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