Egg Carton Caterpillar

   This is such a cute and easy project. My two year old is really into animals lately and loves learning about new creatures! Projects like this really give your child a chance to learn more about his/her surroundings. After we made this little fella' we went outside to look for some...after he learned about where caterpillars live he was fascinated with finding one! We did end up finding a worm, which he quickly pointed out was not a caterpillar due to it's lack of legs :) We will find one in the backyard eventually....

   Materials:

• one old egg carton
• stickers
• crayons (don't use markers for this one, they don't stay on the carton and rub off EASILY onto your child's hands.)
• piece of scrap paper
• black sharpie (for parent's use only.)
• scissors (for parent's use only.)

   First, completely cut off the top flap of the egg carton leaving the bottom detached. Once you have the bottom portion of the carton all by itself, you are ready to make TWO caterpillars! Yay! Now, cut down the middle of the carton, long ways, splitting the 'egg holders' in half.

Recycled Paper Bag Canvas!

   This isn't really a project, but more of an idea. Being a stay at home mom/business owner, I have learned to think quick when it comes to entertaining my little man. But, sometimes he is just not into sitting down and listening to me explain a longer project-"mommmmmm!"
  So this idea came to me on a rainy day that also happened to be a busy order-filling day for me. I needed something that was going to entertain him for a while that didn't include plopping him in front of the tube for an hour. This did the trick!
  
Materials:

• paper grocery bag
• scissors
• markers/crayons
• stamps/stickers
• paint (you don't HAVE to use paint, but it always makes it more fun.)
• one bored, cabin fever-ridden child.

   All you need to do is...drumroll, please... cut the bottom out of your paper grocery bag then cut one more time anywhere along the side! Now you have a HUGE surface for your kid to go crazy on. They can paint it, color it, stamp and sticker it. Anything that you have in your bag of crafty goodies will do. 

I even turned it over onto the other side and added paint to the mix. The rain stopped enough for us to slap it onto an easel and continue outside! Eli really liked this because I don't normally lug his easel outside, but it was that kind of day.