Keeping My 3 Year Old Happy

Emma loves to make a mess.  Is there a three year old out there who doesn't take delight in spilling water, dumping beads, coloring on the walls or rubbing paint all over?

Oh wait, I think there may be one little boy I know who doesn't like a mess on his hands.   

Emma loves playdough.

I'm thankful for my fake wood floors James put in a couple

 years ago because the clean up is so easy.  I don't think she'd ever get to play with it if we had carpet.

Here is another activity that kept her occupied one afternoon.  She loved smashing the baked cotton balls.  Here is the link to the idea http://makingboysmen.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/bashing-baked-cotton-balls-goggles.html

Coloring On A Plate

I found this idea on Pinterest.  

I find a lot of ideas there.

Put a white plate in the microwave until it gets warm to color on.

I thought it was so cool.

Note to self:  When you want to put the plate in for 2 minutes don't push 20 minutes by accident....the plate will break!  ha!

Emma loves coloring!

Emma Luvs to Finger Paint

Emma loves playing with the finger paints I made her a few days ago.

It is fairly easy to clean up.  Since they are stored in the fridge, I do warm them up for about ten seconds so they aren't so cold for her.  

 I haven't given her any paper yet.  She loves to just play with it on the tray.   Each time I try to give her some different tools to play with.  She sure is happy to play with it.

 

 

Finger Paints

Finger Paints

1 envelope unflavored gelatin

1/2 cup cornstarch

3 tablespoons sugar

2 cups cold water

food coloring

dishwashing liquid

Soak gelatin in 1/4 cup of warm water and put aside.  In medium saucepan combine cornstarch and sugar.  Gradually add water and cook slowly over low heat, stirring constantly until well blended.  Remove from heat and add gelatin.  Divide mixture into separate container for each color.  For each color first add a drop or two of detergent and then add the food coloring a drop at a time until you have the shade desired.  Refrigerate up to six weeks.

Tissue Paper Flowers

These delicate flowers just yell spring.

I love making them and think they are just so pretty.

You can find directions here.

Wall Letters for Emma

I have been wanting to do some special things for Emma's room.  I finally have gotten one project done.  I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out but I think it looks pretty good for being the type of person that does not do crafts like this.

I started by going to the quilt shop here in town and picked out some of their lovely material. There is a lot of beautiful fabric out there if you've looked lately.

The wooden letters were bought at Wal-Mart. 

I took this tacky glue and covered the fronts of the letters.  Then I turned them over on the fabric so they were laying down.

 I wasn't sure how it was going to work.  In my mind it came right through the fabric but I was surprised.  It didn't at all. 

After the glue dried came the hardest part.  I tried to cut around the fabric with a utility knife but it didn't work very well.  I took my sharp scissors and cut around the edges.  This took a little work and time but I think they turned out lovely.

After I was done trimming I put  them on a piece of paper and traced where I wanted them.   I taped it up on the wall so I could decide where I wanted them and put my nails through the wall (this step always makes James nervous for some reason).  What is it with men and not wanting to put holes in the walls?  He has lived with me long enough now he just knows there are going to be a few holes.  ha!

A few of my letters need a couple more holes drilled in the back so I can get them to hang just right but I don't think it looks to bad.  Most of them come with only one hole for a nail so if you want them at an angle you'll have to put extra in.