Dandelion crowns and sunny days
Are bright yellow dandelions poking their heads up in green carpeted yards, parks, and fields where you live? Seeing spring-green fields speckled with sunshine yellow dots takes me back to my childhood—picking dandelions, braiding dandelion garlands, crafting makeshift dandelion bracelets, and even making dandelion crowns. Warm sunny days were dandelion days.
Maybe Ella Wheeler Wilcox was thinking of the dandelion when she wrote her famous quote, “A weed is but an unloved flower.” The darling dandelion certainly fits the part! (And, if you love dog quotes, please check out my article: 10 Quotes for Dog Lovers that Remind Us It’s a Wonder-Fur World.“)
How to make a darling dandelion crown for you…or for your dog!
If you’d like to get outside and enjoy spring, making a dandelion crown is an easy DIY craft, take minutes to do, and is something that you can do with your dog by your side! (Spoiler alert: if you’ve ever braided hair, you’ve got this!) Just follow our step-by-step instructions and easy video that Happy-Go-Doodle Chloe and I put together for you.
WHAT YOU’ll NEED TO MAKE A DANDELION CROWN
Before you head outside, grab a few essentials that will make you comfy. Happy-Go-Doodle Chloe and I took a large blanket, cell phone (for pics), my baseball cap, water bottle, and a few treats. Here’s a checklist:
- Large blanket
- Baseball cap, sunglasses, etc.
- Water bottle
- Phone or camera for pics
- Bunches of yellow dandelions
Happy Go-Doodle Chloe sat beside me on a blanket while I made the dandelion crown. Oh, and she barked at robins, got the springtime doodle zoomies, and played with her ball, too!
STEP 1: Pick yellow dandelions with long stems.
Dandelions with long stems will work best. I picked dandelions with stems that were at least three inches long.
STEP 2: Start with 6 dandelions gathered in a bunch.
Tip: Dandelions can be a little messy. Choose a blanket or work surface that you don’t mind getting dirty
STEP 3: Divide the 6 dandelions into three groups of two.
Begin the dandelion garland by dividing the six dandelions into three groups of two. Hold the heads of the dandelions in one hand and braid by bringing the outside two dandelion stems to the center. Then the other outside two stems to the center. If you’ve ever braided hair, this is the same process. (Watch the video below for visual instructions on braiding.)
Braiding dandelions is a lot like braiding hair. If you’ve braided hair, then you’ve got this!
STEP 4: Each time you bring the outside stems to the center, add in two more dandelions to the braid.
The image below shows the two additional dandelion stems added to the center stems. Please watch the short video below for a visual demonstration of this step. (Special appearances by scurrying ants and singing birds!)
Watch this DIY dandelion crown video demonstration:
STEP 5: Continue braiding and adding in two more dandelion stems to create the dandelion garland.
The back of the braided dandelion garland will look like the image below. The underneath side of the dandelion garland is as pretty as the front…
(Look closely. The loose ends of the dandelions will stick out of the garland. I like that.)
STEP 6: Continue braiding until you have a long dandelion garland.
The image below shows how I arranged the dandelions in pairs so that I could easily grab two at a time to add to the garland.
STEP 7: Finish the dandelion crown by bringing both ends together to make the “crown.”
I finished the dandelion crown by looping the stems at the end of the braid around the dandelion blooms at the beginning of the braid. Tip: If needed, you can use an extra dandelion to tie the two ends of the braid together.
STEP 8: TA-DA!
STEP 9: Have fun taking pics!
Happy-Go-Doodle Chloe was my dandelion crown model and posed for some silly pics! She has learned the stay command, so modeling the dandelion crown was good practice. Of course, the crown fell off, but that’s the fun! (You can find more “a-dood-able” photos in Chloe’s gallery titled “You Crack Me Up, Dood.”)
Step 10: Keep the “outtakes” or “bloopers” too. They’re as fun as the posed pics and Instagram-worthy too!
Here are a few photo outtakes of Chloe’s crowning moments…
“Hey, look at me! I’m turning that “crown” upside down!”
“Dandelion hair. Don’t care.”
“Hey, Mom! This crown makes a great ball holder.”
Chloe dropped her favorite tennis ball on top of the dandelion crown, so we put the “crowning touch” on our day with a fun-filled game of fetch!
Thanks for stopping by for some DIY fun!
NOTE: Chloe had no interest in eating dandelions. Before you begin, if you think your dog may eat dandelions, this may not be the activity for you. While dandelions are non-toxic for dogs, the ASPCA says, “be advised that the consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and gastrointestinal upset for dogs.”
Also, dandelions can sometimes be treated with chemicals. Pick them from a location that you’re sure has not been treated.
Have you made a dandelion crown or a flower crown for your pup? We’d love to hear. Please comment below.
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39 thoughts on “How to Make a Flower Crown Using Just Dandelions”
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What a fun way to spend a spring day! Chloe looks absolutely adorable in her crown, and her antics are so cute!
Why, thank you!
You look so pretty, Chloe & your Mom is very crafty! What a great way to spend the day outside & to recycle dandelions! I’ll send you some if you want. I see them growing out my window. I think Bessie, my minion, would wear a flower crown, but me – I don’t like things placed on my head much. A rose crown would look pretty on you I bet, too.
Thanks, Valentine! We did have a happy day outside! Maybe you and your mom could make a crown or a bracelet together for her to wear on Mother’s Day!?! I’m glad you stopped by! EnJOY your weekend!
Chloe, you and your mom added sunshine to my day! I look forward to hearing about your adventures. Since I don’t have a pet, I will enjoy your blog posts even more!
Thank you so much! Knowing that you’re enjoying our posts, makes it even more fun to share our adventures!
[…] DOODLES AND DANDELIONS: How to Make a Crown For Your Dog […]
That’s so fun! Bentley would destroy it in a heartbeat, but I do have a large supply of dandelions!
Thanks! Yes, the dandelions keeping popping up around here, too! Maybe Mom will make more crowns for me…or dandelion ball holders…or dandelion treat holders!
OKAY I must do this before the dandelions go away! I’ve always loved dandelions. I’m pretty sure Gonzo would wear and crown and it would look phenomenal on his black fur. Will would eat it. For sure.
So happy to hear that you might make dandelions for Gonzo and Will. If you do, Mom and I would love to see a pic! Thanks for stopping by!
This is a new and fresh idea to share with your pet. Chloe looks like royalty in her flower crown. Enjoy this warm weather and spring in bloom.
Awww…thanks so much! Hope you get to have lots of fun in the springtime sun! Thanks for stopping by!
This is so cute. I’m going to try it. The empty lot next to us is full of dandelions!
So happy to hear that you’re going to try it! If you do, we’d love to see a pic! Thanks for stopping by!
Chloe, you are just adorable!! What a fun activity your mom came up with.
Awww…thanks! Yes, we had so much fun together on our “Doodle and Dandelion” adventure! Thank you for stopping by!
I love this idea! When I was a kid, we used to make daisy chains in a similar fashion. Never thought of doing it with dandelions.
Oh, daisy chains would be so pretty, too! Mom thinks that it’s fun to do things that remind her of when she was a kid! Thanks for stopping by!
This is such a cute idea! Might as well put all of those summer dandelions to good use. 🙂 I think the crown looks very pretty on Chloe. Maybe I will have to try this with my kitties! They probably won’t be big fans, but it would make for some hilarious photos.
Thank you! Mom and I are so happy that you like this idea! If you try it with your kitties, please let us know! We’d love to see pics…the funny ones, too!
This is absolutely adorable! A fun project for little ones to help with too. I remember making these when I was little. Loved all your photos, thanks for the smiles ❤
Why, thank you! Yes, the whole family could have a fun dandelion day! Mom and I are glad we shared some smiles with you. Thanks for stopping by!
Very cute! Dandelions are one my favorites, even though so many people think of them as weeds. Besides the pretty flowers, the seeds are so much fun!
We used to make crowns by tying the flowers together, but the braids are much prettier.
Thanks, Beth!
We saw lots of dandelions going to seed when we were at the park. Mom took lots of pictures of them, but I was busy keeping a lookout for squirrels.
Happy you stopped by!
Tail wags!
Dex sez that is cool and he thinks he can rock a dandelion crown. We may need to bling it out with some Swarovski, too. Love the step by step and what a cutie to pose like this, too. See you soon!
Oh, yes! Dexter would look adorable in a dandelion crown complete with bling. If you make a crown, I’d love to see a pic. Thanks for stopping by, and see you soon!
What a wonderful idea, thank you for sharing and umm next time we in a park where we find them am gonna try
Thanks! If you give it a try, I’d love to see a pic!
NEATO!! This is simply gorgeous AND it looks a treat.
Well done for a totally fabulous post that made me grin from ear to ear.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Very lovely! I can just see trying to put a crown of flowers on top of the girls head! It would be in pieces! MOL!
Too funny! Thanks for stopping by!
What a great DIY craft for a spring day- I’ll have to try with Kilo. Beautiful photos and Chloe looks adorable.
Thanks! Kilo would look adorable in a dandelion crown!
This is such a cute and fun idea! This would be such a fun way to spend the afternoon, and it makes for such adorable photos too! Enjoy your summer weather!
Thank you! We did have a fun “doodle and dandelion” adventure together!
What a fun post, I love it! We have tons growing in the yard and on the patch of grass in one section of our catio. We are so going to try this in the summer!
Chloe you look too adorable with your golden crown mol!
Thanks! Spring is just around the corner and so are dandelion crown days! If you make crowns, please share a pic! We’d love to see your beautiful cats adorned in crowns on the catio!