VBS Crafts: Flower Planter Mugs

These flower planter mugs are a craft that almost any age can do – from toddlers and preschoolers through adults! They’re perfect for your kids to make for Mother’s Day (or any other occasion when you want an affordable homemade gift)!

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Supplies

• Plain white mugs – If you don’t have a Dollar Tree, Amazon also has mugs available. If you don’t have the $1+ per kid budget for mugs, you can also use plastic disposable pots ($.14 each) or empty tin cans covered with duct tape (used cans are free!).
• Permanent markers
• Potting soil
• Flowers (I got ours at Lowe’s. A 6-pack of annuals was less than $2!)
• Optional: curling ribbon
• Optional: stickers and/or adhesive gems
• Cards: construction paper or cardstock paper and markers

Instructions (using ceramic mugs)

• Tip: Don’t worry about peeling the price tags off the bottom. I tried to peel mine off, then the ones that wouldn’t come off easily came off when I baked the mugs.
• Write each kid’s name somewhere on their mug with black permanent marker.
• Let kids draw or color anything they want on the mug using permanent markers.
• If kids know how to write, ask them to write a bible verse or encouraging message on the mug.

• If kids are too young to write, just have the kids color on the mug and have your adults add the phrase later. I wrote things like: You are loved, hello sunshine, etc.
• Once the kids are finished decorating mugs, they’re ready to be baked! Sit all the mugs on baking sheets. Put them in a COLD oven and set it to 350 degrees. Once the oven is at 350, leave it on for 30 minutes, then turn the oven off. Leave the mugs in the oven until they’re completely cooled! Letting the mugs slowly heat up and cool down ensures they won’t crack from changing temperature too quickly.

• Note: If you’re using the mugs for planters, it’s not completely necessary to bake them. If you don’t have time to bake them, they’ll be fine… the decorations may not last as long. Baking the mugs sets the permanent marker so it lasts longer. My daughter made one of these a year ago. We didn’t bake it. Sitting the mug in a window with direct sunlight faded most of the marker in about a year.
• Add potting soil to fill each mug about 2/3 full, then add flowers and top with potting soil.
• Optional: Add some curling ribbon to the mug for a little extra pizzazz!

Instructions (using disposable flower pots)

• Write each kid’s name somewhere on their flower pot with black permanent marker.
• Let kids draw or color anything they want on the flower pot using permanent markers.
• If kids know how to write, ask them to write a bible verse or encouraging message on the flower pot.

• If kids are too young to write, just have the kids color on the flower pot and have your adults add the phrase later. I wrote things like: You are loved, hello sunshine, etc.
• Add potting soil to fill each flower pot about 2/3 full, then add flowers and top with potting soil.
• Optional: Add some curling ribbon to the flower pot for a little extra pizzazz! You can also let the kids finish the flower pots off with accents like stickers and/or adhesive gems.

Instructions (using recycled tin cans)

• Before VBS: Rinse each tin can to make sure it’s clean. Cover the sides of the can with duct tape. Make sure the duct tape at the top of the can goes over the lip and into the can a little bit to cover any sharp edges.

• Write each kid’s name somewhere on their tin can with black permanent marker.
• Let kids draw or color anything they want on the tin can using permanent markers.

• If kids know how to write, ask them to write a bible verse or encouraging message on the can.
• If kids are too young to write, just have the kids color on the tin can and have your adults add the phrase later. I wrote things like: You are loved, hello sunshine, etc.
• Add potting soil to fill each tin can about 2/3 full, then add flowers and top with potting soil.
• Optional: Add some curling ribbon to the tin can for a little extra pizzazz! You can also let the kids finish the cans off with accents like stickers and/or adhesive gems.

Instructions (Mother’s Day card)

• A good ole handmade Happy Mother’s Day card finishes off the gift perfectly! Just fold a piece of construction paper or cardstock paper in half, then decorate using markers and stickers.

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