Vesterheim Blog

Hey families!

We want to share some fun activities that families can do at home together.

Does your family have Norwegian heritage? Or maybe you’re interested in Norwegian history. Or maybe you like art.

Ask your parents or grandparents or kids where your family came from. Do you have family stories to share? Can you imagine what your ancestors might have been like? Do you have special traditions they shared with you?

Here are some paper and coloring activities you can do together while learning a little about Norwegian history, art, and traditions. Print them out and have fun!

Rosemaling is the decorative painting of Norway. In Norway, you can find this colorful painting on all sorts of furniture and even whole walls in buildings. Here’s a plate pattern that prints out on a single piece of paper. Color it in with your favorite crayons, markers, or colored pencils. You can even cut it out and glue it to a paper plate to display in your home. You can see here what some of the rosemaling at Vesterheim looks like for inspiration.
Download the PDF here.

And here is a paper trunk with rosemaling designs. Color it however you like, cut it out, and fold to make a 3-D trunk!
Download the PDF here.

A kubbestol is a traditional Scandinavian chair made from one log. It was often carved with intricate designs. Print and color in the designs on this one. Check out one of the best ones in Vesterheim’s collection here.
Download the PDF here.

Norwegians have beautiful traditional patterns that they used in weaving their coverlets or blankets. This coverlet would have been woven using a technique called rutevev. Print it out and color it in. Be inspired by some of Vesterheim’s coverlets here.
Download the PDF here.

This is the Norwegian flag. Color both sides and tape or glue it to a stick, if you like.
Download the PDF here.

Vikings were Scandinavians, from the late 8th to late 11th centuries, who traveled and traded from their Northern European homelands across wide areas of Europe and explored westwards to Iceland, Greenland, and Vinland. Print and color a Viking Ship. You can draw your own sail designs and more Vikings!
Download the PDF here.

Many Norwegian brides would wear a crown on their wedding day! See some examples of bridal crowns at Vesterheim here and print and color your own. You’ll need to staple or glue a strip of paper from one side of the crown to the other to make it fit around your head. You can also hang ribbons or paper streamers from the sides.
Download the PDF here.

Cute little woven paper heart baskets or julekurv are a traditional Scandinavian paper craft, normally used for hanging treats on the Christmas tree. They are also perfect for Valentine’s day or any time you want to give a gift.
Download PDF instructions on how to make them here.