Still, I find there aren't too many things out there for crafting with a baby less than one-year-old. How do we get them involved using safe and entertaining materials?
Well, this year my 9-month-old daughter and I had a blast making gift tags for Christmas gifts this year. She did the painting (without touching an ounce of paint!) and my Cricut did the rest! Quick, cute, and so fun!
Plus, Grandma and Grandpa kept theirs. I mean, who doesn't love a cute craft made by a baby?!
What You'll Need:
- White Cardstock
- Colored Cardstock(optional)
- Paints (I used finger paints, but any will do!)
- Ziploc Bags
- Cricut gift tag pattern OR scissors and a hole punch 😄
- Ribbon
I started by cutting my cardstock into 4 equal pieces. This was simply because I had half-gallon sized Ziploc bags but to each their own! You can absolutely skip this step.
Next, spread out globs of paint on your cardstock. Try alternating colors as best you can. Since I was making Christmas gift tags, I chose shades of red and green.
Place them carefully in the plastic bag, doing your best not to smear the paint (although it's no big deal if you do. It's a very forgiving project!)
Once your little one (LO) has smushed those paint mountains every which way to her heart's content, leave them in the bag to dry. Taking them out early can smear her hard work.
In a rush...I have absolutely used a hairdryer to speed up the drying process in a pinch. No shame! 🤣
You could stop here! Display the artwork on your fridge or in a frame. You might even use it to make a sign! Check out this "Happy Birthday" banner my LO and I made for my husband's big day...
If you're looking for gift tags, pull out your Cricut machine. I chose a gift tag image right from the free Cricut gallery.
Don't have a Cricut? No worries! Scissors and a hole-punch are more of a challenge, but they'll still work here. Nothing wrong with that!
Next, I use the same gift tag image, but this time I placed different Christmas themed images on each solid colored cardstock tag and sliced the image. This left a Christmas tree, holly, or present shaped hole in my gift tag.
Finally, place your solid colored cardstock on top of your painted artwork. Thread your ribbon through the holes at the top of the gift tag. Curl them for a little extra flair!
There you have it! A simple way to craft with your LO while getting them involved in celebrations.
I'd love to see what you and your babies create! Drop a photo in the comments section or describe it. 😍
Happy crafting!
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