Heart Stamp Hang Tags

We were at it again! Lulu loves making Treasure Soap. She wanted to make some for her teachers for Valentine's Day. We made a heart stamp from an old sponge, used sparkley poster paint and construction paper. After the paint was dried I cut out the hearts and used them as hang tags for her Homemade Treasure Soap.

Projects This Week: Valentine Treats

Heart-Shaped Rice Cereal Lollipops



Thought I would share with you our plans for Lulu's Preschool Valentine's Day Party Treat. We are waiting until the day before to make them so they will be fresh which is too late if you want to try making them yourself. Lulu is allergic to dairy so we use Fleischman's Unsalted Margarine or Earth's Best Soy Garden Butter. At holiday times it is difficult for Lulu when kids hand out candy and treats she can't eat so I try to provide something fun and yummy she can eat. I found some strawberry flavored pink marshmallows and this great heart shaped mold at our local craft store. You may notice I am addicted to the Craft Store! I'll post pictures of the finished project later this week.

Projects This Week: Sensory Book

Sensory Book
I have been wanting to make my daughter Emme a Sensory / Touch Book for some time now. I found this blank canvas book last weekend. I have no excuse now. I am just gathering bits of fabric and other material to make it. I'll post the finished project when I'm done.

Passing Time / Water Play

This kept Lulu happy and busy while I got to clean (really clean) the kitchen. She poured and measured for more than an hour while Emme napped...aaaahhhhh! I got to actually accomplish something from beginning to end with no interruptions. Amazing!

Repurposed Spice Jars

My girlfriend is interested in organizing her crafts...so I thought as the days go by I will occasionally post organizing solutions.

Let me just say, I am a sucker for packaging. I love these spice jars. They sell them in the Natural Foods Aisle of our grocery store. The label peals off beautifully after your done with the spice. We use them for beads. Although when we finish the next jar I am going to use it to house colored sand. It will make it easier for Lulu to sprinkle the sand onto the paper (& glue.)

Pipe Cleaner Shamrocks

I mentioned in the pipe cleaner hearts post that you can use the same technique for making shamrocks. This is a bit more difficult than the heart project but not much.

Age: 10+
Level: easy (although kids closer to 10 may require assistance)

You may want your child practice by trying the heart project first.




1. Fold the pipe cleaner into thirds
2. Then fold 2 of the sections in half (it looks a bit like your making a star.)
3. Pinch one point with your fingers
4. Wrap and twist to form a heart
5. Twist at base to make sure it is secure
6. Repeat technique
7. You will have one stick with two heart on the end
8. Take another pipe cleaner and repeat steps 1 through 7
9. Wrap the base of one of your 2 heart sticks around the other to form a 4 leaf clover
10. Adjust and shape

There are lot's of possible uses for these. Let me know in the comments if you come up with something esp. clever!

Pipe Cleaner Heart Flowers

I was playing with pipe cleaners last night as I was watching TV. This is what I came up with. These are very easy and quick to make. Would look adorable tied with a bow onto a Valentine's Day present or glued to a card. I started making shamrocks too...St Patrick's Day is around the corner.

Materials: Red & green pipe cleaners
Age: 6+
Level: Easy






Fold red pipe cleaner in half. Hold like a V in thumb and pointer fingers. Wrap each side around your finger tips to form top of heart. Twist to form bottom of heart. Should look like a heart on a stick. See picture. Take green pipe cleaner and form small leaf on end. Place leaf at base of the heart and begin wrapping the green pipe cleaner around the stem of the red pipe cleaner. Covering so no red shows through. Repeat making smaller hearts and leaves. Wrap then together as you go.

Felt Cookie Heart / Chasing Cheerios Blog

http://chasingcheerios.blogspot.com/2009/01/sweets-for-my-sweets.html

I finally got around to making the felt heart cookie from the Chasing Cheerios Blog. I added beads on top for the sprinkles. I also added a hanger so we can hang it like an ornament. It was very easy and fast to make. While I was working on sewing my heart Lulu started sewing her own. As soon as I started added beads to mine she wanted to add beads to hers. At 3.5 she still needed help with the task...mostly with untangling some of her stitches.

My Girls

Just two random shots of my cuties!

Lentil Tray / Sensory

You can use lentils, oatmeal, rice, pasta... Lulu loves playing with the lentil tray for long stretches of time. She listens to music while scooping, pouring, burying her counting bears, pretending she is cooking... This is a wonderful sensory activity and excellent for practicing her pouring and scooping skills.

This is may not be for you if you mind a mess. We do it in the kitchen and Lulu helps me sweep up afterwards. Obviously you know your child better than anyone...so if they are prone to eating the contents of the tray or making a mess rather than playing...than this is not the activity for you. We store ours in a Gladware tray to ensure it doesn't attract rodents. Plus it makes it easy when she asks to play with it -- it is ready to go. I place the tray on a rimmed cookie tray to catch some of the overflow spills as she works. Make sure you give your child a variety of cups, spoons, and small toys to play with. As always, use this time to talk to your child and ask them questions about what they are doing or what they think may happen if you do xyz.