Fire Craft!

So my biggest boy has a love-hate thing going with fire. He backed into a fire ring while camping last summer, burned his leg, and has been fascinated and terrified of fire ever since, adopting the name "fireboy" pretty soon after his experience. Does this theme/story sound somewhat familiar?...

Anyway, so I've been having some fun browsing for fire-related crafts. Pinterest is so great for finding ideas for crafting with kids - it is where I originally found this little idea.

We gave it a try, and they loved it. My younger son (deemed waterboy by his big brother) was a little miffed with this crafty plan. When I told them what we were going to do he said "No fireboy, I'm wawaboy!", but in the end he decided it was okay for him to build a fire too.

Love how this turned out!

xo

Sewing For A Three Year Old

Always, when I am sewing, or knitting, or crocheting, my 3 year old wants to get involved. He really wants to make his own of whatever I'm up to. For a long time, I have planned to get him his own sewing needle (a big, blunt, wool needle),  but I wasn't sure how, exactly, I would get him using it. Thank you, Amanda! When this post popped up on Soulemama it was too perfect! It was exactly how I could and would get him involved.

My little guy is so proud of his new skill.

"Daddy, I was sewin'. I was just sewin' with my sewin' hands. But not with mommy's big sewin' machine."

What a treat to see him intently stitching away at his little piece of art. :)

Book Love & Kid-made Ornaments

HAND IN HAND : Crafting With Kids
By Jenny Doh
(20 Top Bloggers & Favorite Projects)

I just wanted to post about this great book that compiles 20 bloggers, with each talking a little bit about their creative life, and then sharing a favourite kid friendly project. I would love to get around to every project at some point but, so far, we have managed only one.

Levi printed gold trees with the potato stamp I made from a cookie cutter, and then he decorated the trees in red paint. I would have liked to add another colour of fabric paint for him to use, but running out to any shop right close to Christmas was not in my plans unless absolutely necessary (e.g. grocery store)!

I sewed them to a backing fabric with a ribbon for hanging attached, and he stuffed them.
A fun project, and one he is super proud of!

Looking back on the activity in the book that inspired our project, I see I should've taken the route of a raw edged ornament. Much simpler, quicker, and I even prefer the look of it.

I'd show you the finished product, but unfortunately Christmas came and went all too quickly in our house this year what with the listing of our home. All decorations were packed away quite swiftly after celebrating. Kind of sad, but also kind of exciting - time to get packing everything!!

Anyway, if you love crafting with your kiddies, this book is definitely worth having!

Oh, and yeah, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope everyone had a great start to 2013!

XO

Paint with Water

Remember these books??

I thought they would be a fun and fabulous easy intro to painting for my boy, but I forgot how each page tends toward a brownish green soaking mess. Ah well, he has fun and that's the point right?



If you are on a quest, as I was, I found these books at the dollar store.

I have also picked up a paint with water book that, instead of the dots, has a "pallet" on each page. This still would require a regular brush cleaning in the water jar though which, I'm pretty sure, is not something my little artist is yet prepared to do. Again, fun times are what count!