I am always having a weird feeling around Mother’s Day: that’s one holiday I never get a perfect gift. The “Mom projects that kids get to do in school are surely cute, but they often lack imagination component, and always lack personality. That is my kid’s personality. I don’t mind getting messy, weird looking and childish scribbly projects that have my kid’s own creativity written all over it. I do mind pretty-teacher-corrected ones that show me how much she is helping/directing them and how little they get to express themselves in those art projects. Well, if I don’t get to enjoy getting Mothers Day projects that come from the bottom of my kids’ hearts, I do get to enjoy making it with them!
Grandmas always like getting some made-not-in-China but by-a-dearest-little-grandson gifts. Their aunt who always showers my boys with her love, gifts and fun times together – deserves one too. One of these ideas is always perfect for my boys’ cousin-dance recital. One… like this one: pretty, very easy to make and lots of fun for all my kids – from a toddler to a 9 year old.
That’s it!
If “messy and “kid-made are your favorite art project descriptions, then stop right there. If “pretty is part of the job description for you, then suggest your kids a limit on colors: for example, just three. I love the color wheel and launching a mini-discussion on how the colors can go together.
Directions:
Let kids dip one hand into finger paint. You can use a brush to get to all depressions and crevices.
Let them smash a handprint in the upper side of the paper.
Let kids dip another hand into another color finger paint.
Smash! Another flower petals get stamped onto the paper.
Repeat for as many hands/kids/flowers as you wish.
Show kids how to dip one finger into green paint and use it to make some stems.
Dip a finger into a contrasty color and make some hearts/circles in the middle of the hand prints – that will be middle of the flower.
Tie a ribbon into a bow
Use a gluedot or a little drop of glue to secure the ribbon “around your flower stems
Optional: If you really wish to go full throttle, you could print out a few kids’ headshot photographs (YOUR kids’ headshots, the ones who created the flowers), and glue them inside their hand prints.
Very important part: admire your kids’ creations! They can make one little bouquet for the whole family, a few little bouquets for the specific special ladies in their life (grandmas, aunts, sisters, teachers, cousins often fit the bill here), or one humongous bouquet full of flowering colorful hands!
I love projects that involve hand and foot prints. I feel it not only cute and sweet, but also becomes a memory keepsake – that’s how big were the hands of this little artist! If you do end up with a picture in the middle – that’s how he looked at the moment of the creation of this project too!
I am always having a weird feeling around Mother’s Day: that’s one holiday I never get a perfect gift. The “Mom projects that kids get to do in school are surely cute, but they often lack imagination component, and always lack personality. That is my kid’s personality. I don’t mind getting messy, weird looking and childish scribbly projects that have my kid’s own creativity written all over it. I do mind pretty-teacher-corrected ones that show me how much she is helping/directing them and how little they get to express themselves in those art projects. Well, if I don’t get to enjoy getting Mothers Day projects that come from the bottom of my kids’ hearts, I do get to enjoy making it with them!
Grandmas always like getting some made-not-in-China but by-a-dearest-little-grandson gifts. Their aunt who always showers my boys with her love, gifts and fun times together – deserves one too. One of these ideas is always perfect for my boys’ cousin-dance recital. One… like this one: pretty, very easy to make and lots of fun for all my kids – from a toddler to a 9 year old.
If “messy and “kid-made are your favorite art project descriptions, then stop right there. If “pretty is part of the job description for you, then suggest your kids a limit on colors: for example, just three. I love the color wheel and launching a mini-discussion on how the colors can go together.
Very important part: admire your kids’ creations! They can make one little bouquet for the whole family, a few little bouquets for the specific special ladies in their life (grandmas, aunts, sisters, teachers, cousins often fit the bill here), or one humongous bouquet full of flowering colorful hands!
I love projects that involve hand and foot prints. I feel it not only cute and sweet, but also becomes a memory keepsake – that’s how big were the hands of this little artist! If you do end up with a picture in the middle – that’s how he looked at the moment of the creation of this project too!
