A warm welcome to the imaginative Colourful Minds, joining us today with a delightful little book and craft project you can enjoy throughout the year!! If you adore the Would You Like a Banana? Storybook or want to try some cheerful tutti-fruit and/ or banana crafts.. get started! Both preschoolers AND older kids will have a wonderful time with this activity! Let’s create some Yarn Wrapped Fruit Art!
About Laura from Colourful Minds
Colourful Minds is an arts organisation that creates and hosts imaginative workshops for people of all ages in Bristol and surrounding areas. Laura established Colourful Minds in 2016, with the goal of bringing people together through arts and crafts while inspiring creativity, connection, and discovery. The workshops give minds and hands the freedom to develop ideas in any direction, while highlighting the joy of creating and working together.
Take a look at (and follow) the upcoming art clubs on Eventbrite, and be sure to follow Laura on Instagram too!
Supplies needed for this Summer Fun Yarn Wrapped Activity:
- recycled cardboard or an empty cereal box
- Paints in the colours you prefer (consider yellow for the banana, red and green for the apples, and so on)
- Pencils and scissors to draw and cut the shapes
- A small amount of sticky tape
- Yarn in assorted colours (a brilliant way to use leftover yarn pieces)
- For optional additions: googly eyes – they are incredibly fun! You can also sketch and cut out your own googly eyes, which is more budget-friendly and better for the environment!
- OPTIONAL: experiment with printmaking using materials such as bubble wrap or kitchen tools
Your free original Banana Printable is here, designed especially for you by Colourful Minds!! However, I couldn’t help creating a collection of 8 tutti-fruity outlines for you to try as well (if you would like to, of course!! Drawing them by hand is even more enjoyable). The collection features an apple, pineapple, orange + satsuma, strawberry, open banana, watermelon, lemon, and pear. Simply add $0 at checkout!
Would you like a Banana?
Of course, we are big fans of a lovely “story and craft” session, so begin by taking a look at the Would You Like A Banana? Story book! It is absolutely adorable!
How to make your Yarn Wrapped Fruit
Start by sketching a simple outline of the fruit (banana!!) you want to create. Alternatively, use the free templates above: print, trim, attach the template to cardboard or an old cereal box with glue, and cut it out.
Now enjoy painting. Ask the children to cover the cardboard in the fruity colours they would like. Bananas naturally look fantastic in yellow with a touch of brown, while apples can be red, green, or a combination of both. Bright yellow pineapples and watermelons are also great fun to decorate!
As you can see, we also enjoyed trying out printmaking with bubble wrap! What other objects do you have nearby that could create prints?
After everything has been painted, set the pieces aside to dry.
Secure a strand of wool or yarn to the back with tape (or wrap it once and knot it), then begin enjoying the yarn-wrapping process. Wind the yarn around the fruit before taping the end firmly at the back. For especially “round” fruits, cutting a few tiny notches along the cardboard edges can help hold the yarn in place and stop it from slipping away!
Attach your handmade googly eyes. And you’re done!
Why not have a go at creating some other fruits? Which one is your favourite?
Aren’t they fantastic! Remember to follow Colourful Minds on Instagram and Eventbrite!
If this project was fun, take a look at our Summer Fruits Pen Pots (fast, simple, and incredibly cute), along with more Summer Activities for Preschoolers here:
