Any suggestions for mess free 
DD1 (almost 4) loves arts & crafts. Unfortunately, most of what we have is not mess free and young toddler friendly.
Only thing I really have are color wonder markers. I'll like to get more items so they can both do arts & crafts together with minimal supervison from me. That way I can be cooking, etc.
Thanks
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
We like the color wonder paints too! Sometimes he uses a brush, sometimes he uses fingers.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I shouldn't even be commenting because I let my son have a full set of Sharpies that he uses unsupervised in his room, lol.
He will only use Color Wonder if the subject matter is interesting, otherwise, he doesn't like the "delay."
I was thinking stickers, my son is obsessed with them and will put stickers on pieces of paper for hours. You can get the foam kits all over now, tissue paper, masking tape, washi tape, etc.
Also, window clings? My son loves the Gel Gems and wil decorate windows.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@T.H.O.U.: oh cool! Didn't know they made paint too. My only issue with color wonder is the paper. Gets so expensive.
@looch: lol to the sharpies. Definitely not with the 17 m around. I turned my back for maaaybe 2 minutes last week and she got marker alllll over our upholstered dining bench. Thankfully I only buy Crayola washable products! I was scrubbing for a while.
Window clings are a cute idea. I can pick up some cheapies Easter / spring ones at the dollar store.
cantaloupe / 6171 posts
maybe chalk on a chalkboard, or on black paper? that'd be easier to clean up, lol. and I second color wonder or stickers. I started trusting my 22mo with crayons a few months ago as well, I'm not exactly sure when but prob around 19 or 20 months I just started leaving them out (on a plastic table that I don't care if she draws on, but she's pretty good about staying on the paper...)
eggplant / 11408 posts
@regberadaisy: I second window clings and stickers! Also, stampers! Can you put A in her high chair? Thst ways, at least the mess is contained. Also, we are big into washi tape around here of late.
@looch: lol, me neither, because I let LO draw all over herself with markers and don't bat an eye (DH, on the other hand, gets anxiety from even seeing pictures of it 
) I'm not brave enough for Sharpies, but as long as I can (kinda) contain the mess, I'm not fussed about it. The sole exception to that right now is Tempera paint. The last time we used that, it got all over her, me, the floor, and my shower curtain, oddly enough. So we've taken a break on the mon-washables for a while 
eggplant / 11408 posts
@nana87: yep, G has full access to crayons at all times, but the markers are another story. Now I just have to remember to keep my highlighters out of her way. She loooooooves highlighters.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@nana87: @LovelyPlum: I don't care about her drawing on herself. DD1 was really great about staying on paper. DD2, not so much, she's already drawn on walls, floors, upholstered bench, among other things. And DD2 is still putting things in her mouth so for now crayons and chalk are still a no go for her. 
cantaloupe / 6171 posts
@LovelyPlum: yesssss R has claimed a highlighter she found from my desk, and a couple pens. it's hard to have a home office actually be off limits!
another idea might be water colors--lo has used them in her high chair a couple times and I've been surprised how the mess has been contained! though, she keeps wanting to drink the water, lol....
cantaloupe / 6171 posts
@regberadaisy: oh I don't care about her drawing on herself, it's more the rugs and furntiure (other than her art table) that I worry about
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@regberadaisy: Oh, you know what just came to my mind, felt! You can do those felt boards with the felt objects that you stick on.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@nana87: haha yes! DD2 will for sure drink the water and/or tip the cup and will spill onto our laminate. Or onto the dog. 
Because that's a good supervised idea.
eggplant / 11408 posts
@nana87: right. And now she can climb up in my chair and wants to "workin" all the time, i.e. bang on my keyboard. Guess I'll just put it all away, then! Dissertation, wha??
Oh, and G likes to put the paintbrush in her mouth, too. Whoops.
@regberadaisy: I think they make non-toxic soy-based crayons. Might be an idea?
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@looch: oh that's a great idea!!! This requires me being crafty, doesn't it?
grapefruit / 4649 posts
Contact paper and tissue paper is fun- they can rip or cut it up and stick it to the paper
Dot art stampers aren't bad- they will probably have colorful hands but they aren't any worse than markers.
A Buddha board is a great option, you basically paint on it with water.
You could also do the Melissa and Doug reusable sticker books, they are more like color forms so even if they get stuck in inappropriate places they won't cause problems.
Water wow books can be fun and are just water, or old school paint with water books.
Reusable stickers:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004PBLP5O/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1456158687&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=melissa+and+doug+sticker&dpPl=1&dpID=61D3UEgOR7L&ref=plSrch
Paint with water
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00FS5LQK0/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1456158806&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=paint+with+water+books
cantaloupe / 6171 posts
@LovelyPlum: what's a dissertation again? my desk is in the same corner of our apt as her play kitchen, blocks, etc, and so I can never use it when she's home (it's a secretary style desk so folds up/can hide). dh's desk is in our bedroom so he at least can close the door, though she knows how to open our doors now anyway
eggplant / 11408 posts
@nana87: ours are both out in the open , so I end up hiding pens in weird places so she can't reach them. Which inevitably means I lose them.
And I believe a dissertation is thst thing my advisor thinks I do all day, but I ignore because #toddlers
Sorry for thread jacking, @regberadaisy: !
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Also, we keep markers up high and when they craft he gets buckled into his seat at the table.
Occasionally he will run away with a loose crayon or something but definitely no markers.
This weekend we also had some stamp things (the kind with the ink already in it) and he really liked those.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@T.H.O.U.: yeah, I keep markers and crayons on the breakfast bar. Except dd1 can climb into the bar stools to get them. Then it's .5 seconds before DD2 is into them. I keep them in extra wipe containers and she's recently figured out how to open it.
pomegranate / 3895 posts
@regberadaisy: Have you tried playdough? DS spent a good hour moving it from the container and then back in the container. I also made animals and had him tell me what they said (snake, cat, etc). We then also worked on counting the circles.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@LBee: noooooo I let daycare deal with play doh mess! It gets on the floor and the dog and DD2 will eat it. I can make my own non toxic kind but it makes such a mess! LOL play doh is one of the few banned toys in our house.
blogger / honeydew / 7081 posts
Foam stickers are great- you can get whole kits at the dollar store to make Easter eggs, animals, Flowers, etc- and it doesn't involve glue or anything.
We also use paint with water books because the paint doesn't really get anywhere.
Also, if you put a piece of cardstock in a plastic bag, then put some paint in the bag, your kids can finger paint with no mess!
Foam beads are great for making necklaces and things.
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
@regberadaisy: Your LO's ages are similar to mine and honestly it doesn't matter what it is, LO2 finds a way to make mischief. Can't wait for this stage to pass!
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