Cakes made this pot at a free shopping centre activity recently. When we arrived home I asked her where she wanted to keep it not taking into consideration the plants need. As it was a 'yellow' marigold it required partial to full sun and enough water to moisten though to be allowed to dry before the next watering. She chose to keep this on her new eating table in the main living area which get none to the tiniest bit of sunlight. When watering it we found the terracotta pot drank plenty of the water and re-hydrated the PVA glue she poured all over the pot to attach the glitter. Needless to say the poor little plant died and the pot was continually sticky. Today after a very long discussion with a disappointed Cakes we decided to make some flowers that do not require any further care.
With inspiration from these beautiful tulips that are sitting on a shelf in our office some six or so years later from my Preschool children when I left to become a centre director. Mynessa (my co-teacher at the time) made these with each child in the class and gave them to me before I left.
They are simply made with some colour paper cut in the shape of the children's hands and the base of the hand wrapped around a straw. So simple and so pretty.
They are simply made with some colour paper cut in the shape of the children's hands and the base of the hand wrapped around a straw. So simple and so pretty.
Cakes chose the colour paper she wanted her flowers. She was pretty sure she wanted yellow so went with different tones to add variety, ignoring my suggestion of other colours. I traced around her hand with a few stops for her to get her wriggles out. We could have done this as hand print painting though she was a little impatient and didn't look as though she had the time for me to get paint ready. While I was cutting out the hand tracings Cakes set off with her hand, the paper and a pen and traced a few more. She didn't do too badly until she couldn't get her hand back in the exact same spot to continue (she became a little distressed, always a perfectionist). Next we stuck the hands onto straws using sticky tape. This could have been a messy activity as Cakes is very fond of sticky tape and has been known to distribute the entire roll if Mummy or Daddy aren't paying enough attention. I explained it was Daddy's tape and she was careful to "not use much, Mum". Placing the sticky tape onto the paper and the straw to secure it is a rather hard task for a toddler. For Cakes the hardest part was trying to take the tape off of her fingers and ensure the sticky side went on the paper and straw. This activity is such a great way to strength her finger muscles and develop better hand eye coordination. Below is the final product, a bright and beautiful pot and flowers to brighten up a dull eating area. I just hope Cakes doesn't try to water the flowers with the water from her drink bottles.