Mr potato head

 Potato Printing is a classic I remember doing this with my mum. I was chopping up spuds for shepard's pie and i had a lot so I thought why not do some fast spud faces. I used a ball point pen and just kinda jabbed at it then I used the scoopy pointy end of the potato peeler to clear out the pulpy excess. I also cut little handles into the back of the spud so they would be super easy for little tiny boys to use. Results could have been a bit better, activity only lasted 10 mins, but the stamps will keep if you wash them and pop them into a plastic bag and put them in the fridge. The paper makes great wrapping, and an older child could draw bodies for the spuds at a later date. The stamps turn out best if you really slam them into the paper so next time I'm going to encourage some rough stamping and see if I can stretch it out to 20 mins, maybe i need some glitter paint? printing ink would give you the best results for this, but we just used some acrylic paint that we already had. Go see if you have any tato's floating around just asking for a stamping.

Paper Tapestry

Paper tapestry

I wanted 5 min's peace and quiet at the computer the other day to pay bills etc and needed to occupy busy hands so that they didnt get up to mischief.

I had seen paper tapestry somewhere on a blog sorry I cant remember where to be able to tag them (most of my time at the computer I am breastfeeding so trawl around all over the place then forget where I have been= blame it on the hormones)

So I cut up a big piece of card paper into 4 smaller pieces to make it easy for little hands to hold, then again to make it easy I punched lots of holes with a pen (paper clip or anything else same size will do.) For older children I would just let them push the needle through the paper.

I used a Tapestry needle as they are bluntish and thick and embroidery cotton,

I did it double and tied a knot in the end.

I then showed Dylan how to put the needle through the hole and pull the thread and left him to it at my feet. He gave a funny giggle that he does when he is excited and away he went.

I didnt expect him to get it straight away and was impressed that he quickly sewed up the card and demanded another one and which colour cotton he wanted.

These could be pre-prepared and put into sandwich bags for those 'I need you occupied" occasions. it would even fit in your handbag. like when in a meeting with the bank manager you could just whip one out to keep them quiet , still & occupied. Or on a car trip :)

To further expand on the idea you could use some mesh and sew through the holes, you could use ribbon or for younger children you could give them a shoelace with the firm end. etc.