Christmas Crafts

Dear Craftin' Kiddies, 
We had a great afternoon this week crafting some Christmas magic.  We did a "stain glass" ornament using tissue paper and a winter scene with some stickers Grandma P scored at a garage sale this summer.  

I enjoyed the winter scene the most because you turned the ginger bread stickers into Mom, Dad, Henny and Hazel.  I loved that you positioned Hazel above you side ways, "because she just lays down."  You're getting quite the ideas for crafting time.  Hazel loved watching, especially when you were shaking out all of the glitter.  

One can't have too much glitter, according to you.  I love that you're a little glitzy.
Love, Mama 

Crift Craft We Were Making a Mask!

Dear Craft Master Peep, 
I really enjoy when something laying around turns us into creative buddies.  On Daddy's first days home we found another box and whipped it into shape after a Curious George episode where they made hats out of recycled material.  I loaded the island up with all kinds of crap and we got to work.  You really wanted to use some ginger ale bottles so we cut them up to see what we could do with them.  After a few minutes of consulting we cut the tops off and taped them to the box.  You had the grand idea of painting on it and putting pom poms and pipe cleaners in the see through green bottles to give it more life.  Daddy helped throw in ideas but he was still pretty worn out from all of the hospital time.  The last couple of weeks we've played with your super cool hat quite a bit.  The way light shines through the bottles to showcase the squiggly pipe cleaners and colorful pom poms make this project special.
I love when a project develops out of thin air, it easily eats up about an hour and a half where you are completely immersed and focused; an excellent way to work on your attention span which can actually be quite great for an almost 3 year old. 
 Here are the results.

I can't wait for our next impromptu project.
Love, Mama

An Awesome Autumn Alphabet Adventure Hijacked by Winter [20 of 26] Thank You Card Sent for Christmas Goodies

Dear Hencent Van Gogh,

From the time you could sit up on your own Mama has been holding art time with you.  We've used a variety of medium...

Crayons, pottery, glaze, stickers, finger paint, pasta, handmade play dough, peanut butter, powdered milk, honey, corn starch, food coloring, glue, icing, cookie dough, sprinkles, glitter, construction paper, pom poms, foam people with foam shoes, hair and clothes, wiggly eyes, stamps, markers, glitter pins, glitter glue, pipe cleaners, magnets, yarn, brads, Popsicle sticks, foam letters, and tape.  You now ask for art time every day.  "Art time now Mommy!....Peas!"  I ask you what you want to make and you tell me.  You choose the colors to use and I cut out the shapes.  Then you glue them together and design the rest of it.  It is a lot of fun to see you get excited by what we've made.  When you decide you are finished you'll say, "Hang it up!"  I put it on the front of the fridge and for a few days you'll talk about it.  So to show our gratitude for the Christmas presents you received this year we made a project for all of those we need to thank.  We sent them out last week and almost all of them have been delivered.  We have one more to make and send and we will be finished and ready for new projects.

Grandpa Tim sent you a sleeping bag and some books for Christmas so that's what you wanted to make him...a tent.

Bahboo and Grandma P bought you not one but two construction trucks.  You wanted to make a dump truck with rubble for them.

Aunt Krispie you said, "Elephant! Pink!"  You were all done then insisted on making it have three eyes instead of two.  It was a real hit.  We hand delivered the pink elephant and a card to her at work.

Great Grandma Hazel you said, "Makin' noodles with Henry."  I think you knew if you chose this theme for GG you would soon be swimming in her better than life scratch noodles.  She called us when she got it and was over the moon happy with it.

Grandma LaJean has Krispie's old cat Liam.  You love trying to hunt down this cat and feed it treats and try to kiss its whiskers so I wasn't surprised when you said you wanted to make her a kitty cat.

Great Aunt Cathy sent you some money that you bought books with.  She lives in Florida like three or four doors down from Grandpa Tim on an old canal...with lots of gators...We are going to be visiting in Florida in February and have been talking a lot about the gators.  You decided we should make her a gator.  It is complete with an articulating jaw.

A couple of weeks ago we visited Jo Jo, Tommy and Uriah and they gave you a cool robot dude that rolls around on the floor but when I asked you what we should make for JoJo you screamed at me, "PINK ELEPHANT!"  Ok, Ok!  This one had only two eyes and she loved it.

When Mama told you that our friends David and Kate were going to have a baby you wanted to make a baby for them...You insisted it was a boy and he was going to take your trucks.  Guess what!  It is a boy!  His Daddy David assured you little Abraham is going to steal your trucks!  You made a little you and and little Abraham that now sits on Kate's desk at work.  I'm not sure why little Abraham has a touch of blood coming out the corner of his mouth but you put it there.  Maybe you're sending a message that he better not touch those trucks if he knows what is good for him.  I am sure you guys will get along just fine.

I love art time with my Henry.  It is nice to create with you.  Oh springtime should roll in early this year so we can do some fun things outside!

Love, Mama

PS Anybody have any cool craft ideas for a 22 month old?  Leave us a comment!  We'll make it and post a picture of it here.