How to make a "Quiet Book" Project

After attending the amazing Wonder Mommy Busy Bag Exchange I was inspired to create a "quiet book" for my 17 month old as a holiday present! After many many hours of hard work its finally complete and I wanted to share it with all of you Wonder Mommies. Many of the templates were found online and were easy to follow (more info below). If you prefer not to make an entire book, making one page at a time would be a great project for you and your toddler to do together! Happy creating! 

-- Jessica G. 

Find my on Facebook: My Hungry Caterpillar

Etsy Store: My Hungry Caterpillar

The cover has a full zipper to help keep any small pieces from getting lost and handles to help carry. The inside of the cover has a large pocket for extra small toys or even a pad of paper and crayons.

Farm doors open to 3 farm animal finger puppets that are housed in a pocket behind the barn doors.

Gumball machine teaches colors and how to use a snap. 

Counting 1-10! Beads on each string help little ones learn how to count. 

Telling Time! A brad allows the hands to move around the clock. 

Mr. or Mrs. Potato Head. There is an opening on the side of his body so the pieces can be stored inside. 

Race Car Track. The garage is open on the left side and is large enough to hold a matchbox size car. 

Baseball Mitt. Toddlers can practice putting their hands in and out of the glove. 

Learn how to mail a letter. The front flap of the mailbox opens and the envelopes fit inside. Secret messages can also be put inot the envelopes. Mailbox flag moves with a brad. Ribbon has been attached to the envelpes so that they don't get lost. 

The 4 Seasons. Fall leaves can velcro on and off. Learn how the trees change in summer (green leaves), spring (flowers), winter (tree is bare) and fall. 

Noah's Arc has a zipper that can store small animals or bugs and lizards. 

Learn shapes, colors and how to use a button.

Learn how to button, buckle, etc.. 

Tie the shoes. WONDERful way for preschoolers to practice tying their shoes.

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Shopping List: 

felt:
4 - black
2 - grey
3 - brown
3 - white
3 - tan
4 - light blue
2 - blue
3 - green
1 - light green
4 - red
2 - yellow
1 - orange
1 - purple
1 - pink
1 - teal

1 - small zipper about 7 inches long (noah's arc)
1 - 36 inch zipper for outer cover
6 - snaps (gum ball machine)
1 package of velcro circles (15 come in a pack)
puffy paint (any color for writing and numbers)
Pack of colored buttons (about 5 or 6)
1 yard of fabric for cover and small about of quilters batting to cushion it
1 yard of ribbon about 1 inch think (counting beads page)
1 yard thin ribbon (counting beads page)

All items can be found at Joann's Fabrics.

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Thank you so much to all of the blogs that shared their templates, please see below. Also, the background pages I cut to 10 x 9 and then used 3 metal rings to put them together before I attached them to the cover.

Please share with us your WONDERful creations! 

Product Review: JamBerry Nails

OK, I have to admit... I'm a bit OCD when it comes to my nails. As a child, up until probably high school, I was a nail biter, gross, I know. So now as an adult, they always have to be nicely manicured. If one nail starts to chip, my nail polish comes right off...  When I learned about JamBerry Nails, I thought it would be something fun to try, especially since I love decorating my nails with fun colors and designs. Best part, it's fast, easy and last long which is great for all the moms out there. 

After reading the directions carefully I felt overwhelmed because when it comes to painting my own nails I am the worst (right hand always comes out horrible) and hoped that wouldn't stay true with JamBerry Nails. With washing my sons bottles, doing laundry, cooking and bathing him on a regular basis, my JamBerry Nails not only stayed on, but lasted much longer then a regular manicure. I definitely recommend JamBerry Nails and plan to use them again in the future. 

If you are interested in ordering JamBerry nails, they are under $20 a sheet. Please contact: Amber Coleman JamBerry Independent Consultant for more information. 

Upcycled Butterfly- Flying 'Round

Bradley and I have Mommy and Me every Wednesday and Thursday on a preschool campus. I always love watching Bradley's facial expressions and sounds that he makes while we travel through the hallways and see all the "big" kids learning.

Today something especially beautiful caught my eye that I had to snap a pic of and share with all of you. From a distance it looked like a huge mosaic, but when I walked up closer and realized what it was, I loved it even more. It was a colorful butterfly (cut from a piece of scrap plywood) made out of round plastic recycled caps of all kinds.


I had so many different teachable moments fluttering through my head... This is definitely a great idea to do with kids of any age. Whether it be in school or at home, kids can take so much from this fun and creative activity. The best part is, when your masterpiece is finished, you can hang it up outside as wall art.

Life Cycle of a Butterfly
Earth Day
Grow a Butterfly Garden

Recycling
Upcycling

Counting

Sorting Colors

Sorting Size

Symmetry 

Patterns 

Textures 

The list can go and on... 

Please leave a COMMENT and SHARE with everyone any other ideas you can think of! 

Please link up your Earth Day ideas to help make our families Eco Friendly Everyday!

Here's a list of all the participating blogs:

Hosts: Mommy Labs, Greening Sam and Avery

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