The Blue Barn: Patchwork Petunia

With only 2 weeks until Christmas its time for 'Books love Crafts' week over on my Instagram account. This week on Instagram I am going to be sharing a few of my favorite Christmas Stories alongside some easy crafts to keep kids busy over the Christmas Holidays. I've picked a few of my favorite to write up here on the blog, the first of which is todays pick 'Petunia's Christmas'.

This book was first published in 1967 but is completely new to me this year. I first sighted it over on someones feed on Instagram (sorry I can't find where now) and was intrigued by their write up. I didn't think much more about it until 4 days later when a copy arrived on my doorstep gifted and I have no idea who sent it! This lovely surprise meant that the creative universe was absolutely trying to send me a message so I sat down and read it straight away and LOVED the story. Immediately I knew this had to be one of my Christmas story picks. Not to give the whole story away the plot revolves around a very clever and creative goose named 'Petunia' and yes it has a happy ending!

To go alongside this book today I have 3 separate crafty invitations for your kids, and all of them can be made with some basic craft supplies.

You will need:

Cereal Box

Pen

Goose stencil - PDF attached if you want to use mine or draw your own freehand

Scissors

Glue

Fabric (or patterned paper if you don't have fabric scraps)

Ric Rac /Ribbon and shiny gems to decorate

For the second project you will need paper and crayons and/or kwik stix

For the third project you will need rosemary and ribbon

Step 1

To begin with the patchwork Petunia, draw the shape onto the cereal box.

Cut the shape out only make one slice into the cardboard to cut around the shape because you will need the off cuts for project 2.

Once the Goose is cut out tape up the cut you made into it so you now have two templates, positive and negative.

Step 2

Give your child strips of fabric to glue onto the cardboard goose.

Use plenty of glue

Encourage you child to glue on top of the fabric as well as underneath and to overlap the pieces.

Once you are finished you should not be able to see the shape of the goose at all. Leave it to onesie to dry.

Step 3

While you wait do Project 2

While the glue is drying on the goose open up the book and talk to your child about how Petunia disguises herself with paint in one of her cunning plans. Wouldn't it be funny to see a goose painted and dressed up in real life? What colors do you think the goose would pick? would you be scared by the dragon bird if you saw Petunia?

Taking the other part of the cardboard stencil tape it still to a piece of white paper. We used a mixed media paper so it was heavy duty and wouldn't tear easily. Taking our favorite Kwik Stix we designed our own scary goose disguises. (If you don't have kiwi Stix crayons or paint would also work for this.)

Once you have filled all the blank space, remove the template to show your scary goose.

Project 3

This is another quick project for the kids to do while the glue is drying. We picked a few sprigs of Rosemary from the garden. If you don't have rosemary you could use pine like Petunia or another scented green leafed plant. Show your children again some of the pretty wreaths Petunia makes to sell and make money. With a little sprig of green make your own mini wreath.

Take a little Rosemary, oh it smells SO GOOD. Have your kids smell it, use all of their senses. Wrap it into a circle and help them tie the two ends together with a little bow of red ribbon or string.

Step 4

Continuing with Project 1...

Once the glue is dry cut around the edge of the cardboard to trim the excess fabric from the goose.

Allow your children to decorate the goose, ribbon, rik-rac, buttons and sequins whatever you have on hand. If they like they can even add the rosemary garland as a necklace like Petunia did in the story.