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Eager to provide a slimy opportunity, we kicked off the week making string birdcages. It sounded simple enough to make: blow up a balloon; wet string with glue mixture; wrap it around the balloon until it resembles a cage.
As with all our slimy activities, a tub of water was nearby for N & M to rinse their hands.
The tub of water makes the activity more bearable for them, but before I knew it, they were more interested in playing with the tub of water…
… and blowing bubbles.
I then started wrapping string around the balloon, hoping that they would follow my lead and continue with the craft. It worked for a few more minutes, but they soon returned to the tub of water and blowing bubbles. Oh well, at least they gave the slimy craft a good try and without complaints.
I consider the rest of the craft as mummy therapy. It’s so easy to forget craft is also fun and relaxing for adults. (I can get so absorbed in the world of kiddy crafts). I continued wrapping string around the balloons. It’s been awhile since I’ve done craft myself. I think I had too much fun with it because I wrapped too much string around the balloons!
I let the balloons dry for a day. Then cautiously, I deflated the balloons and took them out, leaving balls of string which were now my birdcages.
Then, using some black felt, I cut out silhouettes of nightingales. I sewed some thread to the silhouettes and attached it to the birdcages. I wished that I had not gone overboard with the amount of string I wrapped on the balloons, because the birds are hard to spot through the masses of yarn, but hey I was enjoying the moment.
Lesson learnt: mummies need craft time too.
N & M: 3 years and 4 months
Mummy: who’s counting?
This post was shared in the following linky parties:
No Time for Flash Cards Link & Learn
The Nurture Store Play Academy
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That looks like fantastic fun Pauline! Did you make the glue mixture yourself? I’d love to try it with my 2 LO’s. May have to make a few myself too
Hi Jo-anne,
Thank you for your kind comment. I made the glue mixture myself. I used mix-a-paste, but you can easily use 2 parts glue and 1 part water. I discovered that popping it into a blender to mix the glue is so much easier and makes the glue more consistent. I hope you and your LO’s have fun making these. Would love to see or hear how it turns out
cute! We made these a couple years back & it was a big hit…. and mine didn’t even come out half as cute as yours!! I am starting a Linky Party if you want to link up at http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/2011/10/first-ever-linky-party.html
Hi Beth,
Thanks for the invite. Count me in
It has been a while since I made these (have done them for Easter Eggs in the past) yours turned out beautiful!
Hi Amanda,
Ooo – Easter Eggs! What a great idea. We may revisit this one again in April. I wonder if the boys will stick with it longer then.
Oh, I love this post. I think it’s wonderful that you tried and didn’t get stressed out that they weren’t doing the craft as planned. I love the craft and you’re right, it is fun to get involved sometimes! Glad you shared.
I love the ideas on Little Wonders’ Days. Thanks for hosting the linky party.
SOooooooooooo cute! I am going to try and do this Thursday. Oh, I found you at the Livin Life Intentionally Linky Party =-)
Hi Meg,
The LLI linky party has some great ideas! Hope you enjoy doing this craft as much as we/I did. Would love to hear and see you go. Thanks for popping by.
Visiting from LLI LInky Party. Love all the pictures – then I think I can actually do it too. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Hi Ali,
Thanks for the lovely comment and glad to share. It’s an easy craft with amazing results. Would love to hear and see how it works out for you.
Great activity, mummy sooooo needs craft time. This might work well with my older ones. Would make cute xmas ornaments with smaller ballons.
Kirsty,
I agree – mummy soooo needs craft time. Would love to see how your xmas ornaments work out
beautiful perfect for hanging in a window, my almost 4 son will love this! must dig out balloons and string frrom crafty box asap x x thanks 4 sharing, sassy
Hey Sassy,
Love love love your blog. xoxo Pauline.
[...] the only ones using wool and glue this week. Take a look at these wool monsters and pumpkins and bird cages which were shared by Cathy and Pauline and Kelly in this week’s Play Academy. Like this [...]
I featured this super clever bird cage craft at Living Life Intentionally Linky Party! Thanks so much for sharing & I can’t wait to see what else you link up! I have created a featured button that you are more than welcome to grab at this Saturdays Linky Party =-)
Thanks Beth! Will grab the button
Love the activity… the bird cages looks colorful with the balloons inside… then again they wouldn’t be any good for birds now, would they! Lots of fun.
It was fun (even more so for me than for the boys I think).