Pussy Willow Spring Crafts for Kids

Pussy willows crop up at the beginning of the spring season. Pussy willows, or American Salix discolor, are easy to recognize. They have soft fuzzy looking tips that are the soft gray of a kitten. These plants will later flower, but before they do we can all enjoy the soft and promise of spring that Pussy Willows bring. Kids can make their own Pussy Willow crafts to celebrate spring.

Mini Pussy Willow Spring Crafts for Kids

Pussy Willow Pond Collage

Start with a large piece of blue construction paper. Kids can cut grass out of a long strip of green paper, making the grass blades on one side and keeping the bottom straight. The blue of the paper will be the sky and the pond.

Kids can draw a large oval to represent the pond. Craft sticks can be glued to the paper to represent the pussy willow twigs, and they can be painted brown. If craft sticks are not available, the twigs can be drawn in using a dark brown crayon. The pussy willow stems should surround the pond.

Small bits of cotton or mini pom pons can be glued to both sides of the twigs, to make the fuzzy pussy willow tips. Use stickers or cut out magazine clippings to add ducks, frogs, flowers and any other natural items that are related to spring.

Pussy Willow Cotton Swabs

Use Q-tips or any cotton swab to make miniature pussy willows. Mix up some watery gray paint, using gray pan or tube watercolor paint. You can make the watery paint in a recycled applesauce or other container. Dip both ends of the cotton swabs in the paint quickly and let them rest on a paper towel.

Once the ends are dry, hold two together and twist a brown chenille stick around them. Bend and manipulate the cotton swabs as you go. Add a couple more, twisting the chenille stick to form the twig. Make three or four pussy willow twigs. Set aside.

Paint an empty and clean plastic or glass spice jar or small container to look like a spring vase. Use a creamy white color, pink, purple or green. Paint flowers or any other floral design on the vase. Plop the homemade pussy willows into the vase. Welcome, spring!

Colorful Pussy Willows from Nature

Older kids and adults can make this pussy willow craft for spring. Start with real pussy willows, bought at the store or cut from your own property. Spray paint them an unusual color, like bronze or purple. Display them in a tall vase.