flannel board! car table! spider art!

It was a creative day today. I finally completed E's flannel board along with lots of felt pieces to move around. My favorite is the tree.

My first attempt to transform the back of these book shelves into a flannel board was...lackluster.
I ripped everything off and started again.

Here's the finished flannel board!

The wavy green part along the bottom is actually a pocket.

I made a deeper pocket on the lower right side to store our recycled alphabet cards.

The "car table" is more accurately an inverted diapers.com box we do puzzles on. I glued some white paper down (to draw on) and then glued down some recycled cardboard coffee cup sleeves. E loves it! Eventually I'll make a more elaborate one on a bigger box. I've also got an idea to make a bunch of chutes and tunnels with paper towel tubes...I'll keep you posted.

E has a random collection of cars. I buy the wooden ones, but he has inherited plastic ones from family. He loves them all the same. And he was diggin' his new "street"!

This spider art came about because I'm trying to figure out what to do for E's birthday party. This was a proto-type I made with E today. He gave it the seal of toddler approval! Shh...don't tell his guests!

E's very own spider art!

Here's what you do:
Step 1: Paint your canvas a solid color (I used acrylic craft paint on an 8x10 inch pre-primed canvas). Let dry.
Step 2: Draw, paint, or stamp your spider body. Remember - they have two body parts! Fangs and spinneret optional!
Step 3: Poke holes for legs by making 4 holes on each side of the head. I used a tapestry needle and wiggled it around to make sure the holes were large enough.
Step 4: Pre-cut leaf shapes out of tissue paper. Recycle unwanted gift tissue paper if possible. (Toddler could practice snipping and cutting shapes to use in background.)
Step 5: Help your toddler use a glue stick and spread glue on the background. Tap tissue paper leaves and shapes onto the glue. These leaves will help your spider camouflage.
Step 6: Pull each of 4 chenille stems (pipe cleaners) through the holes on either side of the spider to make the legs.

There you have it! Other suggestions might include: Glue sequins or buttons to the body for spots. Or try gluing silver thread from the spinneret to make the spider silk. Or use Elmer's glue and make a trail of spider silk by covering it with glitter. I'm not a big fan of google eyes, but you could add those as well.

This project is easily adaptable for ages 2-8. Please email me your pics if you try it!