Under the Sea Craft Projects

By Cori of Peace, Baby! Batiks

Finding Nemo is all the rage at my house these days, temporarily bumping Lightning McQueen from most-favored-toy status. We’ve borrowed ocean books from the library, visited aquariums, and pretended we were Nemo and his friends.

So, when I started planning the monthly arts and crafts activity for my MOMS Club, I scoured my Kid Stuff Pinterest board for simple projects related to ocean creatures. I settled on two painting projects: paper bowl jellyfish and paper plate fish.

The jellyfish were inspired by this project from First Palette and this one from Creekside Learning. I told the kids we were making octopuses; as we moved along with the craft, they informed me the octopuses looked more like jellyfish. I went back and looked at the original ideas, and of course, they were right!

We started our jellyfish by painting the bottom of paper bowls. Some kids painted the whole thing; others, like my son, just painted the base of the bowl. I glued googly eyes onto each one. We used tape to attach streamers around the bowl for tentacles.

The fish were inspired by these beautiful paper plate tropical fish from Crafts by Amanda. For the fish, give each kid two paper plates. Have them paint one to be the fish body and help them draw fins on the other plate (or draw them for little guys), and paint those shapes.

When everything is dry, cut out the fins and tape or glue them into place. Draw an eye or attach a googly eye. Too cute!

Here are some other fishy crafts we’ve tried or want to try:

Paper plate octopus, via Artsy Craftsy Mom

Egg carton fish, via Crafty-Crafted. Ours are still a work in progress; we need to add stripes, fins, and eyes.

Squishy fish aquariums, from Teach Preschool (one of my favorite blogs!). We used light blue hair gel and added food coloring to make the gel bluer.

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EtsyKids Design Challenge: It's time to Vote!

It's time to vote for your favorite item! Voting will be open until May 27th. This month, EtsyKids members were challenged to create an exciting new item based on a theme "April Showers bring May Flowers". We received a bunch of fantastic entries from some talented people. Please vote for your favorite item from the list below.

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EtsyKids Design Challenge for May: April Showers bring May Flowers

(via)

"April Showers bring May Flowers" is our challenge for May, picked by our last month's winner SwishDesigns.  This month we'll be featuring hand made items inspired by spring flowers, plants, rain, clouds....

EtsyKids members will have until May 20th to submit their entries, and voting will be open to everybody from May 21st to May 27th. So, be sure to come back to the EtsyKids blog for a new post on the 21st to see all of the entries and VOTE!  In the meantime, please click here to get a sneak peek at some exciting entries so far!

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Introducing C Cooper Designs

Today We Introduce You To Cheryl From C Cooper Designs

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?
I started my Etsy shop when I first heard about the site. I wanted a place where I could share my love of sewing and design.

Q: What is the story behind your shop name?

The business name came from a business name my Mother and I had when we sewed and designed bridal wear, Collins-Cooper. When I changed direction in my sewing business I decided on “c.cooper designs” which still represents my maiden name and my married name.

Q: Do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?

I have several shops that I really like on Etsy. One of them is SoManyColors for some beautifully hand dyed scarfs.

Q: What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

The positive compliments that I get.

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

One of the most difficult things for me has been getting traffic to my shop. I have much work to do in this area.

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

I love to sew and I love to be creative. It's important to me to give my customers a quality product. Every item in my shop is one of a kind with quality fabrics carefully chosen and with professional construction.

Q: How would someone (other then you) describe you?

artistic, fun-loving, caring

Q: What music do you have on while you are creating?

I actually love a variety of music, so it varies...soft rock, reggae, pop, etc.

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?

Spend time with my family and my girls (dogs), gardening and a variety of art projects.

Q: Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?

Recently my daughter, Abigail Cooper has joined me in sewing for c.cooper designs. She is very creative and talented and is a very valuable addition to our shop. And we have a great time together.

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Bring the Outdoors In: Grass Clipping

By Christine of Belly Bear Baby Gear

Now that we are well into the season of spring many of you out there are seeding your lawns and watching them grow.  With plenty of grass seed on hand, you have the opportunity to create a fun sensory/fine motor growth opportunity for your children.  All you'll need is some top soil, grass seed, a dish pan and some children's scissors.

Let's begin: Have your children help you fill your dish pan with a few inches of dirt and sprinkle a liberal amount of seed on top of the dirt.  Let your little ones help water the seed and dirt.

Then place your pan in a nice sunny space.

Now will be the time for patience and learning.  Encourage your child to help you water the seeds over the next couple weeks as they sprout and grow.  As the grass begins sprouting, bring the pan down and let your children have a feel.  Ask prompting questions such as: "How does it feel?" and "Is the grass long or short?"

In approximately 2-3 weeks, you will have lovely lush grass in a pan which will possibly prompt your husband to ask, "When you're done with this, can I transplant it to the dead spot in our lawn?"  Until then, it's time to get out the scissors and invite your child to snip away.

Young toddlers will need help learning how to hold the scissors and snip the grass.  You can show them how to use both hands and open and close the scissors.  As always, this activity should be done under close adult supervision, even children's scissors can hurt.  While your child trims the grass, you can ask prompting questions such as, "What do the scissors do?" and "What is happening to the grass?"  Also allow children the opportunity to simply feel the grass with their hands.  My little ones even tried sticking their toes in the tub!

Older children may enjoy a variation on this activity.  Using an old nylon, sprinkle some grass seed into the toe, pour some dirt on top of the seed and tie off the nylon.  You can then draw a face onto the nylon with a permanent marker and water it regularly.  You will soon have a little nylon person with grass for hair.  Your child will enjoy giving him a haircut!

This fun activity meets several early learning standards as noted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children

Science:
-Use their senses to learn about objects in the environment. discover that they can make things happen and solve simple problems.
Physical Development:
-Infants and toddlers/twos have multiple opportunities to develop fine-motor skills by acting on their environments using their hands and fingers in a variety of age-appropriate ways.
-Children are provided varied opportunities and materials that support fine-motor development.

Enjoy this fun learning activity with your children and maybe even grow a small patch of grass for a lawn in need.

Christine can be found online on her blog Belly Bear Baby Gear, facebook, and her etsy shop:

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Introducing Wild Things Funky Little Dresses

Today We Introduce You To Kristy from
Wild Things Funky Little Dresses

Q: What motivated you to start your shop? / What is the story behind your shop name?
I’m a mum of three living in the heart of the rural Lancashire hills in the UK with a career in fashion designing childrenswear, products, and fabrics for UK retailers for many years, as well as fashion lecturing. After the arrival of my youngest, and third little ‘wild thing’, Lila, I decided to go it alone to spend more time with them. Wild Things Funky Little Dresses just evolved, and grew organically really, after buying some small lengths of gorgeous fabric with a desire to make something to inspire my daughters. I guess it’s in my blood now to do this as I started making anything and everything at a very young age, back in the crafty 70’s, and then into the avant garde 80’s when as a teenager it was the only way to be ‘different". It was my late grandma, Florence who inspired me, with her huge walk in wardrobe of gowns and hats, and a sewing box full of goodies, and of course my mum who showed me how to work through paper patterns at an early age. I guess if I wasn’t outside playing, I was inside making things. Now it’s my children who inspire me. Their love to dress up, and their playful imagination, coupled with my love for simple bold colour and imagery, and Scandinavian simplicity, gave me a starting point. I love simple shape and pattern, which translate beautifully on to simple A-line shapes for dresses and macs (=raincoat). The range includes animal creature dresses (fox), ’picture’ dresses (rainbow), and contemporary print dresses. The character dresses have been hugely successful as they offer a high quality contemporary alternative to the dress up clothes little ones love to wear.

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

I believe your little ones should have fun, feed their imagination, and love the clothes they wear." I think the simple print, colour ,pattern and whimsical imagery, as well as their practical versatility, make Wild Things Funky Little Dresses irresistible to children and style conscious parents alike. I’m trying to create clothes which are loved by children and adults alike ,help promote play, and evoke a sense of fun. I also believe in reviving skills passed down for generations which have been almost lost through over mass production. I’m very proud to be producing here in the UK too.

Q: What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

Selling online has been the biggest learning curve for me. It was something which made me step outside my comfort zone, but I’ve found an amazing network of supportive like minded businesses makers and designers out there. Thanks to all of you!!

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

Of course dealing with individual customers can be a challenge, but it’s a pleasure to do when you receive such lovely responses and stories of the dresses being worn. I also love the idea of selling globally to a niche market,which makes personal contact all the more worthwhile and rewarding.

Q: Do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ninainvorm

http://www.etsy.com/people/DollsAndDaydreams

Thanks to both Nina (ninainvorm), and Sarah ( dollsanddaydreams) for endless mutual support,and for being such prolific creators themselves.

Q: How would someone (other then you) describe you?

Tenacious, passionate, determined!

Q: What music do you have on while you are creating?

I tend to listen to the radio whilst I’m working, especially late at night. (BBC Radio 2). I like being entertained and listening to the variety good radio throws at you.

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?

I live in a beautiful part of the world in the heart of the Lancashire Hills in the North West of England, so we have beautiful unspoilt countryside on our doorstep. I like nothing more than to spend a day exploring the ‘fairy woods’ behind our home with the children and the dog.

Q: Please tell us a little about the children's items market / handmade movement in your Country?

The UK childrenswear market tends to be saturated with over complicated, over designed co ordinated childrenswear, but which lacks a fresh approach. I’m trying to offer a fun but contemporary alternative. ‘Handmade’ has become a big thing here in the UK over recent years, which has provided fantastic opportunities for small makers to showcase their work to a hungry audience who are looking for something with a story and a bit of soul. There seems not to be a platform as consistent and up to the minute as etsy to allow makers to sell their work in the UK.

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Where the Wild Things Are

In honor of beloved children's book author, Maurice Sendak, who passed away yesterday at the age of 83, we pay tribute with a selection of items that remind us of one of his most beloved stories ... 'Where the Wild Things Are.'

Lion Cupcake Toppers, set of 12 from YourlittleCupcake

Galloping Horses Kids Youth T-shirt from BigBridgeStudio

Hand Knit Sunset Monster Stuffed Animal from EmilysIsland

Handmade Bear Ears - Blonde Fur Band from ClareBear

Child Robes Zoo Animals from tanjadlyn

Reversible Car Seat Canopy from notybaby

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