Welcome back to Kids Get Crafty! This week we decided to have a go at recycled materials again… it was prompted by the fact that we received some “Fairy Liquid Washing Gel” and I thought that the bottle looked a bit like a fish… so I looked at the other Fairy bottles and thought… we can make our own fish school here! It is also as a thank you to Fairy, for sending us a lovely goody bag as well as sending Red Ted to his VERY FIRST cinema experience: Winnie The Pooh. Suffice to say that he had a lovely time and that he now thinks that cinema is the best thing ever.
So…
The Book
Hooray for Fish!By Lucy Cousins.
We have been here before and we are here again.. First it was Red Ted’s “first” favourite read – I picked up a hardback copy at Tate Modern Bookshop. And now Pip Squeak adores it! A while back we did a hand and feet craft to go with it and today we make more fish!
Red Ted really enjoyed it the most 9 months – 12 months, though he does still enjoy it now, especially since I have brought it back out for Pip Squeak. We love all the different, bright and colour fish! Our favourite bit is probably the very rhythmic ”Eye Fish, Shy Fish, Sky fish, Fly Fish” page, but that is just us. It is all lovely! I now know all the words practically off by heart!
From a parental perspective, it is great, as it has lots counting going on, lots of colours to identify, stripes, spots etc etc so they are definitely learning too!
One of my (!) favourite Lucy Cousins books.
The Craft
As mentioned above, it all started with these:
But I reckon you can make fish out of any bottle really – just grab a bottle – look at it and see where it takes you…
Materials: empty bottles, acrylic paint (or poster paint with PVA glue), brushes, googly eyes (optional)
Blue fish
1) Peal off the labels, paint on eyes. Done. I really don’t think the photo does it justice, in some way I think it is the best fish of all:
Stripy Fish:
1) Peel off the labels & inspired by the “stripes on the bottle”, we made this one stripey… it helped Red Ted that we had two brushes… he did one colour and I did the other, “evening out” any “mistakes” he made… Another way, is to paint on a base colour first and let dry, then add the stripes – this would be easier for a young child to manage on their own.
Red & Green Fish
1) To be honest, I made this one evening.. as I wanted to finish this post… but that’s ok… crafts are with and for children! I looked at the shape of the bottle and let the lines guide where I put the red and the green:
They LOVED playing in the bath with this! However the paint does come off!
Just look at that little face!! 🙂
What watery, fishy & recycled crafts have you gotten up to? Come and share!
All other Kids Craft of course welcomed too!
For more Kid’s Craft ideas, click here for a full list.
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:
If you enjoy blog hops and link up parties.. do go and the fabulous Play Academy & Something for the Weekendevery Friday and Monkeys Doodles every Monday!
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How to… make a Rag Heart (Guest Post)
Kids Get Crafty – Eric Carle & Homemade Puzzles
Quick Craft Post: St Martins Laterne
2011 A Year in Review & Blog Hop
Kids Get Crafty: (London) City Postcards
What fun bathtub additions! And a perfect recycling craft for earth day! B has an assignment for preschool to take note of some earth-friendly action he takes part in this week – I think it may be recycled crafting!
Oh how fabulous! I love the stripy one – he looks like Nemo!
Great that you can use them after too for bathtime fun. x
Aw this is really cute, love the idea
Ah! The paint did come off a little in the bath – so this is a “play and eventually throw away” toy!!!!!
wow, your fish look lovely, we have linked something we did last week hope that is ok 🙂
Wish I had something to share this week. 🙁 Perhaps before you close this party I will. Thanks so much for hosting!
Looks like a great way to make hair washing more fun =)
Coolio!
Rachel – Aaaah there is always next week! Of course love seeing you every week… but as and when is nice 🙂 linky is open until Monday!
MaryAnne – DEFINITELY helps with hairwashing!!!
Cid – recognise your bottle????
Thats a great idea!! Love the stripey fish, so colorful:))
SO colorful! I haven’t had any luck with acrylic paint and bottles in the past.
Artsy_momma:
Really? What happened?
It does come off after while, but we usually get to have plenty of playtime first…
How super fun! Love the happy faces 🙂
So cute! We Love that book! (We own it!) Great idea and for bath time or the swimming pool (outdoor play)!
Ahhh- what a cute baby face! You couldn’t ASK for more fun in the tub…
Whether we paint them or not, I love the idea of using them in the bath like that. So fun!
Those are perfect bottles to make fish with! Love it!
You have great imagination to look at the bottle and to see a fish! My daughter is 4.5 and still loves Lucy Cousins books very much – they are so colorful.
Aaah thanks Natalie!! And yes, the Hooray For Fish is particulary wonderful to look at!
I looooove the fish idea! I’ll have start looking at my bottles to keep an eye out for one that’ll make a good one!
What fun! Love the picture of your dd! Thanks for linking up to RAT!
What a fabulous idea, we also want to look for these bottles. Thanks for sharing this cute idea!!!
Fubnky fish maggy We might give this a go xxxx
The fish is perfect for tub play. I haven’t heard of the book you mentioned. I will have to add it to my book list.
Another fabulous idea! Great job!
Kerri
Thanks for linking up at Feed Me Books Friday! Happy Earth Day and Happy Easter!
Those are absolutely gorgeous! I love the first fishy, he has a delightfully ‘whatever’ expression :-)!
I love Lucy Cousins…these are some sweet lil crafts…