Don't Throw That Away!...giftcards

Not that we are all swimming around with oodles of giftcards carelessly tossed about, but if you do happen to have a couple and you're on your way to Target (or Old Navy, or Kmart, etc.) to use 'em up, don't toss them when you're done with them. There are oodles and bunches of things you can do with them. Some giftcards have illustrations by the talented likes of S. Britt and Anna Chambers which are perfect for collecting. Or, you can teach your wee ones all about capitalism early, pretend they are credit cards. All sorts of fun can be had, all ya gotta do is think outside the box. Luckily for you, we do a little of that here or you and here's what we've discovered, giftcards are cool! Target carries some of the niftiest cards we've ever come across. From the fly-eye goggle cards to the build-your-own Target dog to the spinning pinwheels, these puppies are perfectly sized to keep in your bag or pocket for those moments when your kidlets need SOMETHING. They even work in the car! One of my most recent discoveries is perfect for a quickie art project. Check it out!

What you need:
*store giftcards with slightly raised images
*plain old white paper, the thinner, the better
*crayons

scrumdilly-do it!

Horde giftcards that have slightly raised images, these are perfect for crayon or chalk rubbings. Have your kidlet slide a giftcard under their paper.
Next, have your wee one pick out a crayon and quickly rub the crayon back and forth over the paper where the giftcard is hiding.Ta-da! Instant pictures! Not all cards with raised images will work but it makes for a good lesson in observation and casue and effect. With cards so cool, I've been known to pick up a couple for myself just to have on hand for some printmaking. Have fun!