I saw a really neat Valentines idea on pinterest (you can see my Fathers Day pinterest board here) by As Time Flies and decided to give it a go with Reuben for fathers day. This is a big deal!!
It was sooooo simple and easy and FUN! This is the first time I’ve ever braved using paint with Reuben, I’m such a chicken and I anticipated a paint explosion. You know how I’m allergic to cleaning…
Anyway this fathers day gift from Reuben was super easy and no cleaning was required, except Reubs at the end.
Here’s what to do.
Fathers Day Gift – Toddler Style
You will need:
- a canvas (this was cheap as chips from Wilkinsons for a 4 pack)
- scissors
- sellotape
- paint (again thanks Wilko – I would say stick with 2 colours rather than 3!)
- bowls
- paint brushes (although we just used fingers)
- newspaper
1. Writing your word on the canvas using the sellotape and scissors – I’ve done Love (not especially neatly but that adds to the ‘toddler’ element, I believe!) but you could do ‘Dad’, ‘Daddy’, ‘Daddy cool’ etc.
2. pop your paint in separate bowls – to avoid ‘brown’ soup!
3. put the newspaper down, strip your child and set them loose on the canvas! I just had to demonstrate once and Reuben was all over it.
Independently trying different colours
Oh dear – brown soup has started already!
4. You might want to fill in some of the corners with an actual colour that isn’t brown! And then be on tenterhooks for when toddler looks like he’s had enough – painting themselves is a good sign…Reuben started wandering off soon after!
5. Dunk baby in the bath
6. Leave your artwork out in the sun to dry and then…
7. …the most satisfying bit, peal off the sellotape! Our’s was pretty poor quality tape so the paint bled a bit, but I still think it’s pretty cute!
It’s actually Mike’s Birthday today, so Reuben gave it to Mike when he got home! Happy Birthday Daddy Cool! xxxxx
This is so cute, well done you for being brave and getting the paint out. I love this and think I will do it tomorrow with Baby xx
Oh good!! Glad you like it, I don’t know why I’ve been such a chicken up until now – the kitchen is tiled for goodness sake, what could possibly go wrong?! 😉 xxx send us a pic?! xx
Thanks so much for linking up to my blog. You guys did a great job. I love it.
Thanks for such a great idea!! xxx
I love this. I was just about to do one like it with my boys for their own rooms but I have never seen it done to create a word before. I could do all sorts of things. Ooooh, excited now. I have large canvases and my boys are a lot older so this will be interesting!! Thanks for this post. From a mum who loves crafts but has two boys who are less keen!! #TheList
Awww, wicked!! Glad you like it 🙂 You’ll have to send me a picture of your boy’s masterpieces! xx
Love this idea! Will be pinning it to my Father’s Day DIY Gift Ideas board!!!
Thanks for the post!
Nice one 🙂 Thank you xxx
This is such a great idea for a fathers day gift! 😀
xx
Thanks Chleo! xx
This is too cute! I bet your toddler had so much fun doing that! Good idea to only have him in his nappy for this! haha! #thelist
Totally – dignity out the window 😉 xx
I love this, I think I might need to have a trip to Wilko’s for some new craft materials. x
Awesome! I’m jealous, love a good wilko crafty trip (then don’t do anything with it for ages!!) xx
That’s such a great gift. Even older kids could do something similar with the ‘love’ on the canvas.
Definitely, they can write the word themselves too and it’ll look great! xx
Such a lovely idea! I’ve been meaning to start arty activities with my 14 month old, I think she’d love something like this! x #TheList
This is definitely a nice easy place to start then 🙂 xx
That is so cute! I love how into he got!!! #thelist
I know, such concentration 🙂 and a nice sensory activity too! x
Woah – That child has talent!
Finally a picture that Dad will actually want to keep as it looks so good #thelist
Ha! Yes a year on and it still has pride of place 🙂 xx
Ha ha Iove that you stripped him down and put him straight in the bath! I dread my daughter asking to paint for similar fear of explosion, but when we do, it’s fun. I’m not in the least bit crafty or arty but we did hand prints yesterday which were easy and came out well.
x
#thelist
Aww sounds nice! I need to do more painting with R, it’s fun when we get into it 🙂
Love this, what a cute idea!
Thanks Julie!! x
I love this idea! I have seen it a couple of times and I may just have to give it ago this year! x
It’s soooo easy! Perfect for slightly reluctant crafty parents like me 😉 xx
What a fantastic idea to tape off a word and then paint. It turned out beautiful and I bet it was super fun to make. Great idea also to paint in just a nappy! #TheList
Haha! Totally 😉 xx
Oh I love this! I don’t want to wish away LBO’s baby months but I am so excited to do things like this when he’s a bit older!! So cute!
🙂 Awww! I know exactly what you mean, I was the same. It is fun though! xx
I remember this, it was on of the first posts I read of yours! Still love this, super cute x #TheList
No way?! I bet you were expecting me to be super crafty. What a disappointment 😉 xx
Oh I love this! I have a canvas left over from a couple of other projects and this is just the ticket!! x
Ha! Perfect! xx
I love masking techniques but haven’t really done any with N. This looks great, and love that you stripped Reuben off to do it. Definitely less messy! #Thelist
For sure…although he did still get a fingerprint on the corridor wall on the way to the bath!! x
I love this idea, well done Reuben x
🙂 xx
Pingback: The perfect gift for Fathers Day from Snapfish | Diary Of A Mum Of 3
LOVE this! What a simple idea but so effective. We are SO doing this for Father’s Day – thanks Hannah x
What a fantastic idea! If I hadn’t already had to deal with a paint explosion today and two toddlers resembling two smurfs I would have totally gone for this but unfortunately I am also allergic to housework so I will be looking into the salt dough option! Will def keep this in mind for next year though.
Ahhh this is so cute 🙂 I can’t wait until Rose is old enough to understand that painting is not the same as eating!! Gorgeous idea lovely xxx
Oh what a gorgeous idea. I’ve never braved the paints with my little one either but this is such a sweet idea. I might well give it a go. Thanks so much for the idea. X
Fab idea! I think I’ll have to try it with S although he’s a little older now, he’s not as interested in getting mucky with paint like he used to be! xx
This is a lovely idea! I haven’t even thought about father’s day yet – but this looks like a quick, easy, yet personal gift. I haven’t braved paint with a 2 year old yet either – but you have inspired me! x
I’m so glad I seen this, I got a big canvas the other day and was going to paint a sunset on it and put pictures of my husband teaching our boys to fish but now I think just writing fishing buddies in the tape and letting them paint it would be better! My boys are one and two and I think they would have a ball painting for daddy!
Oh yey!!! Instagram a photo for me would you Carla?! xx
We’ve never braved paint yet but I love this! Off to wilko to get supplies!