Hello my dears!
It is so good to be back!
Thank you very much for your kind words, thoughts and prayers over the past couple of weeks. Alan and I are very grateful for your concern. We’re doing okay and getting back to normal. Aoife still needs to talk it out a bit more, but she’s getting there.
***
Today I want to share something pretty fun with you; art kits. They have saved my sanity quite a few times over the last year, let me tell you.
Ready?
Last summer, I started making art kits for Aoife. Kirby still needed a lot of hands on attention, and Aoife wanted to be able to make art at a moment’s notice. Art kits seemed the way to go.
And they have been a massive hit!
Aoife loves the freedom of going to the craft station and just grabbing a kit whenever she wants to. And I love that I don’t have to scramble to get stuff ready for her, but can do it at my own pace whenever I have a moment. I also love that she uses up most of my scraps, so there is not much wastage.
Better still is that these art kits are perfect for taking on the road. I may have started them for her to do on a rainy day at home, but they pack up so easily that you can take them pretty much anywhere.
The kit:
Last year, I kept our kits very simple. I wanted Aofe to be able to do them on her own as much as possible, so I just put card or watercolour paper and some felt shapes into plastic envelopes. Glue, crayons, pencils and watercolours were close at hand. I used felt shapes on purpose since they don’t really tear. A lower risk of tearing = a lower risk of tantrums.
But, there are lots of things you can include:
- paper, felt, or fabric shapes
- buttons
- sequins
- glitter or glitter glue
- stickers
- ribbons and/ or embroidery thread
- old stamps
- scrapbooking or card embellishments
- tooth picks or popsicle sticks
- crayons or coloured pencils
- passport sized photographs or magazine images
The key is to keep them as simple as possible. It will save your sanity and theirs. I pretty much freehand everything (not the giraffe, mind you, I traced that!) and it usually works out okay.
Enjoy!
Hi carin, what a great idea with the craft kits wish i thought of a portable one when my kids were small….glad you are all getting on top of things….my condolences to you and your family…
Thanks for the idea Carin! Those art kits are a WONDERFUL idea for kids and my 5 year old would have so much fun with them!
Lots of love!
-Michelle
so sorry to hear about alan’s dad, pass on my sympathies (sorry i missed it too, on semi-bloggy break).
and art kits are a great idea.
Thanks Jen! I have to say they have been pretty cool. Kirby is getting into them now too 🙂
Thanks Michelle. I’m sure she would. Aoife is 5 as well. Kirby is getting into them now too, with a little help. He’ll be 18 months in a few days. So they can be done for really little hands too.
Thanks Mon!
Welcome back Carin… we have missed you… I know it must have been a very difficult time for you all…
LOVE the sound of your craft kits… what a fabulous idea… I am going to suggest it to my daughter… would love to make some up too for when the grandies come over… the crafting box is one of the very first places they head to… so would be awesome to have some kits made up ready to go… thanks for sharing…
Hugs
Jenny x
Thanks Jenny! I’m so glad you like them so much you’ll even suggest them to your daughter. I’m sure your grandkids would love them! xo
Sorry to hear about your families loss. Your art kits are genius! They are such a win win- it nurtures their creativity, keeps them occupied, and uses up scraps!
Thank you so much Carolyn! You are so right, they are definitely win win.
I´m sorry for your loss, glad you´re doing OK after all. These kit are lovely!
My wishes are with you! AND that is one of the best ideas I have seen for using scraps and saving a mama’s sanity! Perfectly brilliant! xoxo
Tack Tina! Nu går vi framåt med stora steg.
Thanks so much Kristin! We’re all for saving our sanity, right?!