Pattercraft: July 2010

"I got the stuff, momma."

My first tutorial! Woo Hoo! Pattergirl helped. She is in major teething pain right now, so the distraction of an activity with momma is almost a necessity. She, like most all babies, just loves the novelty of new toys, people, places, food, etc. However, new stuff can cost quite a bit, not to mention spoil a person, so every once in awhile it is just plain good to Craft-Yer-Own. And you can never start crafty goodness too young.

Pattergirl models our milk bottles

First, find small containers that securely close. If they fit well in baby's hand, they will work better and be much more fun. We used the little plastic breast milk containers that the hospital gave us. They were so...scientific looking. Though on child #2, I had never seen them before. It made me feel like I was creating a specimen rather than just some lunch for my kid. I did use them for storage, but didn't like them and soon changed to bags. In the dishwasher they went, and ready to be put to good use. But, let me get off of my tangent...You might use large plastic eggs, small plastic bottles, or anything else that you find safe for your baby. Make sure your containers are clean and super dry, because you don't want any funky funk growing inside your maracas.

Dry goods from the pantry

Next, choose what will make your noise. I used dry goods from the pantry because we have quite a full larder and in the event one of the maracas opens, I want it to be actual food going into Pattergirl's mouth. You choose what you have available and what you are comfortable with.

Though the milk containers close securely enough to keep even grownups out, you might want to glue your containers shut to ensure the little one doesn't inadvertently eat dried mung beans or something. My faaaaavorite glue EVER is Weldbond. It behaves like super glue meets white school glue. I can even allow the children to use it without worrying about them gluing their fingers (or each other) together!

Using a funnel to pour the noisemaker stuff into your containers will make things easier. I used the measure markings on the bottles to put the same amount of filler in each container. It is interesting how the same amount of different fillers makes different sound. (Woo hoo cross curricular activities! Woo hoo science! Woo hoo nerds! Ok, ok...back to crafty goodness.)

Use a thin bead of glue around the container's threads, just below the lip. This way the glue has room to ooze up a bit without actually entering the container. If any glue oozes down after you close the lid, wipe it away before it dries. We don't want little ones eating up dried glue, now, do we? Heavens, no...not until at LEAST preschool.