Clover Painting

I've been in a craft rut with the kids lately. I think I did too many elaborate projects with them and ended up burnt out. So when I saw this easy craft, I decided it was perfect for getting back in the game. Simple, yet fun.
Never fail, I can always find a wrinkly pepper in the vegetable drawer.
(I won't speak for another sister whose vegetable drawer is filled with beer. Don't worry, we all love you.)

Clover Painting
Cut the pepper in half. Cut out the seeds. Pour green paint in a pan. Stamp and paint!

I'm a nerd, so I did try to wash the paint off my pepper so we could still eat it. Common sense prevailed, and I threw it away. Next time I may cut thick slices of pepper to use instead of two halves. 

Both kids enjoyed it. The 5 year old made collages and clover people out of her stamps. The three year old made "clover trees".

Noodle Bracelets

Craft time is always an adventure with my two and three year old kiddos! Although I wish it happened everyday, it doesn't. And when it does, it usually only lasts ten minutes tops. But today I hit the jackpot: a craft that kept them busy for 20 minutes, looked halfway decent, and could even be used as a gift for Grandma.

Supplies Needed:

Pipe-cleaner

Noodles (any kind with a hole)

Rubbing alcohol

Food coloring

Ziploc bags

Paper Towel

Directions:

We dyed the noodles ahead of time. Dump 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol into a Ziploc bag. Add 10 drops of so of food coloring and swish around a bit. Then add 1-2 cups of noodles and shake well to coat. Dump out onto paper towel to dry for a couple hours. Once the noodles are dry, string them onto the pipe-cleaner and twist the ends together to make beautiful bracelets.

Some kids like to make patterns with their noodles.

Some kids just like to taste them.

Either way, they had fun and I got lunch made.

http://therigneys.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/toddler-busy-bag-swap/