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!!
Dear Valerie,
Can you check the expiration date on these gum balls? They taste like paper!
Love,
Mark
Silly, Mark! Gum balls are for kids! 😉
Steven (hubby) was saying that this would make a great reward chart, too, adding the gumballs one at a time over time.
What a wonderful idea!! Your hubby is so clever! 🙂
So cute! Love your ideas!
Thank you!! 🙂
yet another great idea. love your ideas!!!
Thanks, LJ! Have fun!!
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
Thank you so much, Tish! It totally made my day!! Best wishes for the new year!
It’s the perfect store backdrop!
Thanks, Maryanne! xoxo
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.
Aren’t they fun?? We love how colorful they are, and mess-free! 🙂
There are so many gumballs in this machine. I like Phyllis idea of using it as a reward counter.
She was busy for a long time! 🙂 I love her idea too!!
So cute! That will make for lots of fun play! I like Phyllis’ idea too!
Thanks, Christy!
How cool is this?!!
Awww… thanks so much, Rebecca!
So colorful. So easy. So fun. Definitely win-win.
🙂 Yay! Thanks, Scott!
It would be perfect beside a store front.
Thank you! 🙂
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……
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!
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!) 🙂
Yay! Have fun!! The girls are growing up way too quickly!!
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!!!
Oooo.. that’s a great idea!! Have fun! xoxo
So, I have a Quarter- can I please buy a gumball?
Take them all! They taste awful!
Now isn’t that cute – I love that you made it so tall!
It makes me smile every time I see it! 🙂
Perfect! What a great double activity.
Thanks, Jillian! Have fun!
Perfect.Where do you find such a beautiful children’s activities? This is a great example of spending time.Thank’s…
Awww… thanks, Asli! There’s all sorts of fun ideas in my head. LOL 🙂
Don’t you just love gumball machines? That is really a cute one.
They make me so happy! 🙂 Thanks, Debby!
I was thinking the same thing as reward stickers (like Phyllis commented). How fun!
You know what they say about great minds.. 😉 Have fun! xoxo
How on earth do you come UP with these ideas???
Awww.. thanks, Diane! We have lots more fun things planned too!
oo this turned out adorable!! I love how bright it is!
Thanks, Lindsay! We love lots of colors here! xoxo
Great idea for classrooms as well!
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!
Ooo… such great ideas, Amanda! I love the chore chart — that’s awesome! Thank you!! 🙂
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?
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. 🙂
We used this idea today for a playdate art project when they got a little “bored”. The little girls loved it. Thank you!
Yay!! I’m so happy you did this! 😀
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
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!!
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.