Bumble Bee's

Yesterday, after singing the Baby Bumble Bee song a million times, we made this project.

Cut ovals out of yellow construction paper.  Place them in the bottom of a box (usually I use a shoebox but I have a million bakery boxes so we used those).  Add a small amount of black paint and 2-3 marbles.

Close the box and shake!

I glued them to a piece of white paper and drew antennae and wings.

Happy Crafting!

Ames

Father's Day

It's been a long time...a very long time since I have posted.  We have been busy and enjoying all the sunshine we can soak up. Plus it's been taking a really looooong time to upload my pics to Blogger.` Don't worry...we have been doing crafts (just have not taken the time to post). I will be better...I promise.  We completed a Father's Day project this week.  Unfortunately the camera was not handy when we were making them but it's really easy. 

First, find a rock (big enough to be a paperweight but small enough to carry).  This was quite possibly Finley's favorite part of the whole project...she is a outdoor girl!

Cover the rock with a thin layer of white glue (use a paintbrush).

Place squares of tissue paper (any colors) on the glue.  Cover the rock completely...it's ok if they overlap (remember this is a toddler project).

This part the adult should do since  you need to be delicate.  Paint a layer of white glue all over the rock.

Let it dry.

Using a Sharpie write "My Dad Rocks" on one side and "Love, Your Child's Name 2011" on the other side.

Here it is....

I also took Finley to a local paint your own pottery place.  I chose a bowl ($6 plus $4 for paint time) for the hubby to put his keys, wallet, and chapstick in when he comes home each night.  Finley painted the outside with the colors of his favorite baseball team.  I painted baseball stitching on the inside.  It turned out pretty cute!

A couple ideas from MarthaStewart.com.

These Sun Print Cards would be super cute if you used your child's hand print.

Love Love Love these Notepads.

I will be back soon getting you all caught up with our crafts.

Happy (Father's Day) Crafting!

Ames

Flag for Memorial Day

It's almost Memorial Day which means many red, white, and blue projects!

For this flag you will need:

Glue

White Paint

Small piece of blue paper cut into a rectangle

Red paper cut into strips

White paper cut into a larger rectangle

Dip tiny fingertips into white paint

Paint the blue paper

Put some glue on the white rectangle.  Have your toddler place the strips on the glue (they will not be perfect!).  Then glue the "stars" in the corner!

If you are really ambitious you can make a much larger flag with poster board.

Happy Crafting!
Ames

Dolphin!

This little guy turned out so cute (if I do say so myself!).

I cut out a cardstock dolphin (which I traced from a book about ocean animals).

I covered a large cookie sheet with wax paper. Affixed the dolphins to the wax paper with a bit of tape on the back.  Blob some blue and white paint on the little guys.  Then, cover with another sheet of wax paper.

Have fun walking on it or ???? 

Here he is...

Have a craftastic weekend!

Ames

Oh Mr. Sun

Last week I received my new computer in the mail.  Always fun, but even more fun when it's wrapped in a giant piece of bubble wrap!  We had to do a super fun project with it! Here's what we did...

Put some blobs of yellow, red, and white paint on half of the bubble wrap (not too close to the edge).

Lay some white cardstock circles on the paint and fold over the bubble wrap.  Then walk all over it!

Once the circle is dry, cut strips of orange and yellow construction paper (the long way so they are 11 inches long)

Drizzle some glue on the back.

 Let your little one lay the strips however they would like (it's not supposed to be perfect!).

Then, proudly display on the fridge!

Happy Crafting!
Ames

Tastefully Simple

Last year I was invited to a Tastefully Simple Party and I went expecting to taste a few dips before heading back out into the snow.  OMG...we didn't just taste a few dips we tasted tons of food.  And guess what it was all fantastic (coming from me, the world's pickiest eater, that means something).  So I chose a bunch of things that I had to have.  Once I got them home I started playing around with them and making them into "real food" not just dips for parties.  Soon after I hosted a Tastefully Simple Party and decided to bite the bullet and become a Tastefully Simple Consultant.

 I am going to share some super simple meal ideas every now and again with ya if you don't mind!  Honestly, if you are busy doing crafts with your little one dinner needs to be quick and easy! 

Spinach and Artichoke Pasta (yes, like the ooey gooey delicious appetizer)
(This recipe is from the TS website)

You will need:

 one packet of Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip Mix
Cream Cheese
Shredded Swiss
Penne pasta (or any shape you like)
Cooked chicken

Cook the pasta.  Mix the remaining ingredients except chicken.  Stir the mixture into hot pasta....that's it!!!  Finley is crazy about this pasta!


Happy Crafting/Cooking
Ames

If you live near me and would like to host a Tastefully Simple Party just send me an email with your info.  If not, you can still host an online catalog party!  It's amazing how much free product you can earn!

Ziploc Bag Cloud Painting

Cut out a cloud shape (use something thicker than construction paper like cardstock/cardboard/cereal box). Put it in a  Ziploc bag with blue and white paint. Zip the top.

Smash it up!

And there it is...the cutest little cloud you ever did see!



Happy Crafting!
Ames

Our Mother's Day project

First let me tell you...I have to worst luck with computers. First we move and have no internet for weeks. Then we get internet and I lose my camera and can't take pics of our projects.  Then my awesome hubby buys me a new camera for my Birthday.  Then the darn charger cord to the computer breaks.  I think I have solved all my
technology issues (knock on wood).

For Mother's day gifts I had Finley paint inexpensive pots ($1.25 each).


When they were dry I planted mint seeds in them ($0.59 per packet).

To make a cute flower to stick in the dirt, Finley Painted a Popsicle stick with green paint in a ziploc bag.


I cut out a flower shape from a shoebox.  Mixed equal parts shaving cream and white glue.  Added several drops of food coloring and Finley painted the flower shape with the pink goo.

Ta Da....

This pic is from my phone, sorry for the sucky quality.

Happy Crafting!
Ames

Carrots for the Easter Bunny

Today was a CRAZY day.  Let's just say teething sucks.  Actually the only time the house was quiet and calm today was during craft time.  Maybe because painting is therapeutic or maybe because kids forget they are supposed to be ticked off when they are having fun.  Anyhow, we made these cute carrots for the Easter Bunny! 

You will need:

Cheap shaving cream
Glue
Food coloring
Cardstock
Green tissue paper
Paint brush
Paint shirt

First mix equal parts shaving cream and white school glue.  Add red and yellow food coloring.

Then, cut a shape that looks something like this....



Ok, stop laughing.  I never claimed to be an artist!

Let the kids paint away!  Remember, shaving cream is not "non-toxic" so please supervise closely.  Also, this mixture may stain so paint shirts are a must!!!



I bought these plastic placemats at the grocery store for $1.  They make clean up a breeze!



Next, stick some green tissue paper on the top (I cut ours into strips).

Here is the finish product...

Happy Crafting!
Ames

Easter Egg Gender Reveal

A Paint & Prozac reader, Tina, emailed me with this adorable project she did with her toddler.  It's so cute, I just had to share.

This is what she said:

"I used your paint in a baggie idea and added plastic Easter eggs!  She shook them up and then we drilled holes in the top and threaded ribbon so we can hang them!  We are using them to reveal to our families on Easter what baby #2's gender is!  We are filling them with either pink or blue candy and Riley will hand them out to everyone!" 

This idea makes me want to get knocked up ASAP!

Happy Crafting,

Ames

Water Color/Glue Design Painting

Finley (she is 16 months) has been really into watercolors lately.  She knows how to rinse off the brush and dip it into the colors and then onto the paper.  Even I am a little impressed! We did this project with her buddy, Aidan, today. 

First you will need to make a design on a piece of white paper (I prefer cardstock) with glue (the thick white school glue).  I wrote the kids names but you can make any kind of design you want.  Then, let it dry overnight.  Once it's dry let your little one paint on the paper with watercolors.



It snowed here today, so that's why my girl is wearing snowflakes in APRIL!





Check out those hands...that's what happens when mommy is playing with her new camera for too long!  No worries, it washed off :)



Happy Crafting!
Ames

Today is...

My birthday!  And guess what my amazing hubby gave me...a new camera (remember I lost mine during our move).  Plus our internet is FINALLY hooked up and that means I am back to blogging!!!!  So exciting.  I wanted to share with you just a couple of the super simple crafts we have done during my forced absence. 

Plastic Wrap Painting (abstract) Flower

I put a piece of white paper (I love cardstock) on a cookie sheet.  Then I put a line of green paint and a blob of red/white paint.  I covered the whole thing with plastic wrap.  Then I let Finley have at it.  I really thought she would like slapping the cookie sheet to make noise but without any prompting she stood on it (the cookie sheet was on the floor) and kinda danced all over it.  It was the funniest thing I saw all day.  I put too much green since the stem ended up looking more like a tree trunk than a  flower stem...oh well.

Easter Eggs

I bought a pack of foam Easter eggs at Hobby Lobby with no real plan for them.  So whenever I didn't have a brilliant craft idea for the day (rare, but it happens...jk!) we decorated them in one way or another.  They are a great base for a project.  You can glue stuff to them, paint them, make picture frame magnets out of them...the possibilities are endless.

Here's one Finley decorated with Bingo Markers.

This one is painted with water colors.

Spring Sponge Painting

I bought a pack of "Spring Sponges" at the grocery store on clearance for like $1.22 or something close to that.  There were different flower sponges, butterflies, etc.  So we used them to make this painting.  Finley was having so much fun that she sponge painted a bit too much :)

So that's what we have been up to!

Happy Crafting!
Ames

Bunny!

What says Happy Easter better than a bunny?  Today I cut out a brown bunny (because my favorite bunny is a chocolate one) and the plan was for Finley to paint the bunny with white paint using a scrub brush to make it look like fur.  Well she had other ideas and none of them involved white paint and a scrub brush.  Instead we ripped up some cotton balls and glued it on the tail.  She was much happier with this idea and it looks darn cute on my fridge!


Camera is still missing so you only get one pic from my phone today, sorry.

 Happy Crafting!
Ames

Hey, remember me???

Hey, it's me...Ames!  I feel like I have been gone for ages.  Technically I am still without Internet except for the glorious moments when I get to escape to Panera for my WiFi fix.  Unfortunately, those times are limited and usually are used for paying bills and such. 

Just because I haven't been posting doesn't mean that we haven't been crafting.  Two huge U-Haul trucks full of boxes and a MOUNTAIN of laundry (the dryer was broken when we moved it) can't keep us from doing what we love. Here's the catch...while unpacking I put the camera is a safe place...a.k.a. a place so safe that I can't find the damn thing.  So I am unable to share the process of making our lovely creations with you...use your imagination (the pic below was taken with my phone). 

My most favorite project in the new house so far is the painted canvas in the playroom.  The best part of the new house is a HUGE playroom.  It's a toddler paradise I tell you. The previous occupant left a big black tv bracket thingy (I have no clue what it's called) on the wall.  I was going to take it down but noticed that several crater sized holes would be left in it's place.


Really, I have no intention of dealing with that so I bought  a big canvas at Hobby Lobby for around $15 on sale along with 3 bottles of acrylic paint ($1 each) that match the wall colors. Since it's acrylic paint and not safe for toddler hands or mouths I had to be creative. I put some circles of paint on the canvas and slipped it into a big garbage bag (the black ones used for leaves).  Then Finley had a great time playing with  the bag and even dancing on it.  When I took the canvas out of the bag it looked pretty cute and I was able to hang it over the dreadful "bracket thingy."  We might add some more creamy colored paint to tone it down but I think it works for a playroom.

Happy Crafting!
Ames

Prickly Cactus from Modern Day Suzy Homemaker

Everytime I visit lindsay's blog, Modern Day Suzy Homemaker, I wonder why didn’t I think of that? She is super crafy and who would have thought that a prickly cactus could be so cute!

Happy Crafting!

Ames

Hi Paint and Prozac followers! My name is Lindsay from www.moderndaysuzyhomemaker.blogspot.com. Amy asked if I could write a guest post while she’s moving. I was honored! So here is a little project to keep your wee ones busy. And to Amy, I hope your move goes smoothly and you are back soon!

You will need: rice, green food coloring, zip top bag, scissors, construction paper or cardboard and glue.

 

Draw and cut out a cactus shape from the constriction paper or cardboard.

Put some rice in a zip top baggie with a few drops of green food coloring and let your little one shake, shake, shake.

 

Next, spread some glue on the cactus cut out.

 

Put the cut out in the box (glue side up) and then dump the green rice on top.

 

Put the lid on the box, add a rubber band to be safe, and let them shake it box.

 

Open the box and shake off the extra rice. Let it dry and there you have it, a Prickly Cactus.

 

Lindsay