Pretty Initials

This fun project was easy and pretty quick to do on a sickie/cold days. All you need is paint, paper/canvas and scotch/painters tape.

Tape the child's first initial (or their name) onto the canvas/paper. Then have them fingerpaint over it. Start with one or two colours and then allow to dry before adding more so you don't get a huge mud coloured mess. Once dried, remove the tape. If your paint bled though the tape a little you can touch it up with white paint if you want or outline your letter(s) with glitter glue for a little sparkle! Super fun, Super easy!

**Tips: I cut my letters out of tape - it took a bit longer to do, but I wanted something a little fancier than the straight lines of using masking tape alone. I also used acrylic paint (and especially watched the 1 year old with it) because it goes on nicer and thicker than finger paint, IMO.

Crafting With Kids

I don't seem to update this blog as often as I had planned. This doesn't mean we aren't getting ooey and gooey in our craftiness. Lately it seems we just do spontanious crafts, I forget to take pictures, or I totally plan to do up a quick blog, but then tantrums, fights, playdates, lunch, snack, nap or pretty much any other aspect of mommydom happens and the last thing on my mind is blogging about our craft. It happens.
Instead of this being an excuse blog about why I haven't posted, here are some tips that I have found totally useful while crafting with my monster(s).

Home made smock: Little dudes get messy. It doesn't take a lot of time or effort to get completely disgusting, especially while crafting. Take an old shirt of dad's and cut out the back (look at the picture below for a 'template' - you want to cut out all the red). Then your little one can slip their arms in and you can tie up the back so it's not flopping all over the place.
You can add velcro or a ribbon to tie the back in place. You can also flip up the bottom and tie it around your little one's waist and then they have a pocket in front.

Finger Paint Sponges: Finger paints, especially with an eager little artist, get mixed together and turn a gross looking colour pretty quickly. Instead, soak small sponges in paint (you might need to add a little water). Voila! No more paint swamp. This works really well for fingerprint or handprint crafts since you do get saturated in paint.  

Time: if a craft says it'll take about 20 minutes to complete, give yourself an hour. Plan on giving yourself at least half an hour of clean up time after - some projects (glitter projects!) you will be cleaning up over the next few months, after some projects require a bath, and yet others you'll only need to do a quick wipe down and you're on your way. But always plan on the worst - it'll quickly ruin your fun if you have a toddler covered in paint from head to toe (and every crack in between), but not enough time for a bath.

Don't Aim for Perfection: We'd all love to cover our walls and/or fridges in beautiful artwork from our kids, but the reality is that sometimes what they make isn't all that pretty. But I bet you they had a heck of a lot of fun making it. Let them take the reins and make what's in their head - this will help develop their own creative juices.

Have Fun!!: If crafting with your kids isn't fun, if it's too stressful, or too messy, or too time consuming - don't do it. It will just turn into an unpleasant experience for everyone. When your kids go to school they will be coming home with more crafty/artsy projects than you know what to do with. So stick to what you and your family is comfortable with.

Magic Paint

What you'll need: Paint, water, paint brush/sponge, white crayon, white paper
Have child draw on the paper with white crayon. Then paint over it with watered down tempura paint or water colours. Watch as the childs drawing or scribbles or name or whatever 'magically' appear!

Picasso's in the Park

This isn't something I put on myself (thanks Momstown!) - but it is a super great idea for a birthday party, playdate, reunion or anything where a whole bunch of lil' artists will be.

• line up a couple of picnic tables and cover in paper (roll from Ikea goes for about $5)
• put kids in an old shirt of moms or dads or a smock
• pour kid appropriate paint onto paper plates and put around table
• let the munchkins have at 'er! You can give them sponges, chunky stamps, brushes or just use fingers
• clean up with wet wipes and voila! FUN!

Paint Paint Paint!

One of our favorite crafty-time activities is painting. T is always so proud of his artwork that he will show anyone and everyone who walks by it!

What you need:

1. age appropriate paint (we use Crayola washable, non-toxic paints, but most finger paint is non-toxic and safe for little ones - just double check the label)
2. roll of paper ( we picked one up at Ikea for $5 and it's lasted for over a year and a half and still going strong)
3. **optional (but helpful): paper plates, paint brushes, sponges, stamps, water, paper towels and/or wet wipes

• Pull out your paper and tape to edges of the table - this gives little ones a HUGE work space and you don't have to worry about your table getting painted - altnertatively: lay down newspaper and tape down paper
• Squirt small amounts of paint either on paper plates or right onto your paper (if it's thicker paper)
• Let your little ones creativity flow - give them paint brushes, let them use their fingers and hands (even feet if you're brave), chunky stamps are great for little fingers, sponges give different textures.
• Washable finger paints easily wipe up with just a wet wipe or a damp cloth (although, if your child is anything like mine, having a bath or shower ready to go is helpful.