Week Forty-Two: Fall Toddler Art

I know lots of people don't like their kids' artwork cluttering their nicely decorated homes. They like to have it framed and only hang up pieces that kind of go with their décor, or hang them in a kids room or other place that's out of the way.

I'm not that person {most of the time}. Maybe it is because my décor lacks inspiration in the first place, but I can't get enough of O's artwork! We have been painting since he was around 6 months old and now that he is bigger we can do so much more. I do have some stuff framed and hang it up as part of my decorations for various holidays, but I just love me a good kid made project. {Yes, I realize after the 500th preschool project he brings home my tune will probably change.}

This week I decided to take advantage of all the beautiful fall leaves and make a little something for my mantle. O really likes going for walks up and down the sidewalks in our neighborhood and often finds little treasures that he gives to me. To get ready for a little leaf art I encouraged him to find all the pretty leaves.

He sort of cooperated. He also sort of just wanted to run into the street. Such is life. So I ended up picking most of the leaves he used, but he did the assembly himself!

Step by Step:
1. Tape a piece of clear contact paper to any surface {we did the window but it could be a table or a wall or easel or whatever} sticky side towards you.

2. Let the toddler go crazy sticking things onto the contact paper.{Leaves today, but tissue paper is fun too.}

3. Remove the tape and stick on a matching size sheet of clear contact paper.

4. Cut out shapes or frame the whole piece.
5. Since I cut out some ovals, I used a scrap of fabric I had left over from my tree skirt project last Christmas to hang them all together. A dab of hot glue and we were good to go. I folded the fabric over and then ripped the hanging ends so I could tie bows.

6. Hang up and enjoy that cluttered kid art feeling!

I'm a little bit surprised at how clear the contact paper looks in the sunlight, which is awesome! I'm quite sure we will be trying this again with some tissue paper for some baby stained glass as we get closer to Christmas. Partially because Christmas. Partially because I have a giant roll of contact paper now. ;)

So where do you fall on the kid art? Love it? Limited love? Briefly appreciate and then throw away? 

-H

Week Forty-One: Zoo Boo

Zoo Boo at Como Zoo was absolutely nothing like I expected it to be, but was a lot of fun!

O had a great time for the most part. He didn't like the man keeping him down, aka having to go with the flow of people and not against it, but that was really the only thing that made him sad. He loved running around, enjoyed carrying his little trick or treat bag half the time, and was very excited to get treats from costumed strangers. He even signed thank you a few times!

Pretty sure his favorite treat was a box of flashcards. No doubt he is my kid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He loves big mascot creatures! Such a cutie little guy.

 

-H

Week Forty: Achievement Unlocked: Throw Together Dinner from Scratch

No food. We have no food in the house. Ever.


I'm not entirely sure how this is possible since one of us is at target or the grocery store at least every other day. And sometimes we get groceries delivered. But still. Nothing to eat.

Cut to the other night when we were hungry for dinner. I decided to throw something together. And I actually succeeded. It was an actual meal. And actually delicious!

I'm not so sure that's ever happened before. Not that I'm bad at cooking, I just don't often throw things together with success.

I got some water boiling, tossed in some whole wheat pasta, and made a garlic cream sauce while the broccoli steamed.

For the sauce {which is obviously the only impressive thing about my meal} I put a little less than half a stick of butter in a pan and got it sizzling. Then I pressed two cloves of garlic in, although I wish I had had more than two cloves on hand. It got all sizzly and smelled amazing. Then I added a little too much flour, and once that was a paste I whisked in some whole milk. {O drinking whole cow milk with meals has really been nice for cooking.} Salt and pepper and ta-da!

I realize for most people this isn't necessarily an accomplishment. But for me it is! :D

What are your go-to throw together meals?!

Week Thirty-Nine: Paintings for Fall

I love being artsy. I wish I had more time for it. *sigh* I still have fabric on the floor in our office that was supposed to become a lovey blanket for O over 6 months ago. Among at least 6 other random projects that have yet to come to the top of my to do list.

I am going to blame some of the craft neglect on summer. I was so focused on soaking up every bit of summer that art projects were on the back burner. As the temperatures drop my motivation to stay inside grows and with it the desire to get crafty strikes.

The other day I was cutting up potatoes for a crock pot stew {YUM, by the way} and decided to make a potato stamp! So I sat at the table with a toothpick for way too long, carving a cat into a potato. It actually turned out pretty well! I tested it out with pink paint on white paper, and it worked! I was pleasantly surprised. I kind of thought it would be a fail since the potato was wet and the paint didn't stick all that well. Anyhow, next step was to grab black paper and orange paint so O could create a Halloween masterpiece. Fail. So much fail. The orange paint just wasn't opaque enough to show up on the black paper and then O wanted to paint the way he always does and I gave up.

Painting his hands.

We went with some paintbrush painting, then some finger painting, then some paintbrush painting our hands. I love watching O experiment with colors and mixing them together. His curiosity is so wonderful and I can't wait to see what he creates as he grows and develops!

I love this paint. L.O.V.E. It is super washable, and on skin is washes off easily with just water. Brushes from Michael's.

All by himself!

Brush painting with a little hand sneaking in there. 

Brushes and hands and the excitement of mixing colors!

Painting is a big fat mess but so worth it. I love hanging it up at work and at home. O has been good at not eating paint {for the most part} since the first time we tried painting when he was around 6 months old {I think. Talk about this past year being a blur!} Sometimes he puts it to his mouth but he is generally pretty good about listening when I tell him it is gross. 

Do you paint with your little? Have you tried any fun projects or techniques?! Tell me all about it! :)

-H

Week Thirty-Eight:Swimming!

Swimming class!! We started swimming class!

I know I said that I was going to stop myself from a constant account of the adventures of the week and get back to fun DIYs and recipes in the mix. 

But...but... Swimming lessons!! 

I was just so very excited about this opportunity for my little fish. And I still am. Our first class was great. The only grumpiness of the evening came when O wasn't allowed to be in the water. First, when we walked into the pool area and another class was still in the water, and again when our class was done. Everything else, including a locker in the locker room, was a big hit. He wanted "more" of just about every part of class from jumping in to the actions with the Wheels in the Bus song! 

Peekaboo!

While I wish that this class taught more than blowing bubbles and splashing hands, O loves it, and that makes Mike and I so very happy. <3

-H