Something Special For The Dads Out There!

 

Father’s Day is less than a week away so we took advantage of the rainy day and made some gifts for my hubby and the grandpas.  I’ve seen this idea on a few different sites, done a few different ways and for a few different occasions, but this is our version…

You’ll need:

Canvas/Paper/Cardboard (anything you’d like to use as your base)

Washable paint

Cut Out Letters

Glue Dots

 

I ended up buying a pack of 11x14 canvases from A.C. Moore on super sale so that’s what we used as our art space.  You could definitely use any kind of paper, oak tag or even a piece of cardboard and it can be any size. 

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out letters that spelled:  Grandpa, Pampa, and Daddy because those are our recipients.  You can spell out any name or message.  If you don’t have a cutting machine, then you can just print out your name or message in thick letters then cut them out yourself.  Craft stores sell precut letters that would do the trick.

With the boys help, I stuck glue dots on each letter then had them stick them to the canvas to spell out the name.  It was a great opportunity to work on LETTER RECOGNITION and LETTER/SOUND with both boys.  Michael is just starting to recognize letters and name them, and Anthony is starting to think about what letters make what sounds.  We talked about the LETTERS and their SOUNDS as we did our sticking.

 

As it does many times, an issue that I didn’t anticipate came up.  Michael preferred to play with the glue dot roll rather than stick to our craft plan.  When this happens, it’s hard to not just take them away from him and make him get back to work, so I have to very consciously remind myself that this isn’t supposed to be work, it’s supposed to be fun.  I gave him the roll of glue dots and let him play with it and guess what?  He got bored of it and went back to sticking letters on his canvas.  Anthony also took a little break to play peek-a-boo with Matthew.  I’m sharing this because I think most activities or crafts (especially crafts in my house) don’t go the way you plan.  Children have their own plans and they also wander off, and it’s usually best if you just follow their lead.  We don’t always finish everything in one sitting.  I often leave the activity or craft out and the boys will come back to it when they’re ready.  I’ve also found that sometimes they aren’t too into something the first time we do it, but if I bring it out a second time it’s a whole new ball game.  I think it’s always worth introducing a craft/activity that you think your child may enjoy again.  

Anyway….

Once the letters were finished, the boys painted the letters and the rest of the canvas.  I limited them to picking two colors so that I could manage them both painting at the same time. 

 

I waited till the paint dried and removed the letters; however I wouldn’t suggest doing that way.  By the time I peeled the letters away, some of them were stuck to the canvas.  I was able to peel them away and scrape off the paper that was left on the canvas.  I think removing the letters right after the painting fun is done is actually the way to go.

 

And voila!  There you have your name or message!  I think these came out great!  Thinking of having the boys also add some stickers to their masterpiece.  We’ll see…

 

For hubby, I decided to combine this painting idea with another super cute handprint craft I saw on Pinterest.  The boys are into super heroes so it was perfect and I can’t resist a gift that shows their little handprints that won’t be little for all that long.  We were having a play date with some great friends so we did it together with them.

All you need is what’s listed above plus a little hand and a little foot!  We spelled “Daddy” and kept the word to the bottom of the canvas.  Then, have your little one make a handprint as the cape and foot as the body.  Paint a head on top of the heel, then with a sharpie draw eyes, nose, mouth, ear, and arms.  I also wrote the word “super” above “daddy.”  Can’t wait for the boys to give these to my hubby for Father’s Day!

 

And by the way, it was lots of fun doing this craft as part of our play date.  Our crew of boys seemed to have fun with it, especially dipping their feet in paint.  Anthony actually went to bed saying that he wants to paint with his friends again.  Doing things with your little one’s friends creates a great opportunity to share in an experience, which I truly believe is so important for learning and development.

Hope all the dads out there enjoy their special day!!!!

 

Love & Language,

Marisa