It’s no secret that we love to create projects that bring lots of COLOR into our household — they are so bright, cheerful, and they always make me smile! This particular project kept Clara happily occupied for a long time, and doubles as a prop for pretend play.
I traced a large serving bowl onto a recycled brown paper bag that was cut open to lay flat, and invited Clara over to add lots of “gum balls” (color coding labels) to her new gum ball machine. She loves playing with stickers, and I love that they are mess-free! A win-win!! This is also a fun way to sneak in a little practice with color identification.
Later, I cut it out and added a stand (also cut from recycled brown grocery bags) — I did the stand in separate sections. We attached it to the wall in our foyer with a little masking tape — very easy! There’s nothing quite like a colorful gum ball machine to greet our guests at the door!
I think it would be a neat back-drop for our pretend store, don’t you?
Have fun!!
January 4th, 2011 on 12:53 pm
Dear Valerie,
Can you check the expiration date on these gum balls? They taste like paper!
Love,
Mark
January 8th, 2011 on 11:29 pm
Silly, Mark! Gum balls are for kids!
January 4th, 2011 on 1:14 pm
Steven (hubby) was saying that this would make a great reward chart, too, adding the gumballs one at a time over time.
January 8th, 2011 on 11:30 pm
What a wonderful idea!! Your hubby is so clever!
January 4th, 2011 on 2:12 pm
So cute! Love your ideas!
January 8th, 2011 on 11:30 pm
Thank you!!
January 4th, 2011 on 2:17 pm
yet another great idea. love your ideas!!!
January 8th, 2011 on 11:31 pm
Thanks, LJ! Have fun!!
January 4th, 2011 on 2:19 pm
Congrats!!!
Hey I was chosen to receive the Stylish blogger award and I got to pick bloggers I thought deserved the award as well and you were one of my choices
Check it out here
http://lotsoffunwithmyfamily.blogspot.com/2011/01/stylish-blogger-award.html
January 8th, 2011 on 11:33 pm
Thank you so much, Tish! It totally made my day!! Best wishes for the new year!
January 4th, 2011 on 2:22 pm
It’s the perfect store backdrop!
January 8th, 2011 on 11:35 pm
Thanks, Maryanne! xoxo
January 4th, 2011 on 2:24 pm
Very cute, those little round stickers have so many uses! Our current package has prices on them, as they are intended for garage sales but ER loves using them nonetheless.
January 8th, 2011 on 11:35 pm
Aren’t they fun?? We love how colorful they are, and mess-free!
January 4th, 2011 on 2:28 pm
There are so many gumballs in this machine. I like Phyllis idea of using it as a reward counter.
January 8th, 2011 on 11:38 pm
She was busy for a long time!
I love her idea too!!
January 4th, 2011 on 2:33 pm
So cute! That will make for lots of fun play! I like Phyllis’ idea too!
January 8th, 2011 on 11:39 pm
Thanks, Christy!
January 4th, 2011 on 2:33 pm
How cool is this?!!
January 8th, 2011 on 11:39 pm
Awww… thanks so much, Rebecca!
January 4th, 2011 on 2:51 pm
So colorful. So easy. So fun. Definitely win-win.
January 8th, 2011 on 11:41 pm
January 4th, 2011 on 2:52 pm
It would be perfect beside a store front.
January 8th, 2011 on 11:44 pm
Thank you!
January 4th, 2011 on 4:02 pm
Oh, that is a great idea that Phyllis has……
I’m really beginning to regret my investment in foam stickers as the backing ends up all over, maybe we need to get some good old fashioned dot stickers……
January 8th, 2011 on 11:48 pm
Agreed — I love her idea!
I always forget about those annoying sticker backs. The dots work really well, and we love coming up with new projects for them!
January 4th, 2011 on 5:42 pm
I LOVE this! Definitely on our to-make list! (and when did Clara get so big!?! I totally saw Emily at a quick first glance!)
January 8th, 2011 on 11:50 pm
Yay! Have fun!! The girls are growing up way too quickly!!
January 4th, 2011 on 6:43 pm
LOVE IT!!!! I am going to use the cardboard from frozen pizza, though…and have them dip their fingers into paint to make gumdrops. Great idea!!!
January 8th, 2011 on 11:51 pm
Oooo.. that’s a great idea!! Have fun! xoxo
January 4th, 2011 on 7:05 pm
So, I have a Quarter- can I please buy a gumball?
January 4th, 2011 on 11:05 pm
Take them all! They taste awful!
January 4th, 2011 on 8:38 pm
Now isn’t that cute – I love that you made it so tall!
January 8th, 2011 on 11:52 pm
It makes me smile every time I see it!
January 4th, 2011 on 10:26 pm
Perfect! What a great double activity.
January 8th, 2011 on 11:53 pm
Thanks, Jillian! Have fun!
January 5th, 2011 on 7:08 am
Perfect.Where do you find such a beautiful children’s activities? This is a great example of spending time.Thank’s…
January 8th, 2011 on 11:55 pm
Awww… thanks, Asli! There’s all sorts of fun ideas in my head. LOL
January 5th, 2011 on 11:29 am
Don’t you just love gumball machines? That is really a cute one.
January 8th, 2011 on 11:56 pm
They make me so happy!
Thanks, Debby!
January 5th, 2011 on 12:15 pm
I was thinking the same thing as reward stickers (like Phyllis commented). How fun!
January 8th, 2011 on 11:56 pm
You know what they say about great minds..
Have fun! xoxo
January 5th, 2011 on 3:16 pm
How on earth do you come UP with these ideas???
January 9th, 2011 on 12:03 am
Awww.. thanks, Diane! We have lots more fun things planned too!
January 5th, 2011 on 6:49 pm
oo this turned out adorable!! I love how bright it is!
January 9th, 2011 on 12:04 am
Thanks, Lindsay! We love lots of colors here! xoxo
January 5th, 2011 on 9:33 pm
Great idea for classrooms as well!
January 5th, 2011 on 9:34 pm
Another thought occurred…If you used it in classroom, each color could be a table group or team. If you used it at home, different gumballs could represent different chores completed. Or each color could be worth a different amount of points. The options are endless!
January 9th, 2011 on 12:05 am
Ooo… such great ideas, Amanda! I love the chore chart — that’s awesome! Thank you!!
January 6th, 2011 on 9:35 am
I just discovered your blog and am addicted. You are so creative and I can’t wait to start incorporating some of your ideas into my family fun time! One question–where do you get these color coding labels inexpensively?
January 9th, 2011 on 12:07 am
Hi Gaby! I’m so happy to hear you’re enjoying FFFB — welcome! I get color coding labels at Target or the dollar store. $1 or $2 for a pack of 225 of them.
January 6th, 2011 on 3:22 pm
We used this idea today for a playdate art project when they got a little “bored”. The little girls loved it. Thank you!
January 9th, 2011 on 12:08 am
Yay!! I’m so happy you did this!
May 15th, 2011 on 5:00 am
Yay we have just finished this craft today. My 8 year old loved doing the decorating. See for yourself ..:)
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150187765759635.309411.663199634&l=7f7af57383
May 20th, 2011 on 3:17 pm
Oh my gosh!! Just seeing this now!! What an amazingly fun activity! My daughter loves stickers! Can’t wait to do this one!! Thank you so much for sharing all your wonderful ideas!!
June 13th, 2011 on 3:52 pm
What a clever idea! I have a big stack of left over circle shape stickers from a previous craft project so this would be perfect.