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Thanks to Kwik Stix for teaming up with me for this sponsored post. It’s the perfect little craft because it is made with love!
When I first became a teacher, I would plan adorable “crafts” for my students to make for their parents. Perfectly cut-out, flawlessly-glued crafts.
Then I had kids and I realized how utterly foolish I was back then. I know now that while they look adorable on Pinterest and perfect in that folder that comes home from school… those perfect crafts are anything but perfect.
Do you know what is perfect? The “art” that our kids make without our help. The “crafts” that are made with love and not perfection.
Why? It isn’t the finished product that we love; it’s the work that went into it. I know that my child cut every leaf, that every paint stroke was made with me in mind, that every glue dot was glued with all the love in the world.
Now that I have four kids, I always ask for one thing when the kids want to give me a gift: “Something that you can make me all by yourself… because you love me.”
The same rule goes for their grandmothers’ gifts – make something that is made with love. Yes, I can buy something beautiful, but I know both of their grandmothers, and I know that they think just like I do when it comes to gifts.
When I asked the kids what they wanted to make for their grandmothers, they each had their plan. Beau was going to build something, Jack was going to write a note, Ethan was going to make a sketch-drawing, and Allie wanted to “Paint a flower”. I asked her how she wanted to do it and then I helped her plan it out. The rest was up to her).
Supplies needed to for the Thanks for Helping Me Grow plant:
- Potted Plant
- Paint-stirring stick
- Glue
- Small family photo
- A pack of Kwik Stix
Kwik Stix are available online at Target, in-store at Walgreens, in-store and online at Michaels and at Amazon.
We use Kwik Stix every time that we paint now. They are solid tempera paint sticks that dry in 90 seconds. (YAY!!!!) They are great because they don’t make a mess. The kids can paint without needing brushes or water. Plus- the paint doesn’t spill on the table (it has never leaked through the paper for me, either). They are gluten, egg & peanut free, so their friends can use them, too.
I have used Kwik Stix on wood, paper, canvas, cardboard, aluminum, and posterboard. The Kwik Stix are AP certified (non-toxic), and all you have to do is “Uncap, Twist, and Paint” to create vibrant works of art without the mess of paint!
How to make your “flower pot”:
- First rule→Let your child create it!
- Allie painted one stirring stick “like a rainbow”, but she painted her other ones green “like stems.”
- She also painted the cupcake liner
- Glue a photo on the muffin liner (a parent might need to help to cut the photo to size)
- She cut leaves out of construction paper, and I wrote on them for her. She made a plant for both grandmas and me.
- She glued it together and put the stick into the flower pot.
- She also made a photo to go with it…
Remember that children are all born with creativity… let them create.
Don’t direct them or guide them in the direction that you want them to go. Let them be who they want to be. Let them draw what is in their hearts. After all, it took Pablo Picasso a long time to draw like a child…
COMMENT BELOW WITH YOUR IDEA OF THE PERFECT DIY GIFT FROM YOUR CHILD…
These are so cool! My son would love these. Cute project too. Definitely going to have to look for these.
Hi Becky! I truly understand that poem from two perspectives: once as a child, and as a mother. As a child, I thought my mom was being mean when she’d say ” no” to things, or made me do chores that I did not want to do. However, instances such as those helped mold me into a more responsible adult who can also accept being told ” no”. As a mother of two , I have been called the “m” word…….mean! It does not bother me one bit because what I do for my children, I do out of love. I want to see them grow to be the individuals that God has destined them to be. As they transition to their destiny, I want them to personally know what respect, responsibility, and resourcefulness are.
Becky, you and your kids do the best things! I get a lot of my ideas from you. Keep it up!
I have never heard of Kwix Stix but this is something that I definitely want to try. I love doing crafts but I find myself not doing them as often as I would like. Thanks for the ideas.
I love gifts from my kids that include written notes (or things they say if they can’t write yet). So I love handmade cards, or those All About Mom/Dad sheets kids can fill out. It’s so fun to see yourself through their eyes!! ❤️
Becky…I also enjoyed your post today about the “Mean Mom” poem. I really love that my mom is still a “mean mom”! Im 40! Amazing mothers!
Those paint sticks are a great invention! I always love notes from my children. The mean mom poem is a good reminder. Yes, I have been called a mean mom many times, usually when I’m getting my kids to work before play.
If only I could get my husband on Pinterest- I would love to receive these as gifts! And I lOVE the shot of the family at the Cornelius Park. The have turned that into a beautiful building, but it was such a lovely place to take pictures!
This is precious, and I LOVE the Kwik Sticks! We will definitely try them! I have a child who loves all things crafty, so she will be thrilled to see these! To me, the most precious gifts are the handmade items with her handprint or her handwriting on them. 💗
This is wonderful gift that I will consider. I love DIY gifts from children. They just have personal touch. Can’t wait to this with my family.
My two oldest boys always draw or paint me the best pictures! I love when they just use their imagination to create their masterpieces.
I love anything my kids make for me. My daughter had some awesome preschool teachers this last year who sent home a bunch of pictures made with her hand and footprints. I loved them because I can keep them and look back at just how small her hands and feet were.
Perfect DIY gift from my 2 year old? Handprints. Definitely anything with handprints.