A while ago I saw another Mummy Blogger (sorry I can’t remember where!) using potatoes to stamp easter egg shapes and I thought it was genius. I am always on the look out for activities to do with Monkey and while I had been meaning to do potato stamping with him at some point this was the push I needed to do it and thought they would make lovely easter cards.
So I cut some potatoes in half and had some fun cutting shapes into them. As well as just lines and zigzags I decided to use some of the tiny shaped cutters we have and cut some hearts, stars and diamonds into them too.
Monkey was dead excited by them, and he loves painting in all its forms. so it started ok. Initially we dabbed the potatoes in the paint and then stamped them onto the paper, but there was too much paint on them so they just sort of glooped onto the paper :/
Then we painted them and stamped them, which did work a little better.
To be honest though, the best results were the ones I did. Monkey wasn’t a big fan of using a different brush for each paint colour so they got all mixed up (not a problem but not great for the patterns I had envisaged ;)) and when he was stamping them he was stamping them all on top of each other so we didn’t really get the egg shapes I had hoped for unless I was directing him.
I often see these great ideas with fab results and I get excited to try them … but in actual fact I enjoy it when Monkey is a bit more free to play. When he can be a bit creative and unrestrained by what I think he should do, if that makes sense? So I very quickly left him to it. At which point he completely gave up on the potatoes and was happy just stamping with a couple of the sponge brushes… and I actually love the spotty pictures he made.
I am sure there would be kids who would love being methodical and making the nice shapes but Money prefers to just go at it with the paint at the moment! Part of me wonders why I bother with structured activities, but I suppose one day he will want to do it and I won’t know when that day is unless I keep trying.
We persisted with making them into cards so I cut out the best egg shapes and he stuck them onto the card.
We then used some Happy Easter stickers my Mum had given us and oila, lovely Easter Cards for the grandparents 🙂
So we got there in the end and he is great with sticking things in place but I guess with painting he isn’t ready to be methodical about it just yet! He had a a lot of fun with all of it though so I guess that is the main thing!
Is your little one methodical? Or more random with their paintings and crafts like Monkey at the moment?
This is fab. The cards turned out well. He looked like he was enjoying it and that’s the main thing. 🙂
Ah, I know what you mean about being reluctant with the ol’ structure! Rowan loves to just get stuck right in and will mix all the paints together every. single. time. Monkey does look as though he’s thoroughly enjoying himself there though!
The good thing is that he had fun! The cards look great, because they’re his unique designs 🙂
I think it all looks fab. I’ve had a set vision of what I think something would look like and it never ends up like it but I think half the fun is the doing bit and not the end result. its just annoying when you’ve taken so long preparing isn’t it! #letkidsbekids
I think it’s great that he wanted to do his own thing. There are times for following instructions and there are times for just getting stuck in! And love the way you made send-worthy cards at the end. Best of both worlds. My eldest has always done her own thing when it comes to craft. She is 5 now and I have to begrudgingly admit that her ideas come out far better than mine. I look back now and am happy that I let her go off at tangents when doing craft – I’m sure it’s encouraged her creativity. #ToddlerApprovedTuesday
That’s a great idea, even if it turned out a little different. I like your finished cards.
My children would have been randomly mixing the colours to a brown too.
Thanks for sharing #LetKidsBeKids
These look great and I think they turned out fine, my little boy (17 months) isn’t a huge fan of painting but I love getting crafty xx
This looks great fun, though i am absolubtly shocking at cutting patterns into potatoes and I actually cant believe I am saying this…..My kids have NEVER done potato prints! Well i shall have to change that…shall add to my lit of half term activities x
#ToddlerApprovedTuesday
These look great, oh I am totally going to have to steal this amazing idea for Boo. Though she will probably just try to eat the potatoes … and the paint… hmm maybe I will wait a few months hehe.
That make’s his creation unique! Lovely easter cards.
#LetKidsbeKids
I’m super impressed with your potato stamp cutting abilities, something I’ve never mastered myself 😉
Great activity.
Happy easter, thanks for linking to #toddlerapprovedtuesday xx
They look great! O is the same, he’s happier doing his own thing that directed crafts and being methodical! That’s why we don’t often make actual things! 🙂 xx
These turned out beautiful what a great idea #ToddlerApprovedTuesday
Luke is 19 months and is not at all methodical. He likes finger painting, but anything remotely constructive is pointless. He will use paint brushes and his hands, but then I think he tends to want to paint himself and the sofa more than the paper. 🙁 Structured painting is so silly, but we all try to do it! It’s the insta-sham and the pinterest works of art that make us think we can do it! I bet most of them are done by grown ups anyways.
BUT the cards look lovely! Potato prints are on my list of Easter things to do this week…I am sure my experience will be the same as yours! Ray xx @ lukeosaurusandme.blogspot.co.uk #toddlerapprovedtuesday
Mini M is still too young for structure so it’s just go with the flow. I love this idea and might try it with him next year when he’s a little older #toddlerapprovedtuesday
These are really cute. I had never even thought of potato stamping – but might give it a go. #toddlerfunfriday
Kids have the most fun when they can just go for it with arts and crafts. It’s great for them to be able to explore and express themselves at this age. There is plenty of time ahead for masterpieces! #letkidsbekids
I know what you mean about some activities not going to plan! I often prefer free play activities too. The main thing is that he had fun – the end result doesn’t really matter 🙂 Thanks for linking up to #ToddlerFunFriday
Lucas says – Monkey – you’ve given me another messy play idea. You ROCK! Excellent work, dude 🙂
Thanks for linking to #minicreations