Poppy Door Hanger
This recycled Poppy Door Hanger is a meaningful craft for Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Remembrance Day, or any patriotic classroom activity. Kids can turn the bottom of a plastic bottle into a bright red poppy, then add beads, leaves, and a hanging loop to create a thoughtful decoration.
The poppy has been used as a symbol of remembrance since World War I. This easy craft for kids is also a great way to talk about recycling, gratitude, and honoring veterans.
Fun Facts
The poppy is also called the corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy, red poppy, and red weed. Even though it is known for its beautiful red flower, it is sometimes classified as a weed.
Poppies became a symbol of remembrance after World War I because they grew in many of the fields where soldiers had served and fallen.
Award your kids with an inexpensive and colorful Volunteer For Veterans Patch from MakingFriends. They can wear them, collect them or trade them.
Supplies
- Plastic bottle
- Red multi-surface acrylic paint
- Yellow pony bead
- Black seed beads
- Box knife, for adult use only
- Paint brush
- Cord
- Hot glue or tacky glue
- Scissors
- Printable leaf pattern
- Newspaper
Instructions
- Spread newspaper over your work surface to protect the table.
- Have an adult carefully cut the bottom off the plastic bottle using a box knife.
- Paint the outside of the bottle bottom with red paint. Let it dry completely, then add a second coat if needed.
- Glue one yellow pony bead in the center of the poppy.
- Glue several black seed beads around the yellow bead to create the center of the flower.
- Print and cut out the leaves from the printable pattern.
- Glue the leaves to the underside of the poppy.
- Form a loop with the cord and glue it to the underside of the poppy so it can hang on a door knob or hook.
- Let everything dry completely before hanging.
- Consider contacting a local veterans home, hospital, or community organization to ask about safe ways to share these poppy door hangers with veterans as a thoughtful reminder that they are not forgotten.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on the printable leaf pattern below to open it in a new window and print.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
Use this recycled poppy craft as part of a Veterans Day, Memorial Day, or Remembrance Day classroom activity.
Invite students to write a short thank-you note to a veteran to go with their poppy door hanger. Younger students can write one sentence, while older students can write a short paragraph about why it is important to remember people who served.
This craft can also connect to a recycling lesson. Ask students to identify other items that could be reused for art projects instead of being thrown away. Discuss how recycled crafts help reduce waste while encouraging creativity.
For a classroom display, hang the finished poppies on a bulletin board with the title “We Remember” or “Thank You, Veterans.”
I love this idea!