Saturday, January 28, 2012

Mama Loves: Wine Corks

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! So glad that you've stopped by!

Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.

Maybe you've found: 
  • a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
  • gear you just can't live without
  • a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
  • a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
  • an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
  • an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
  • or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!
Share it with us! Blogging has made me a better mama, because I've learned about all kinds of great things, like those listed above, from mamas just like you. Here's your chance to share it with all of us!

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Manic Mother


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I'd seen an idea on Pinterest awhile back to make some wall art with wine corks.
We have a fair number of corks around here.

Instead of attempting this while the girls were sleeping, I thought maybe they'd enjoy the sensory experience of the corks, while I attempted to make art.

Hadley loves to work quietly on puzzles, or other activities, so I shouldn't have been surprised that she quickly caught on to me finding corks to stand on end to make a heart.

She would search through the bag. To find just the right cork for me. Then she'd balance it on its end, and add it to our project.

We did this together:


To be honest, I didn't want the red or yellow one in there, but Hadley found those, and she was so excited to include them, so there they are.

I wasn't quite ready to bust out the glue while the girls were awake. So, while they were sleeping, I glued the corks on a board to be hung on our wall.


Hadley is so proud of our project!


My point in this post, is not to tell you about our project. It's to tell you how awesome corks are! While our girls were throwing corks all over our living room enjoying the sensory experience of a bag full or corks, I came up with a few other useful/educational things for us to do with corks that I thought you might be interested in.

I got out the shapes from our shape-sorter, and had the girls attempt to make circles, squares and triangles with the corks:




Even if your littles aren't yet ready for making shapes, standing the corks up helps with hand/eye coodination:


To get more advanced, your kids can make letters or words out of the corks:


If you don't drink enough wine for these projects, restaurants or wine bars often save corks, and will be happy for you to take them off their hands, just ask! I might be able to spare a few too.

Can't wait to see what you're loving!!

Also sharing this here.

And here.



12 comments:

MandyE (Twin Trials and Triumphs) said...

That heart is gorgeous! (And I love the story behind the yellow and red ones!) ;)

Great ideas, Julia!

Lauren said...

Whoa, you drink a LOT of wine!!! ;)

championm2000 said...

I have never thought of saving the corks, especially for kiddo projects!

Now I have an even better reason to drink up :-)

Miss Megan said...

Another GREAT idea!
And I love the red and the yellow cork in there - they make it that much more special! And how great that she is proud of the project she did with mommy! Ah! I love it!

Corinne Ritz said...

I love it! Though I think Mama Loves Wine more than Mama loves corks? hehehehe.... I can say that to you because we are super old friends and you know how much I love you.

The craft project turned out beautifully!

yettie said...

Looks like a neat idea. I guess corks are the new bottle tops :)

Once Upon A Time said...

Love the heart, and love the shape connection with your littles!

Vicky @ Mess For Less said...

Those are so cute. The kids look like they had a lot of fun with them. You make me wish I drank wine just to get those cool corks. Love the variety and colors too. I am also a twin mom. I am visiting from the Show and Share Saturday link up.
Vicky from Mess For Less

Fun Frugal Mommy said...

What a fun activity. I guess I need to drink some more wine. : ) I know someone who saves all their corks for craft projects I might have to ask for some.

www.funfrugalmommy.blogspot.com

The Monko said...

thats so lovely - its a shame most of our bottles are screw tops

Cynthia Renee' said...

Stopping by from Fun Frugal Friday....

How fantastic that you got your younguns in on the fun. I don't blame you about the glue... :-)

Alina said...

Great Post! But you might just want to try having the holidays in cork , it would be really interesting!