Activity
Making Herbal Greeting Cards
Explore the senses while making cards of a variety of scents, textures, colors and sounds.
This is a great activity for using the five senses to explore plants, in the garden and greenhouse, which can be used to make cards – lavender, roses, mint and cinnamon. Explore dried plant materials. (Sensory Exploration – fragrance, texture, color, sound) Ask what plant parts are used to make cards with fragrance and textures. (Horticulture/Science/Botany). Talk about the history and traditions of sending cards. (Social Studies, Literature). Discuss the design of the card. (Creativity – art class). Ask “who do you know who enjoys receiving cards – would you like to make cards for them – for what occasion or message?” (Language Arts, Community Service) “Is there anyone in our class or school who needs support – how can we do that with a card?” Students can go even more global and make cards for soldiers or disaster victims. Lessons include Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts and The Arts.
- Adaptive card jigs – specially created for this activity
- APH, cafeteria or other trays
- Containers – single or divided
- Notepaper and matching envelopes – medium to heavy weight
- Variety of dried leaves, flowers and spices – lavender, rose petals and buds, spearmint and peppermint, cinnamon sticks
- Craft or “tacky” glue (thick)
- Brushes – to spread glue
- Plastic bags
- “Made By” stickers/labels
- Pens, pencils, markers, sharpies
- Perkins Brailler and braille paper
- Set up a work station, with the jig, notepaper, glue and brush on a tray; the dried leaves, flowers and spices that will be used to make the cards; and a finished card or two as examples.
- Have the student begin by exploring the work station as well as the flowers, spices, and sample cards.
- The student should choose someone to make a card for (friend, family, staff) and choose a design for the card.
- To begin, position a card in the bottom part of the jig.
- Put the top part of the jig (stencil with shape cut out) on the blank card.
- Squeeze glue into all areas that are cut out on the jig.
- Spread glue evenly with the brush in each area.
- Drop herbs onto the glue so they cover the glue thickly.
- Press down on the herbs so they stick to the glue, completely covering area inside template.
- Carefully remove the top part of the jig while you hold the card.
- Remove the card from the bottom of the jig.
- Shake off any herbs which did not stick to the glue.
- “Touch up” if necessary.
- Allow the glue to dry.
- Write a message on the card (this step can also be done first).
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Put the card and envelope into a plastic bag to keep fragrant.
Construct or create different shapes and designs, for different holidays: heart, pumpkin, clover (St. Patrick’s Day), evergreen. If you want to create a flower design, use lavender buds for the flower, mint leaves for leaves, and a cinnamon stick for the stem.
Adaptations and Assistive Devices
Adaptive Perkins stencil card jig
Adaptive brushes
APH trays
Various drying racks
Large print, Braille (for messages)
Envelopes
Sources for Supplies
Herbs and Spices – grow your own and dry!
Atlantic Spice Company, Truro, MA www.atlanticspice.com – herbs, spices, botanicals
Perkins Assistive Devices Shops
APH – American Printing House for the Blind – [email protected] – APH trays
Crafts Stores – A.C. Moore (glue, brushes)
Dick Blick Art Materials Catalogue – www.dickblick.com – brushes, Strathmore notecards and envelopes
Recycled Paper – for cards and envelopes
By DKrause
