Falling into Fall: Potato Stamping

How does the saying go, ‘The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”?

Plans of mothers of small children go quite the same. Despite what I planned out in my head for the week, things have played out differently and I just decided to go with it. In retrospect, sick baby or not, all-night snuggle fests were not a good idea for my neck, back, face, eyes or brain. But what they made up for baby sighs, snores and warmness is untouchable.

So how about some fall fun for the little ones? Sidenote: This is just as fun for adults.

Round up:
a few potatoes
a knife for carving
paint
items to stamp – paper, fabric

Cut the potatoes in half. Try to make a very even cut so the stamping surface is flat.

Create your desired stamp

Dip in paint and stamp away. The potatoes in paint need a bit of blotting. It takes a little trial and error but you’ll get the hang of it.

We worked on a few brown grocery bags because of their size (big), thickness and in hopes of using it as package wrapping later.

I really wanted to include Sweet J but with his irregular naptime, he missed out this time around.

I did stamped a few cards and white cardstock for use in later projects. In my mind, I wanted to try out the stamps on some flour sack towels or maybe on a coaster. But that will have to wait until another day.

The best part of this project is that clean up requires a stead, guiding sweep of the tabletop into the garbage can. Quick and easy. More time for picking up toys, kissing boo-boos, cooking food, cleaning the bathroom, folding clothes, putting away clothes, playing cars, fairies, kitchen, Barbies, reading books, etc sitting on the couch eating bon-bons. :)

Take care.

In unrelated news, I started a fire in my microwave last night. I’m feeling a little silly (meaning stupid) and a little (a lot) embarrassed but wanted to do my part to pass along a warning that microwave fires can and do happen. Even to bright, non-pyro-ethusiests like me. So watch out. :)