Bit by the craft bug...

After a couple months hiatus, I re-entered the Pinterest world and got sucked in worse than before!  So many good ideas, so little time!  The last couple weeks I've been trying to actually create some of these projects and not just keep them stored on my cyber space pin board.  Most are for Maya, one for me!  Here they are in no particular order...

1- Contact Paper Craft  

As seen on Pinterest by multiple pinners...I think this website, however, was the one I was inspired by and actually pinned...No Time for Flash Cards

I found everything at the dollar store including the contact paper, fake fall leaves, foam leaves and tissue paper.  It worked perfectly for my Fall inspired contact paper craft and only cost me a couple bucks- win! 

I tried it out the other day when I was watching my nephew, Isaac.  At 3 years old, he was much more able and interested in the project than Maya B, but they both made a one of a kind creation :)

(She preferred the foam leaves)

Once they were done, I covered the entire project with another sheet of contact paper to seal the art. I think this will be fun any time of year as you can easily customize the theme!

2- Felt board

I've had a 24X30 blank white canvas sitting in the closet since we moved.  I've had all sorts of different ideas (mainly from Pinterest, of course!) on what to do with it, but hadn't executed any of them until now!  After seeing how much Maya seems to enjoy the felt board at our Toddler Group and at any library story time, I decided it was the perfect project for my canvas.  I bought some black felt from Hobby Lobby (my new favorite craft store...CA is missing out!) and borrowed my sister-in-law's staple gun.  It was quick and easy!

Ta-da!!  Felt board!

So, of course, I needed some felt story characters to go along with my new creation.  I have a list of ideas, but these are a couple I've created so far...

3- Felt Owls

I came across this website and it was full of great ideas...Storytime Katie. 

I saw these little owls and fell in love...they're too cute and the rhyme is easy and perfect for Maya as she is starting to learn to count!  (Originally posted by Leah at Sunflower Storytime)

Five hoot owls sitting in a tree,
One flew away!  How many do you see?
One, two, three, four.

Four hoot owls sitting in a tree,
One flew away!  How many do you see?
One, two, three.

Three hoot owls...etc.

4- Felt Dinosaurs

In one of Maya's books, there is a song called 5 Enormous Dinosaurs.  

Five enormous dinosaurs,

Letting out a roar,

One ran away,

And then there were four.

Four enormous dinosaurs,

Knocking down a tree,

One ran away,

And then there were three. 

Three enormous dinosaurs,

Eating tiger stew,

One went away,

And then there were two. 

Two enormous dinosaurs,

Trying to run,

One went away,

And then there was one. 

One enormous dinosaur,

Afraid to be a hero,

He went away,

And then there was zero.

She loves when I sing it, so I decided it would be a good option to turn into a felt board story.  I googled "5 dinosaurs felt board" and found this website with a template for these cute dinos...Mel's Desk

I just printed the template, traced my dinos, cut the felt and added little google eyes.  Simple and cute.

So far, Maya is enjoying her felt board!  I'm excited to add a few more stories for us to use!

5- Fall Wreath

Another Pinterest creation, I found this idea at Little Lovelies By Allison

I'm quite proud of this one!  And it was super inexpensive.  I got most of the supplies at Joann Fabrics.  I had a 40% off one item coupon and got the wreath itself for only $2.99.  The burlap was by the yard and I asked for only 4" off the bulk and cost $.38.  And the "S" was only $1.49.  The leaves are the same ones from the dollar store I used above and I had some yarn at home from a past knitting project that I used to wrap the "S".  Armed with my glue gun and inspired by the link above, I created this...

Not too shabby :) 

Phew!  Ok, that's all for now.  Happy crafting and pinning everyone!