Flipper Painting

Yesterday while Harper and Huddy were at MDO, Sol and I ran a few errands including some grocery shopping.  He is an absolutely wonderful shopping partner.

Harper begged and pleaded for to buy her some Shredded Wheat cereal.  When it comes to cereal choices my kids are more like 80-year-olds.  Shredded Wheat, plain Cheerios, Special K, Raisin Brand…the list could go on and on.

Sol spotted this magazine while in the store.  I LOVE him!

My friend Karen is going to Uganda soon with Sweet Sleep.  She told our small group Bible study girls that they still needed soccer balls to take with them.  I went over the Academy Sports to purchase some for our group.  Not only did they deflate all the soccer balls for me so they would travel easier, but they also gave me 10% off.  Now that is the kind of place I want to shop at.  Made me cry 🙂

This morning this huge pile of pillowy, stuffed animal goodness appeared outside our bedroom.

These two were the creators.  They said it was their “pile of leaves” and they were taking care of some baby chipmunks.  Kids are cool like that.

In keeping with my “one planned craft a week” 2012 goal we did a little flipper painting this morning.  When I taught kindergarten this was one of my favorite craft projects during winter.  The kiddos experience what it’s like to paint like an animal with a flipper.

Here are the supplies you need:  Paper, white paint, scissors, glue, crayons, walrus and penguin print off from the internet, socks, plates for the paint and sponge snowflakes.  As always, adapt this to what works best for you.  In my original from my teacher days, I did not use the sponge snowflakes, but I knew my kids would really dig them, so we used them.  And you can find a ton of penguin and walrus, or other flippered animals on the internet using Google image search…these just so happened to be the ones that were still in my teacher folder from way back when 🙂

First the wee Kelleys colored and cut out their penguin and walrus.

Some people have inquired about how I store all our craft supplies.  I put most everything in a larger tupperware box, but jars are also used for just about everything…crayons, markers, glue sticks, scissors, stamps, stickers, etc.

Next they socked/flippered their painting hand.

And got to painting their snowy scene.

After they finished their snowy flipper painting, they glued on their penguin and walrus.

And lastly, they added sponge stamped snowflakes.  I cut these out when I taught, so they are pretty old.  I just used a cheap pack of sponges and drew snowflakes on the outside and then cut them out.

There you have it…beautifully, flippered painted snow pictures…and a messy table.

And just so you know, this 10×10 Theodore Roosevelt flower canvas is up for grabs on my PPA Facebook page.  Head over and enter to win.  I will draw a winner tonight.