Don't throw that away-strawberry baskets

We don't often come by these nifty little gems these days but if you get your berries from a local stand or farmer's market, you just may be lucky enough to score some! There is much you can do with a strawberry basket. Today, we will show you how to make a Mother's Day pendant or brooch!What you need:
*green strawberry basket
*ribbon, lace and string scraps
*pom-pons, buttons, sequins, etc.
*pipe cleaners
*paper scraps
*sandpaper
*glue
*glitter
*pin-backs if making brooches
*scissorsscrumdilly-do it!

First off, this project is most easily done with a strawberry basket but can be adapted using cardboard, styrofoam, cereal boxes or other material. Use this project as a guideline and have fun experimenting!

Cut up your basket into parts. You can cut it into five or more parts, depending on how big your wee one wants his/her surface space to be. You will be setting up materials for weaving which is perfect for working those fine motor skills. If your kidlet is easily frustrated and not ready for such an activity, prep one side of a cereal box for them by cutting out areas they can implement into a weaving project of their own.If you are going to make a pendant, make sure all "pointy" bits are trimmed. If your wee one is insisting on gluing away,please sand the surface of the basket piece a bit so that the glue has something to hold onto. Otherwise, the glue will peel off. You may want to encourage your kidlet to glue after everything else is in place. Pass out the small pieces and set out all the bits and trim and let your wee ones weave away. They can use paper cut or torn into strips,ribbon, yarn, string and pipe cleaners. They can weave, twist, turn or tie. The possibilities are endless! Next up, add some sparkle, buttons, pom-pons, you name and set aside to dry.Loop a length of ribbon or string through the top of the pendant to create a necklace. Glue a pin-back to the back of the pendant with a super strong glue like E-6000 if using as a brooch. Make sure you do the super gluing yourself. Never EVER let your wee ones use the powerful glues!Wrap your giftie up in a brown paper bag decorated with your wee one's artwork and handiness and you are as good as gold! Don't forget to take pictures and send them to us to be featured on "the 'do!"

Celebrate Eggbits Day!

With a wee bit o' eggshell art!

What you need:

*clean dry eggshells

*cardboard (recycled cereal boxes work)

*glue

*paint

*sponge or spongebrush

*scissors

*wax paper or paper plate

*toy block or car or action figure

scrumdilly-do it!

Gather your supplies and set up shop in a mess friendly area. Take your cardboard and cut out a square, circle or letter. You can use any shape you want. Using a letter can be fun and it's literary, even! Set aside.

Place your clean eggshells (always wash with soapy water and allow to dry, preferably in the sunlight) onto a covered table or cutting board or other mess friendly surface. Hand your wee one a favorite toy, car or block and let them smash up the eggshells into itty bitty bits. Scoop the bits into a container or pile them up for the next step.

Apply glue to the entire surface of your cardboard. Allow your wee ones to use their fingers to smear the glue all over. Add eggshells and set aside to dry.

Set out as many colors of paint as you and/or your wee ones would like along with a sponge or sponge brush. Have your wee ones paint their mosaic to their hearts content and set aside to dry.

Once dry, punch a hole at the top, string with some pretty ribbon or yarn and hang in a special place! Now you have a plan for all those Easter Eggs, right?

Happy Boxing Day!

Don't throw all that gift wrap out! Make a nifty gift wrap collage!

What you need:

*gift wrap scraps
*ribbon scraps
*gluestick, tape or kid friendly glue
*carboard, cereal boxes, paper plates, gift boxes
*scissors
*glitter and other bits of fun
scrumdilly-do it!

Gather up all your gift wrapiness. You know, that pile of torn paper and ribbons and tags. Set out a selection of the goods for your wee ones to art it up with along with scissors and adhesive and something to glue it all onto.Have your wee ones cut or tear pieces of their favorite paper and arrange them onto their work surface for some collage fun. You can use broken-down gift boxes, paper plates, cardboard or heavy paper for your work surface.They can do random placement or make a torn picture. Cut, tear and glue away, add some glitter for fun and you will soon have a nifty memorable holiday collage! Don't forget to recycle the rest!
Other ideas:

**Collage onto a gift box and refold so that your wee one can have their own nifty treasure box for all those stocking-stuffers.

**Cut the scrap gift wrap into strips and make some more paper chains!

**Cut long strips of paper and have your wee ones collage onto a paper plate. Don't forget oodles of ribbon and you can make a paper plate hat not unlike the baby shower hats we so love to force new mamas to wear!

You may even want to save a box of scraps to keep around for when inspiration strikes. Kidlets can even art up the blank backs of the paper.Have fun!

Don't Throw That Away!...sock(s)

Save those socks you pull from the dryer sans their mate. Your kidlets can turn them into all sorts o' sock creatures and all they need is one sock! What you need:
*a sock
*permanent markers (sharpies work swell)
*tacky glue
*buttons, beads, baubles and bits
*felt
*scissors
*needle and thread (optional)
*fiberfill or more socks for stuffing

scrumdilly-do it!

Set up your work area placing containers or piles of your baubles and bits within reach of your kidlets. Have each wee one pick out a sock and stuff it with your fiberfill or scrap socks.

Now it is time to examine what they have and decide what their sock will become. Will it be a fish? A ghost? A monster? A cat?Your wee ones can draw directly onto their sock with permanent pens or they can glue to their heart's content buttons, ribbon and felt cut to shapes. If your wee ones are adept with a needle and thread, let them have a go. There are no mistakes in making sock critters. Check out the critters these nifty kidlets made:A snake!
A mummy and a snow-girl!
A monstrous reptile!

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!