The end goal, is to find some things that your child enjoys using, and make it so it's readily accessible to them. I chose to use crayons and paper, but in a month, I'll probably swap it out with other craft items for her to have fun with. Also, I put everything in jars (so she wouldn't have to struggle with putting crayons in and out of a cardboard box-that always annoyed me as a child) or a basket... items that are super easy to find in thrift shops, or around your house. I actually picked up this basket while we were in Italy (before Ukraine) at a farmer's market.

This Mama wanted to take some durable paper (matte paper-that lasts a long way in the USPS) and make it look "cute"! I sewed some so that it could act as a "frame" for her artwork (for her to color in), and others I embellished with hearts, rainbows, etc. A lot of people are against sewing paper with their machine... I don't mind, because a.)I have an inexpensive machine, and b.) because I think it's just too cute not to.
Little glass mason jars are cute by themselves, but I decided to use some of the scrap fabric I had laying around to tie around the jar. Before doing so, I ripped the edges, to give it a "frayed" look.

Start adding everything to your basket... and voila... you have yourself a "Creative Station"... I would think of a catchy name for this, but really... there's nothing clever in me right now.
This little "creative station" takes up residence on our dining room table now... We have a bench seat for one side of the table that Charlotte LOVES to climb up and down on, and so I strategically placed it in a spot where she often is... a place that's accessible to her. So many Mamas place all the fun crafty items up high in the cupboards so their little ones can't get a hold of it and make a mess of it... but not this Mama... she wants her little one to just create create create.



Then let the "wee" little one create create create... or in Charlotte's case: take the crayons out of the jar... stick the crayons back in the jar... and repeat over and over again.


What a Doll she is. And I do believe one of the luckiest little girls in the world! I love the triangular crayons :o) Live savor for Mom.
ReplyDeleteI love it!!! How about creation station since it rhymes?? haha I'd be a little careful though because when I was watching two little girls if you didn't watch every second they had crayons sometimes you'd find masterpieces on lampbases, walls, tables, etc. :)
ReplyDeleteDude, I don't think I've seen those triangular crayons before- what a great idea! And the station is great! I have thought many times about doing that here, but at the moment I feel like the cons outweigh the pros, for us. (Elisha just eats the crayons. And markers? Let's not go there.)
ReplyDeleteO I love her headband, Karen. And I think Toaster had a good name idea ~ Creation Station... I actually read it that way the first time... I had to go back and read and realize that wasn't what you said... She really is adorable... E is loving scissors for cutting all sorts of things out, lately, he gets all our nonessential paper to cut as he desires. O and he has loved the triangular crayons, too.
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea Karen! And she is so stinkin cute, I love all your pictures, they are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteBest dressed award goes to Charlotte! So adorable!
ReplyDeletesmart idea, friend!! Charlotte is going to make beautiful masterpieces. :)
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I saw that basket, I thought that it would be cute to weave some matching fabric strips through the reeds of the basket. Then There wouldn't be big gaps so things wouldn't fall through the open areas. You are such a good Mommy, Karen!! You know, I think once her eyes are corrected, she may be more apt to start coloring?! It's almost impossible to focus with her condition. My friends daughter, also adopted from the Ukraine, just had surgery...actually Botox injections in each eye. It's amazing to see how she's changed! Charlie gets more adorable in every photo, if that's possible! I mean, how could she get more adorable?? Loving the headband. Now I'm gonna go sew on some paper! Hugs ~ Jo
ReplyDeleteWe are moving into a new house at the end of this month, and it has a huge, finished basement. We are sectioning it off so that we each have our own space, and one of the spaces is a play/art space for the boys. I am SO excited to create this space for them.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I love Charlotte's headband :)
So adorable! I love that you're encouraging her creativity. :)
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