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Kids Get Crafty – Eric Carle & Homemade Puzzles

September 8, 2010

Welcome back to Kid’s Get Crafty – a link up party/ blog hop for all craftiness with and for children! Do take part. Do be inspired! Link up at bottom of post! Hooray!

Old posts welcomed. Grab a button an add it to your post or side bar. Please do NOT post things for sale or Giveaways!

Come back weekly (Wednesdays) and link up!

Also, don’t forget you can Google Connect with this blog, join me on Facebook or twitter!

So, what did we get up to? First our book:

From Head to Toe (Picture Puffin)From Head To Toe, by Eric Carle. Read together age 2yrs+.

A great fan of the Hungry Caterpillar, I decided to get this book for Red Ted as you look at different body parts, as well as getting children to take part in actions. I had totally forgotten that I had ordered this book until it came sailing through our post box. It happened to be on a day Granny was visiting. Granny picked it up and seconds later, Granny and Red Ted were sitting on the sofa giggling away, wiggling toes, stomping feet and thumping chests! Need I say more? Well, just to add, that the book has the “classic” Eric call style: broad brushstrokes in a “mosaic style” assembly. Lovely.

That also gave me an idea. This another lovely way of making something out of toddler’s paintings. Though the craft that follows works for older ages too – you just do less and let them do more!! 😉

So, our craft:

Home made Eric Carle Puzzles

1) Red Ted did some painting after I showed him the book. He started off by painting a seal (see 2nd photo below)!  After that we went into toddler “free for all”.

2) Once dried, I kept the “seal” for his scrap book (see photos). I then selected a couple of sheets of paintings and matched them up (vaguely) against the book – there seemed to be lots of seal colour and red and green.

eric carle puzzle painting

3) I cut out rough shapes and then with decoupage glue stuck them on to card. I added some glue underneath the cut outs. Let it dry. Then added two more layers (letting each layer dry first). Best to “dab” on the glue, else it can smudge, tear the paper a little. The poster paint also cracked a little, but I thought it looked nice and added to the texture.

4) Once dry, I cut it all out again.

5) Add googly eyes and details in marker pen and DONE!

eric carle crafts

I think our seal was the one that came out really well… but Red Ted enjoys them equally. I surprised him with the finished puzzle after nursery. You can see him in the photo feeding the seal pasta! Don’t worry, the monkey was fed too. It is probably less of a “puzzle” and more of a “where do things go” game. But I think that is fine too!

Ahem: you could of course just paint straight on to card and varnish it! Bit quicker,  less cutting!!!

Enjoy your puzzles!

If you have been crafty with your kid’s be it at home, in the kitchen or outdoors, I would love for you to link up:

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Filed Under: Kids Craft 61 Comments

Comments

  1. maria says

    September 8, 2010 at 7:53 am

    Both the seal and the monkey look great, what a lovely craft!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 8, 2010 at 8:16 am

      Thanks Maria 🙂

      Reply
  2. Ruth says

    September 8, 2010 at 8:15 am

    So glad you posted this. Every time I read the Hungry Caterpillar I admire the artwork and think about its simple and thoroughly effective style

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 8, 2010 at 8:18 am

      Oooh yes, it is so lovely, isn’t? Now we can all gave a go… I can just see doing some “counting plums and strawberries” for Red Ted.. thanks for the hungry caterpillar reminder!!

      Reply
  3. Zoe @ Playing by the book says

    September 8, 2010 at 9:28 am

    Thanks for linking to me 🙂 Very kind. I love your puzzles! And it’s always great to find a way to reuse some of the zillions of pictures and paintings that the kids create.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 8, 2010 at 7:13 pm

      Your craft HAD to be linked, so no problem there!!

      Reply
  4. Amanda says

    September 8, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    I just wanted to thank you for inviting me over here today and for your kind comments about my paper plate mummy! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Amanda says

    September 8, 2010 at 12:15 pm

    Also, I entered a kid friendly recipe from my food blog. If that’s not acceptable please delete! 🙂

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 8, 2010 at 7:13 pm

      Perfect, they look scrummy!

      Reply
  6. Kimberlee says

    September 8, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    Love how that seal! He came out very nice.
    ~Kimberlee
    http://www.TheSpunkyDiva.blogspot.com

    Reply
  7. Amanda @paintitsewthrifty.blogspot.com says

    September 8, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    Thanks for the invite and for stopping by pAIN’T it SEW thrifty! I linked up! Great party!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 8, 2010 at 7:12 pm

      Great to have you on board with all your fabulous crafts! 🙂

      Reply
  8. Naomi says

    September 8, 2010 at 5:53 pm

    What a fab activity (the seal), such a great activity I’m tempted to try in my classroom. Have also entered my school into the book competition so thanks for that link! 🙂

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 8, 2010 at 7:11 pm

      Wonderful! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Jude says

    September 8, 2010 at 6:18 pm

    Just thought I’d add my contribution, since I did a project last year on a related theme, using kid’s artwork to make cards and gift tags. It’s amazing what you can do with their work! They make lovely puzzles.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 8, 2010 at 7:10 pm

      Perfect addition! LOVE them 🙂

      Reply
  10. meninheira says

    September 8, 2010 at 6:32 pm

    Linked! 😀

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 8, 2010 at 7:10 pm

      Hooray!!

      Reply
  11. Lynn says

    September 8, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    We LOVE that book! I ordered a copy as soon as I read our library copy for the first time. It doesn’t seem to be as well known as some of his other books, but it is such great interactive fun. The fact that it isn’t so well known makes it a great gift (less chance they will already own it).

    Reply
  12. Kerstin says

    September 8, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    Hi Mags,
    Another fantastic idea! 🙂
    What is “decoupage glue” though? Any German translation?
    Spray glue?? Thanks in advance for pointing me into the right direction.
    ‘s Gruessli,

    Kerstin x

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 9, 2010 at 6:19 am

      Angeblich ist es Serviettenkelber – die haupt US Marke is Mod Podge, es gibt aber auch Eigenmarken. http://www.megahobby.de/de/Klebstoffe-und-Klebebaender/Mod-Podge-Produkte

      Viel spass und viel glueck!

      Reply
  13. vanessa @ silly eagle books says

    September 9, 2010 at 3:24 am

    Thanks for the invitation and I love the Eric Carle artwork!! I’ll be back to this party soon! 🙂

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 9, 2010 at 6:56 am

      Fabulous! Look forward to it!

      Reply
  14. Love and Lollipops says

    September 9, 2010 at 6:21 am

    Oh I just this craft!! It’s also a lovely way of preserving a very young child’s first paintings. Using their paintings as the “printed paper” to create artwork/pictures from…hope you understand what I mean.

    Georgia

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 10, 2010 at 2:30 pm

      Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed it!! xx

      Reply
  15. April says

    September 9, 2010 at 12:41 pm

    That’s a Carle book that I haven’t read yet. Coming through from stART.

    Reply
  16. Christianne @ Little Page Turners says

    September 9, 2010 at 4:28 pm

    My daughter’s preschool did something similar, and I loved the way they turned out. Great job!

    Reply
  17. Natalie says

    September 9, 2010 at 6:25 pm

    What a beautiful craft, and it’s amazing that it started as a toddler’s paint experiment. You are great in finding beauty in the simplest things.

    Reply
  18. Holly says

    September 9, 2010 at 6:36 pm

    I love that! I think my boys would love to do an Eric Carle-inspired craft.

    Reply
  19. Janelle says

    September 9, 2010 at 6:41 pm

    What a fun Carle project. Something that even very young kids can easily help with.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 10, 2010 at 2:27 pm

      Absolutely! And Red Ted is now beginning to want to help with cutting, so hopefully his cutting skills will develope!

      Reply
  20. Almost Unschoolers says

    September 9, 2010 at 8:15 pm

    That turned out beautifully!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 10, 2010 at 2:26 pm

      Thank you 🙂 we have been playing with them all week!

      Reply
  21. Amy @ Hope Is the Word says

    September 10, 2010 at 12:05 am

    I love it! Thanks for linking up!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 10, 2010 at 2:19 pm

      Thank you 🙂

      Reply
  22. Brandi says

    September 10, 2010 at 4:11 pm

    Cute idea! Looks fun! 🙂

    Reply
  23. Amy says

    September 10, 2010 at 9:17 pm

    I love this idea. THanks for linking up today. Glad to have you..

    Have a great weekend..

    Reply
  24. Emily@ Finding My Aloha says

    September 11, 2010 at 7:36 am

    Very clever!

    Reply
  25. amandab says

    September 11, 2010 at 9:58 am

    From Head to Toe is a great, playful book and we have really enjoyed it the times we have borrowed it from the library. The pictures of the seal and monkey are awesome too, and I will have to remember that seals like pasta LOL

    Reply
  26. Katie says

    September 16, 2010 at 3:48 am

    That is too fun! I love it when kid’s art is used in creative ways! Thank you for joining us at Show & Tell on ABC & 123: A Learning Cooperative!

    Reply
  27. Mami Made It says

    November 5, 2010 at 8:47 am

    Love love love that book “From head to toe”. We have it too and it worked so well. My girlie loved it so much. We had to read it every day and it was so funny to see her acting like the animals.

    Your puzzle idea is great!

    Reply
  28. Colleen - Sunrise Learning Lab says

    June 19, 2011 at 5:27 pm

    We love Eric Carle and his wonderful art and children’s books!
    Great links for this, too!
    My boys went to an Eric Carle themed summer camp last summer. Here is a link the post about it:
    http://sunriselearninglab.blogspot.com/2010/08/summer-camp-and-some-fuzzy-fun.html
    It was very fun and not only did they enjoy the arts and crafts they did at the camp, we also did some at home when they returned from camp!
    Happy birthday to Eric Carle, an artist, author, and illustrator we adore!

    Have a happy rest of your day!
    Colleen
    @F5th on Twitter
    Sunrise Learning Lab blog

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      June 19, 2011 at 6:08 pm

      Oooh there is a special Eric Carle link up party starting on the 24th (I think)… come join in! 🙂

      Reply
  29. creativejewishmom/sara says

    June 21, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    wonderful project! I love Eric Carle too. Thanks so much for sharing on Craft schooling Sunday!

    Reply
  30. Messy Missy says

    June 25, 2011 at 3:10 am

    I just love that idea. I have to admit that I sometimes look at Eric Carle books, which I love, and think…..I could do that. My child could do that!! You proved it. 🙂

    Reply
  31. Aimee says

    June 25, 2011 at 3:55 am

    What a great idea for Eric Carle! Thanks for the linky and linking up with The Sunday Showcase!

    Reply
  32. Jillian says

    June 25, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    How creative, turning it into a puzzle!

    Reply
  33. Carolyn says

    July 1, 2011 at 6:20 am

    You’re an excellent mom, going to all that trouble for your son. Encouraging them in their craftwork helps them build confidence in their work. Well done.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      July 1, 2011 at 8:06 am

      Oh my, what a lovely comment. Thank you Carolyn, that means a lot to me!

      Reply
  34. jackie@happyhooligans says

    August 25, 2012 at 11:28 am

    This is a really great idea, Maggy! I love how the paint makes the animals look like they just walked straight out of the pages of Eric Carle’s book!

    Reply
  35. Red Ted Art says

    August 25, 2012 at 1:18 pm

    Awe thanks Jackie!

    Reply

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