I love the dollar store. I get most of the boys craft items there, and the last time I went I found felt. I've had it while, and today I thought I have to make something. I'm sure most of you have promotional magnets you've cumulated. Here is a great way to put them to use. I took mine, and made the boys magnetic felt fish!
I found a great link on where else but Pinterest.com! Check out the link! Download and print the PDF. These are great to bring to restaurants, doctor offices, or to use at grandma's. They will fit in any diaper bag, or almost any purse. Here is a video you can play before introducing the cards!
Here's what you will need:
The printout (above link)
Clear Contact Paper
Scissors
Ruler
Tape
Here is what I started with. Cut out the cards and the card holder.
Then measure how much clear contact paper you will need. Make sure you leave room around the cards.
Once you have taken the backing off the contact paper arrange the cards. Then cut a second piece of contact paper and place on top. Use a ruler (I used a spatula) to rub out any tiny air bubbles. It is also recommended that you have an extra hand. You might need help so the contact paper doesn't stick together when you peal the backing off. Also when you place the second sheet on top it would be much easier with to two people. If you have to do it alone I suggest making one card at a time.
You will need to leave a border of contact paper around the cards when you cut them out. This helps to keep the contact paper sealed.
Once you have cut out the animals you can assemble the card holder and secure with tape, because of the contact paper I chose to use the thick tape as shown above.
Here's the finished product!
Brown Bear heads and tails cards complete with card holder. So cute!
I have seen these before and knew I could recreate them for the boys. It wasn't that hard and the bottles are very durable. Since the pompom box was such a success I had the time to test it out. Feel free to fill with small plastic fish, animals, or glitter.
What you will need:
Water Bottles
Pompoms
Colored Beads
Glue Gun & Glue
Water
1. Fill the empty water bottle with the beads and pompoms.
2. Fill with water leaving a little room on the top.
3. Place a few dots of hot glue around the thread of the bottle top.
5. Screw the top on quickly and securely, and voila a discovery bottle.
Caleb shaking the bottle.
Noah watching everything fall through the water.
"Bubbles" said Caleb.
He liked to see what would float, and what would sink.
So we were off to the farm today when we realize we had been going in the wrong direction. Opps! By the time we would have rerouted, and arrived at the farm, it would have been closing. Feeling bad we didn't make it to our designation I came up with this simple activity. I used a left over tissue box, and a bag of pompoms. It kept them entertained for about an hour :)
What you will need:
Tissue Box
Pompoms
Noah pouring them out.
Let's put them back in.
They would put every last one in before they would dump them out. Haha!
The boys were going kind of crazy, and I knew I needed to redirect a little of that extra energy. So, I pulled a this one out of my activity bag. You can make these sun catchers in any shape you desire. We chose a rectangle for the sake of time. This killed two birds with one stone. The boys had fun, and I found a way to decorate a few windows. They are always pulling at the blinds so we're forced to keep them up and out of reach.
What you will need:
Contact Paper
Cut pieces of Ribbon/Colored Scrap Paper
Card Stock/Construction Paper
Scissors
1. Cut out you shape/border from the card stock.
2. Cut your ribbon into small pieces.
3. Cut the contact paper to fit, and peel off backing.
4. Adhere the cutout to the sticky side of the contact paper.
5.Let your child decorate with ribbon pieces.
6.Cut a second piece of contact paper and seal it.
This morning while Daddy was whipping up his famous pancakes the boys were getting a little anxious. So I made them a Tower of Cheerios. Not only did it keep them happy, but it works on their fine motor skills.
Unfortunately Daddy had to go out of town to attend a funeral for a close family member. The boys and I knew we would miss him, and didn't want to be home alone. We had to call Auntie Allison and have a sleepover. We had a yummy dinner, and then we played with our paper towel racetrack. They loved this, and laughed so hard. Vroom! Vroom!
These were easy to make, and can be altered in many ways to work for your child, like bracelets! We made watches because the boys are having so much fun with numbers lately. I found inspiration from this link I found on Pinterest.com. I ran with the theme, and dressed the boys in Daddy's ties, and gave them their "laptops" so they could pretend to do some important work.
What you will need:
Toilet Paper Roll
Clear Tape
Index Card
(or any kind of sturdy paper/cardboard)
Marker or Pen
1. Cut a strip from the toilet paper roll.
2. Cut out a circle from the index card.
3. On the blank side write in the numbers, and the clock hands.
4. Take your toilet paper strip and tape on the watch face!
After this mornings cheese omelets I washed out some of the egg shells for an after breakfast sensory activity. They really studied the egg shells, and were very quite. They loved to pick them up and put them back in the carton. Then they found out they could crush the eggs with their finger. They really loved poking at the shells. I suggest really keeping a eye on your child. You don't want them to eat them. I washed out our's VERY thoroughly with soap and water. Then they were laid to dry before the boys played with them.
Our cleaned out egg shells.
Caleb opening his egg carton
Noah checking out the eggs and the carton.
Noah placing the shells in and out of the egg carton.
Caleb investagting the egg shell.
That's his umm what can I do with this face...LOL!
This was fun and pretty easy too. You can make this once, and play with it again and again.
Supplies:
1 cup Flour
1 cup Water
1/2 cup Salt
2 Tbsp Cooking Oil
2 tsp Cream of Tartar
1 tsp Food Coloring
Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pan and place on medium to high heat. Stir regularly until a ball of dough is formed. Remove from heat. Place on a smooth and knead like bread dough until smooth.
Store in ziplock bags or air tight containers. Does NOT need to be refrigerated, and has no expiration.
We used real spoons and cookie cutters for added fun.
You can use all types of things. Look through the kitchen to see what you can find! Source
I wanted to make the boys finger paint; this way when the eat it I knew exactly what was in it. Which they did! This was so much fun and the recipe made a lot.
