This project didn't make my Ornaments to Make With a Preschooler post. In fact, I almost didn't write about it at all.
Because it's embarassingly simple.
Really.
Embarrassing.
It's a three minute project.
I decided to post it anyway because sometimes we need three minute projects.
For our sanity.
Or to satisfy the I want to make a prooooooojeeeeeeeeeect whining.
Wait, that's still for our sanity.
That kind of whining never happens at my house.
{ahem}
Here's how this one came to pass.
Last weekend, I noticed a ribbon organizer in the Joanne Fabric ad that was on sale for one day only for $8 (normally $26). I needed a ribbon organizer.
Needed.
I have rolls and rolls of plain white ribbon because I buy some every time I'm at the store. I need some organization.
I did what any self respecting bed-ridden pregnant woman would do. I begged my husband to go buy the ribbon organizer for me.
Knowing that his very happiness depended on my acquiring a ribbon organizer, Joe trudged to the fabric store.
Because it was Thanksgiving weekend, scads of things were on sale. Since he was already there, I had him pick up little wooden Christmas ornaments for Grace to paint (on sale for 49 cents each!) and some sparkly dot painters, too.
Grace has been on a painting kick for a month or two. She'll paint anything.
Even herself.
These ornaments are small and uncomplicated - perfect for working on while Momma supervises from the couch.
Painted Christmas Ornaments
Materials
Pre-made wooden ornaments- Paint - our low mess choice was scented, shimmery dot paints (they're the last one on the page; I'm not sure whether they're available online or not)
Instructions
- Give your child an ornament and a dot painter on a plastic or other paintable surface.
- Allow child to paint.
- Done!
A note about crafting with a preschooler
Every single ornament we've done has been a lesson in patience and letting Grace own her crafty project.
This one was no different.
A blue and orange Christmas tree. A yellow-faced angel with a blue hand. An all-orange gingerbread man.
She's happy with them. I want to support her creative vision.
So I feign excitement and paint my own project with her markers. (That's the rainbow snowflake, though I'm not sure I should have admitted it.)
Cathy @ NurtureStore says
I agree it's so important to give children the space to do their own thing - that's them expresing their creativity. In years to come we'll love the orange Christmas trees. We do lots and lots of crafts over at NurtureStore and I try to have them as child-led as possible. Even if we're making something in particular I always try to include some aspect that lets them free-style. And your rainbow snowflake is lovely too x