Moms' Idea Factory

Craft Supply Box

Get a large clear plastic bin with a lid - Ikea has awesome ones (the name of the line is Samla) and start gathering craft supplies for rainy days! Supplies can be very cheap or even free. In my craft bin are:

• construction paper (dollar store)

• toilet roll tubes

• stickers (dollar store, ebay - I got a lot of 1000 stickers for $3)

• old magazine pages with interesting, colourful pictures

• sequins (dollar store)

• yarn

• ribbon

• small pieces of gift wrapping paper too small to use for gifts, or recycled pieces

• bits of cardboard saved from cereal boxes

• tissue paper

• scraps of fabric

• glue sticks (dollar store)

• safety scissors (dollar store)

• buttons (all those spare buttons you get when you buy a new article of clothing)

Anybody else got any ideas for cheap or free stuff to add to the craft box?

Sewing Cards

Help your toddler get a handle on manual dexterity by making sewing cards for playtime. You will need:

• medium weight cardboard (the sides cut from an old cereal box or other packaging will do just fine)

• scissors

• hole punch

• colourful yarn or ribbon

• crayons, markers, paint

• tape (transparent, masking, whatever...)

Cut a fun shape or two out of the cardboard (circles, triangles, star, teddy bear, bunny....). Let your child decorate the cardboard shape with crayons, markers or paint (if you use paint be sure to allow drying time). Use the hole punch to punch holes about 1 cm apart arpound the edge of the shape. Cut a long pice of yarn - measure a piece three times around the edge of the card. Tie a large knot at one end of the yarn and wrap a small piece of tape around the other end so it looks like a shoelace end. Show your child how to thread all the way around the edge of the card shape.

Miss Louise's Playdough

 

During the schoolyear I take our boys to a free preschool program called StrongStart. Our local StrongStart is run by a lovely lady named Miss Louise. There are always lots of great crafts and activities to do at Miss Louise's. And there's always a playdough table with homemade dough made by Miss Louise. Here's her recipe. It takes less than 10 minutes to make so it's easy to fit it in during nap time or after bed. Older kids could probably help stir the flour and pour, but mommy will have to do the stove part.

• 2 cups flour

• 3.5 tsp cream of tartar

• 2 cups water

• 1 cup fine salt (if your is not fine, whiz it in your blender first)

• 2 Tbsp oil

• food colouring

• glitter (optional)

Sift flour and cream of tartar together. In a large, heavy pot mix together water, salt, food colouring and oil. Heat gently over medium heat. Stir in flour and keep stirring until it is well blended and a large soft ball forms. Remove from heat. Turn dough out on to counter and allow it to cool for a minute or two. knead by hand or with your stand mixer until you have a smooth dough. Store in an airtight container or ziplock when completely cool.

Alternate Instructions: If you have a fairly big stand mixer you can add all the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl and the pour the liquid ingredients in after heating them in the microwave or on thw stove (or using boiling water from the kettle). Use the paddle attachment if you're going to try this.