Clara and I made a fun pine forest playscape using coffee filters, and it’s been a big hit for imaginative play over here!
We painted a bunch of coffee filters in hues of yellow and green. I love how happy Clara gets when she realizes that we will be painting — what fun!!
She painted happily for quite some time!
When they were completely dry, I cut them up into uneven thirds, rolled them into cones and used a little tape to turn them into pine trees. Clara has been stacking them up, and enjoying lots of imaginative play in her pine forest playscape!
She quickly realized that the trees were the perfect place for a game of hide-and-seek with her figurines from Red Rose tea. Ta-da!!
I think we will keep them on display as a festive (and playful) centerpiece for our kitchen table. Have fun!!
December 3rd, 2010 on 11:23 am
Dear Valerie,
My figurines! They are not toys. They are ACTION FIGURES.
Love,
Mark
December 3rd, 2010 on 12:32 pm
Riiiiiiight…
December 3rd, 2010 on 11:28 am
Very cute idea.
December 3rd, 2010 on 11:49 am
oo those turned out beautiful!! What a fun play set!
December 3rd, 2010 on 12:11 pm
Oh, I love this idea! We have got to make these!
December 3rd, 2010 on 12:33 pm
Yay! Have fun!! xoxo
December 3rd, 2010 on 12:26 pm
Not the coffee filters! Imagine all the poor caffeine deprived people out there while your sweet little girl creates and plays. Have a little compassion.
December 3rd, 2010 on 12:32 pm
ROFL!! You can’t stop me now!!! Muhahahaha!!!
December 3rd, 2010 on 12:43 pm
I am looking for some paint to add to our craft stash. What type/where do you get good washable paint for a craft like this? TIA!
December 6th, 2010 on 1:34 pm
We like Crayola’s washable paint, and you can find it at Target/WalMart. Hope this helps!
December 3rd, 2010 on 1:08 pm
These are great and so much fun
December 3rd, 2010 on 2:01 pm
What a cute idea. My daughter would probably love stacking them. My daughters face lights up when it’s time to paint things too.
December 6th, 2010 on 1:35 pm
I love that! It’s like they just can’t wait to dip into all that paint!
December 3rd, 2010 on 2:35 pm
What a clever idea. I love crafting activities that can be played with afterwards. Very festive.
December 3rd, 2010 on 2:58 pm
Your girls definitely have a great time crafting – I love Clara enthusiasm. Of course, she also gets to play with new toys every day
December 6th, 2010 on 1:36 pm
That is so true! We don’t buy toys for them because we’re too busy making new ones all the time.
December 3rd, 2010 on 3:27 pm
Clara looks like a mini-Emily – more and more every day!
This is a very cute idea! And my kids think painting is the best!
December 3rd, 2010 on 4:10 pm
Great idea! I love how they turned out and how much fun she is having with them. If it makes Mark feel any better, my oldest would probably find a way to turn them into a light saber…don’t ask me how, but everything can make that sound.
December 6th, 2010 on 1:36 pm
LOL They would make fun light sabers too!
December 3rd, 2010 on 5:27 pm
How does she stay so clean??? My little artist is always covered in paint!
December 6th, 2010 on 1:38 pm
She has her messy moments, believe me!! Have you seen this post?
http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2010/08/sunday-snapshot-clara-vs-minestrone-soup.html
It was one of those “go directly to bath. do not pass go, do not collect $200″ moments. LOL
December 3rd, 2010 on 5:30 pm
You must keep that straight. Action figures are very different.
December 6th, 2010 on 1:38 pm
Roger that!
December 4th, 2010 on 4:55 pm
What a cute forest. Such a simple idea.
December 4th, 2010 on 9:57 pm
Ha, ha, ha I saw Mark’s comment. ER likes to play with Brad’s old Star Wars figures and she always calls them “Daddy’s Dolls”. Cute way to use the many masterpieces our kiddos make. ER loves to paint and paint, this would be a fun thing to do with her.
December 6th, 2010 on 1:39 pm
Awww… love how she calls them “Daddy’s Dolls”!!!!!
Have fun!!
December 8th, 2010 on 8:15 pm
I posted this on my facebook! I loved it. We didn’t have coffee filters, (well we do, but they are for camping and I know I will be sorry if I remove them from the camping box!) I just used butcher paper and cut circles. Of course they are lying on their side next to the “destruction town” train set. . . I have a boy.
December 10th, 2010 on 12:07 am
Thanks so much for the link, Jillian! I love how you improvised — very clever!! xoxo So cute with the destruction town train set — LOL
December 9th, 2010 on 5:27 pm
Oh Valerie, these are fabulous – your crafts never cease to amaze me – always so pretty!
Did you know I have a link up party now too? I would LOVE for you to join us at Kids Get Crafty (every Wednesday on Red Ted Art) – current link up http://www.redtedart.com/2010/12/08/kids-get-crafty-nikolaus-sterne-or-santa-stars/
Hope to see you there! I know you are busy and have a blog network already… but would love your visits!
Maggy
December 10th, 2010 on 12:08 am
Thank you so much, Maggy! I’ve added your linky to my calendar — it’s always fun to join in! I love seeing what everyone else is up to in bloggy-land too!! xoxo
