A crafty spring-themed party filled with flowers, dirt pies and butterflies

Happy April, friends! Spring is in full swing, and it’s my favorite month of the year! In just a week or so we’ll also be celebrating a new Jewish month - the Hebrew month Iyar, which is known in Israel as the most green and beautiful month of the entire year. The name Iyar comes from the Hebrew word Or, which in English translates to light. So it’s easy to imagine a month filled with bright sunshine, blooming flowers and tiny blossoms on fruit trees too!

Since the days are becoming warmer, it is the perfect time of year to have a small backyard party (even if it’s a party just for your own family)! My favorite kind of parties are those that have a theme - and this party is all for my love of the season of spring. We’re decorating flower containers, making pet butterfly rocks (complete with a little habitat) and snacking on gummy worm dirt pies. I even have a sweet spring-themed storybook to read to the kiddos too.

This party has two crafts, and I set up two stations. I like having stations because it keeps each craft organized and provides the kiddos with some purposeful movement during the party. You’re invited to join us at my party, and if you’d like to have your own spring party too, I’ll share how I did this one, step-by-step! By the way, this would also be an adorable theme for Mother’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, Earth Day and a Spring birthday!

Flower Container Decorating Station

I think every spring party needs a flower craft! Our flower station serves double duty - it’s not only a craft but all the flowers are perfect decorations too! We gave each guest a container filled with flowers, and an empty second plastic container (a little larger than the flower container) to decorate.

Here’s what we used for our flower container decorating station:

Our supplies:

A container filled with flowers - one for each guest

Empty plastic container a little larger than the flower container
Glue
Pom-poms
Spring stickers
Washi Tape
Tissue paper circles and squares
Deconstructed flower leis

flower craft station for spring themed party

We set out the supplies on the table, and invited our friends to decorate their plastic flower container. This is a process art activity, and there isn’t a right or wrong way to decorate! When our friends are happy with the way their container looks, we popped the flower container directly inside their newly decorated container.

We had spray bottles on the table filled with water to give the flowers a little drink too.

All beautifully decorated!

I love this craft because when our friends go home, they’ll have a wonderful party favor!

Gummy Worm Dirt Pies

After decorating flower containers, it’s time for a little snack! These gummy worm dirt pies are perfect made in advance, and easy enough for littles to help make too. We made and served them directly in a muffin tin, and they look super adorable.

Here’s how to make dirt pies!

Our Supplies:

Muffin tin
Small waffel bowls
Chocolate pudding
Cookie crumbles
Green sprinkles
Gummy worms

Here’s how we made them with a little:

Have your kiddo put a waffel bowl in each opening of the muffin tin.
Carefully have them fill up each bowl (about half-way) with pudding and top with cookie crumbles.
Next, they can shake little green sprinkles on top. They look just like grass!
Finally, it’s ready to be finished with a gummy worm or two!

After presenting this yummy snack to friends, we like to serve them on paper plates along with a spoon!

Now that we have full tummies, it’s time for another craft - butterfly kindness rocks. The most special part of this activity is making a cute habitat for the butterfly, along with some loose parts for imaginative play. Here’s how to make your own butterfly rock and habitat!

Butterfly Kindness Rocks & Habitat Station

Butterfly Rock Supplies:

Smooth rocks
Google eyes
Hot glue (adults only)
Scissors
Patterned or colored duct tape
Optional - paint markers

Habitat Supplies

Small box or container
Plastic / paper grass
Loose parts (glass gems, deconstructed flower leis, leaves, sticks, pom-poms, etc)

I like to pre-assemble the butterfly rocks before the party begins. To make them:

Glue the google eyes onto each rock.
Make the wings, by taking a 3 or 4 inch piece of duct tape and folding the edges over, leaving a sticky space in the center.
Place the rock onto the sticky center.
Cut the edges of the duct tape into a butterfly shape.

I set out our already made butterfly rocks at the butterfly station along with all the supplies to make a habitat and the loose parts for imaginative play. I decided to extend this activity by having our friends paint their butterfly rocks with paint markers, but this is completely optional.

We let our friends know that these aren’t just any butterfly rocks, but butterfly kindness rocks. Making the butterfly a special environment is the Jewish value Tza'ar Ba'alei Chayim (kindness to animals...and insects too) and G’milut Chasadim (acts of loving kindness)!

I love that butterfly kindness rocks are also another wonderful party favor for our friends to take home along with their decorated flower container!

As our party comes to a close, I think it’s fun to wrap things up with a blanket on the grass (maybe under a tree) and a sweet spring story! I chose The Forever Garden, by Laurel Snyder - a wonderful story about gardening, friendship and kindness too!

Thanks so much for joining me for my backyard spring party! I loved putting this party together for my sweet friends. If you’d like more ideas to celebrate spring, click here! If you live in the Orlando area, and would like me to help you plan a party, drop me an email!

What kind of activities would you do at a spring-themed party? Please share in the comments below. If you have a spring party, let me know, and also if you try any of these activities! I’d love to know how they came out!

Happy spring!

~ Jennifer