start + Art = Great Start – Cork Boats, Christmas Stamps & grandparents

I really wanted to review some lovely books about grandparents, because today we had a lovely day at Opapa’s house (Opapa = Grandpa in Austrian). We went there to hang out whilst The Englishman studied for some exams.

We arrived, expecting, Opapa, sunshine, a sandpit and a blow up pool. We went away having Gotten Crafty unexpectedly!!!

We have no Grandparent books, but Zoe at Playing By the Book reviewed a whole bunch of fabulous sounding ones here. We have two on order and will have to wait on Mei Mei for Christmas, as it is a little more expensive.

But this is what we made:

 

I recommend the catamaran configuration as the one cork configuration even with “stabalizers” toppled a little. I poked holes with the toothpicks and broke it in half to connect the corks. (Red Ted spent most of the day without clothes on, so, I am sorry, no photos of Red Ted playing with the boats or Opapa!!!)

And then Opapa found some Christmas Stamps and Red Ted got stamping (only an Opapa gets out Christmas Stamps in July!!). We will be coming back to these stamps shortly!!

Christmas in July

Tell me about the sea

Christmas in July

Christmas in July

 Once home, we revisited an old favourite of Red Ted’s: Tell me about The Sea, by Justine Smith. We have two books in the series and also have Tell me about Baby Animals. When he was a little younger he preferred Baby Animals (which Pip Squeak adores right now aged 8mths). Now I think he prefers The Sea (2.5yrs). But they are both lovely books – nice simple images with things to “do” on every page (count, find, look), some nice shiny surfaces to touch, as well as some flaps to lift towards the end. Lovely for them. Lovely for you and a little education on the side! Tell me about The Sea has a page all about boats. Big ones and little ones. Fast ones and slow ones. Even some sailboats. Perfect.

Previous Kids Craft & stART projects:

stART:Piep Piep Piep, Loo Roll Watches

stART:  Bear Cards & Strawberry Growing Video 

stART: Touchy Feely Book – That is not my Puppy 

stART: Jolly Postman & Greeting cards from Toddler Art 

Book & Cook – Duckies Rainbow & Rainbow Cookies 

stART – Story Telling, Bunnies & Stars 

stART: Giraffe’s can’t dance – a Giraffe Loo Roll Marionette 

stART: Chick – a Pop Up Card 

Book & Cook: Alphabet Cookies – Learning through play 

stART: Busy Airport – Cotton Wool Clouds and, erm, PIGS! 

stART: Hit &Myth – a mix & match book for older children (>5yrs)     

stART: Story & Thank you time – inspirational thank you cards    

stART: Hurray for Fish – one for babies or messy toddlers!     

stART: Bedtime Star – Red Ted, makes a starry night for Pip Squeak’s nursery    

stART: The Way Back Home, Oliver Jeffers – Red Ted makes a plane and a UFO    

Craft: Peg animals – toddlers can help!