Beads, ribbon, paper flowers, wool roving (for a more magical garden)
- Large goggles for fun and safety
MAKERS TABLE IDEA #2
MAKERS TABLE IDEA #2
MAKERS TABLE IDEA #2
SPRING SCULPTURES
SPRING SCULPTURES
SPRING SCULPTURES
The Set Up
Provide florist wire or pipe cleaners, a strong base like a stick or bark, and extras such as beads, ribbons, or paper flowers. Goggles add to the sense of importance and keep eyes safe.
The Making
Children twist and bend wire into shapes that bloom upwards and outwards. Pipe cleaners make soft, colourful stems while wire allows for more intricate forms. The sculptures rise in all directions, creating a three-dimensional garden that feels alive and growing.
Variations
Work together on a giant group garden. Use the finished sculptures as a table centrepiece or part of a seasonal display.
Materials
You might use:
- Florist wire or 18 gauge craft wire
- Pipe cleaners for softer builds
- A base like a stick or large piece of bark
- Beads, ribbon, paper flowers, wool roving (for a more magical garden)
- Large goggles for fun and safety
The Set Up
Provide florist wire or pipe cleaners, a strong base like a stick or bark, and extras such as beads, ribbons, or paper flowers. Goggles add to the sense of importance and keep eyes safe.
The Making
Children twist and bend wire into shapes that bloom upwards and outwards. Pipe cleaners make soft, colourful stems while wire allows for more intricate forms. The sculptures rise in all directions, creating a three-dimensional garden that feels alive and growing.
Variations
Work together on a giant group garden. Use the finished sculptures as a table centrepiece or part of a seasonal display.
Materials
You might use:
- Florist wire or 18 gauge craft wire
- Pipe cleaners for softer builds
- A base like a stick or large piece of bark
- Beads, ribbon, paper flowers, wool roving (for a more magical garden)
- Large goggles for fun and safety
The Set Up
Provide florist wire or pipe cleaners, a strong base like a stick or bark, and extras such as beads, ribbons, or paper flowers. Goggles add to the sense of importance and keep eyes safe.
The Making
Children twist and bend wire into shapes that bloom upwards and outwards. Pipe cleaners make soft, colourful stems while wire allows for more intricate forms. The sculptures rise in all directions, creating a three-dimensional garden that feels alive and growing.
Variations
Work together on a giant group garden. Use the finished sculptures as a table centrepiece or part of a seasonal display.
Materials
You might use:
- Florist wire or 18 gauge craft wire
- Pipe cleaners for softer builds
- A base like a stick or large piece of bark
- Beads, ribbon, paper flowers, wool roving (for a more magical garden)
- Large goggles for fun and safety
Coursetree
Coursetree