Valentines Challenge, toddler crafts, and DIY puffy paint.

Currently I am participating in a VDay challenge in one of the Toddler Groups on CafeMom.com

Very fun and cute, now my little one expects a project nightly. Yikes, is it possible to create a bigger monster? Yes.

But they also make great little gifts for those loved ones far away, or not. 

Day one:

HUGS! Simple enough, trace little ones hands, or hand print, onto paper. Cut out and add string or ribbon thats the same length as their arm span. Mine look cute hanging on my refrigerator right now but they are so light weight I could send them around the world for next to nothing.

Day Two:

Easy Yum Yums! The CM post was originally all about the puffed rice. I don't have those in our house. So I opted to use Puffed Red Wheat. Not only a healthier option but a buck a bag @Wal-Mart.  I don't own a heart shaped cookie cutter (*gasp*) so we kept them in squares. On top we ( the Hubs, he's my chocolatier) melted white chocolate, and sprinkled on white chocolate chips and some heart shaped sprinkles. They tasted de-lish.

Day Three:

Heart Art

Our weapons of choice were heart shaped sponges, and Q Tips for painting. This one was a fun hot mess. My little girl opted for the more messy of the two, the sponge. She just couldn't create a big enough mess with a Q tip. Who could blame her.

 

Painting after a bath, way to go Mom got that a little backwards!

Day Four:

A card that blows kisses

Now this is where I got savvy. The original CM post was just to use construction paper for a card, glue a picture on the front and have their hand flip down with a message. Now keeping close to the theme I decided to use the pretty paper we made yesterday. I took two of the sheets and glues one to scrap book paper. The second I glued over the top, but just a line of glue so you can lift it up. I took the pictures I was going to use and trim them up. I got a little into details and use their heads as the top of a heart. I placed them on the top layer where I would want to see them. I traced a heart around them, then cut out the heart, creating a window. I drew an outline of the window onto the bottom paper so I had exact placement. Taking either a trace or hand stamp I placed that over the window, so when you flip it down it reads; "Bowing kisses..."  

Then we wrote on the inside with greetings. It turned out so adorable I added some ribbon so it can be hung up. Pretty Cute. 

Well I can't wait for the rest of the challenges! Because they are a great distraction... I was so in recipe development fun. 

I would love to add:

The paint I use, it is super simple and I love the consistency. It's closer to a puffy paint and great for use in squeeze bottles. But It was wonderful for sponge painting and making a mess. It didn't drip, and if my baby rolled over to check it out it wouldn't be as disastrous if he took a taste. He tried it already with our homemade play dough. 

Another good thing about this recipe you can make up as much as you need too. I halved it so I could pour what I need into a paper bowl.

1 c. salt

1 c. flour

1 c. water

a healthy squirt of food coloring 

My Use and Re-use day...

Lids Lids Lids!

Feeding my 7 month old is a fun and easy task, no really. After we have tons of these great little tubs. We moved from the jars, and found Parents Choice stage 2 foods are an amazing deal. Other than popping them in the recycling bin I have been using them for the usual; kids craft, togo snack packs, and starting seedlings. But I started saving the heck out of all my plastic lids. You'd be amazed what they fit on when you need to save food in the fridge short term. Save that foil, plastic wrap, and save a wash load of plastic wear.



Shots any one?

Then I was digging through my parents basement and I scored tons of plastic and paper ware. There are some weekends I just don't want to see a dish! I also found all of these plastic shot glasses they are perfect for toddler feeding. Not only for portions, but what toddler doesn't love dipping food:-)

I also saw these shot cups at the Dollar Shrine, I mean Store.



Left over shelving paper from the Dollar Store...

I bought the kids a table from IKEA. Unfinished pine, yay! So I was going to do that trick with DIY stain, but I didn't want to buy steel wool. If I didn't have it laying around the house, forget it! So I had some left over paint samples for the house, and this paper. An accidental black and brown mix I ended up loving. No more light wood, and no more scrubbing out food and paint stains.

Love!



Need a reason to save more?

Save your medicine measuring cups! If you are anything like me you are making natural concoctions in your bathroom. And you have another pantry in there. Well instead of getting another set of spoons use those medicine cups. Not only great for measuring liquid, but much easier for doing those shots of ACV (apple cider vinegar).

In the beginning my husband asked if I was making salads in there. Almost! I used to have olive oil in the bathroom, it's the gate way natural remedy.

Kramers' garbage disposal in the shower would be the natural best step for those cucumbers ;-)

I am only missing my sunflower seed oil in the picture, I am still running downstairs to get it in the morning... Why!!?? Yes, note my Zombie Awareness bracelet. May is Zombie Awareness month, Just saying. :-D