Little fingers and big projects

I have little kids and am a stay at home mom. I am constantly trying to find things to keep an 18 month old and a 4 year old entertained. Preferably cheaply. They have toys, oh boy they have toys, but I find that they tend to blow through toys fast. New toys are exciting and fun and played hard with, for about 2 or 3 days and then they lose their appeal. I have a toy cycle. Not all of the toys are out at all times. Things go away and reappear and become new and exciting again. This does work well for the most part, but sometimes when it is winter and it has been -30 for weeks and we have had the plague and haven't left the house things become a little stale and I go scouring for new ideas.



I found this little gem awhile ago on Pinterest and my kids have loved it.
It does require a little bit of planning (or buying bread/milk tags) but was free and fun.
I started collecting the bread tags off of english muffins, bread, buns, sometimes potatoes or carrots (milk too if you live in an area with bagged milk) when b was only a few months old. I finally had enough of a stash (and felt confident enough that b wouldn't immediately put them in her mouth) to let them play with it.




It is literally just a clean, empty yogurt or sour cream tub with a hole in the lid and the object is to have the kids pick them up one at a time and put the bread ties back into the container. Not exactly earth shattering rocket science here, but it is a game both of the kids really like. b actually sat there for about 25 minutes picking the ties up, putting them into the tub and requesting to dump it out and start again and again!

Best little doll house ever...

Okay, best recycled non permanent dollhouse ever maybe?
My kids have toys, the have lots of toys, but they are kids and inevitably want more.
Now, some of these requested toys will never, ever happen (ahem all the transformers ever mummy), some might happen another day and some can be made for about $20.00 and a trip to the dollar store.

The dollhouse. My kids have imaginations and love to play with lego, so instead of buying a dollhouse and a firehouse. I chose to make them.
The firehouse is not pictured, partly because I didn't take pictures and partly because it is a hot mess.
The dollhouse turned out much nicer (to the adult eye at least).

What you need:
A diaper box (or any kind of longer box)
carpet ends or samples
a piece or two of dollar store linoleum
2 or 3 rolls of dollar store contact paper
heavy duty duct tape
extra cardboard for floors


1). Cut the extra cardboard into pieces that fit into the bigger main box like floors and using as much duct tape as you dare, get those things to stay put. I used a lot of tape. both and and down. Don't be shy, you'll be covering the walls with contact paper anyhow and can hide just how much you used from your SO.



2). Using the contact paper, cut pieces to size and stick to the walls to create wallpaper and to cover up all that duct tape.

3). Cut the linoleum to size, remove backing and stick down. This might require extra glue if you really want it to stay. I didn't add extra glue and the piece does move and fall off from time to time.

4). Cut carpet and place inside. If you don't have carpet pieces, a piece of felt works just as well and can make pretty colours for "girl" dolls.




Optional: I found in the scrapbook area fun things like little mirrors and cutouts that would be really fun on the walls as art or decorations. I didn't end up adding them because they would end up being pulled off and probably eaten. Maybe the next one?

**UPDATE: It is now April and the dollhouse/firehall are still being loved and are in semi working order. The cardboard is beginning to sag, but since it is just cardboard and duct tape, I'd say it's doing a pretty good job!**