Containing the Mess

Some days it's just too cold or rainy to be outside for messy play, so why not try containing the mess in the bath? We do this often, especially if I have jobs around the house that really need doing while Squeak sleeps. I find messy play is the best way to get a good half hour or more of peace, but then there is the mess to clean up at the end which kind of defeats the purpose. Doing messy play in the bath though means a very quick and easy clean up, not just of the play area but of the child as well if need be!
Today was one of those days, the floor needed mopping and it was far too cold to be outside doing the activity Bubble had chosen - water beads. So we put the plug in the bath, some old towels in the bottom to sit on and she went nuts in there while I got the floors cleaned - wonderful :-)
We do all sorts of activities in the bath on wet and windy days - playdough, painting, slime, warm water play in a plastic tub - the list is endless.

A nice big mess.

Clean within minutes :-)

Owl Mobile

It's only taken me a little over 6 months, but I finally finished the owl mobile project for Squeak's room. I've had the bits all cut out ready to be sewn together for ages but ran out of mojo and it's been sitting idle ever since. I've been feeling a bit guilty about it because I finished Bubble's mobile a long time ago and both girls love to lay on her bed watching it, so I've been searching for the motivation to get it done. It's wondeful to finally have it finished and most importantly - Squeak loves it :-)

The owl shapes are just Photoshop brushes which I sized and printed as templates, and I put a small sealed bag of rice inside each one before they were stuffed, just to weight them slightly. The owls are double sided and each side has a different expression (and by expression I mean their eyes are pointing in different directions hehe :-D).

Plastacine & Streamer Lanterns

Bubble is all about parties at the moment. We wear party hats at breakfast, hang streamers in the cubbyhouse and stick candles in our dinner. She has taken to raiding the recycling bag for sheets of newspaper which she wraps anything she can find in to give to us as 'presents' (on the strict condition that we rewrap them and give them back to her to open). So today we made a few things to have a special 'night time party' just as something a little bit different.
These lanterns were the first two projects, very easy to make and a lot of fun. I will share our other activity tomorrow as the photos seem to be loading a bit slowly tonight :-)

WE USED:

* clean empty glass jars (we used old baby food jars)
* Clag glue
* streamers cut into squares (you could use anything, wrapping paper, tissue paper, cellophane)
* plastacine
* toothpicks
* cookie cutters
* tealights (we used electric child safe fake ones which were bought at the local Reject shop)

PLASTACINE LANTERNS:

We kneaded our plastacine until it was nice and soft, then pressed it around the outside of a jar until it was coated by a thin layer. Using a toothpick and cookie cutters Bubble could then cut shapes and make patterns in the plastacine, creating little windows for the light to escape from.

One of our plastacine covered jars.

Bubble carving patterns with her toothpick.

Using cookie cutters to cut shapes.

STREAMER LANTERNS:
Cut a roll of streamer into squares and put them into a bowl. Hold the jar from the inside while your child covers it with glue, and then sticks the streamer to it like paper mache. You can do several layers, just the one or leave little windows in the sides. You could also vary the textures by using different papers or cellophanes.

Holding a jar while Bubble coats it with glue and streamer squares.

The finished lanterns and electric tealights.

They looked beautiful all lit up!

Car Mat

I found a big roll of this waterproof covering at our local Lincraft this week and bought a metre of it for only $7. The girls have been playing with it endlessly, with their cars, dolls and we've been taking it outside to the park when we go as well. It's great to sit on as it's waterproof and also easy to clean - bargain :-)

Got it covered

Bubble and Squeak's activity table has been looking a little bit worse for wear lately, so I picked up some upholstery fabric and thin pvc sheeting recently to try and freshen it up a bit. I removed the legs and covered it with the fabric first followed by the pvc, cutting holes to allow the legs to be screwed back into place afterwards. I secured it underneath with copious amounts of strong automotive tape rather than staples so it can be changed relatively easily if need be. It turned out pretty cute and is so easy to clean, I've bought some extra matching fabric as well to make some floor cushions at a later date.

Sun Jars

We recently bought the girls a Sun Jar each for their bedrooms and are so impressed with them! They are standard glass jars which are frosted and have a solar panel built into the top. You leave it outside or on the windowsill throughout the day and at night it uses the stored solar energy to light up. I love the idea of a little bit of the sun being 'caught' in a jar to use at night, and even better it's a free way to light the girls rooms softly. The jars have a blue or orange colour mode, I love the orange though as it looks so warm and inviting.

Charging up the Sun Jar during the day.

Squeak watching the glow of the Sun Jar.