Congrats to our giveaway winner- Elizabeth Middleton! I am emailing you right now!
This post is sponsored by BabbaCo by Jessica Kim!
We are very excited to be teaming up with BabbaCo to share a monthly summer series with you where we will feature book-related crafts and activities created exclusively to go along with the children's book included in each BabbaBox. You can read our June post here.
The July BabbaBox (that recently arrived on our doorstep) includes the children's book Sneakers the Seaside Cat by Margaret Wise Brown along with several seashore themed activities. Here is a sneak peak of of my kids doing a few of the projects that were included in this month's BabbaBox.
The box contained a shell sorting activity, super cool sea turtle race game for us to make and play, a seashell picture frame craft, a picture book, a message in a bottle activity to send in the mail (my son's absolute favorite), and some seashore coloring activities.
Sneakers the Seaside Cat by Margaret Wise Brown is a book about a sweet black-and-white cat who takes a trip to the seashore. The story describes his adventures as he explores the seashore. He discovers several animals and shells and enjoys the sensory experience of his trip to the ocean. We loved the pictures in this book and my daughter loved the kitty cat. She said, "meow!" the entire time we were reading.
After reading this book a few times, we were inspired to create our own sticky wall seashore and make a seashore snack!
My kids have been loving rocks, shells, and stickiness lately, so I knew it was time to get some contact paper up on the walls and start creating!! We were originally introduced to the concept of sticky walls by our friend Allie at No Time for Flashcards and have been loving them ever since!
Materials Needed for Sticky Wall Seashore:
- contact paper
- scissors
- colored paper
- shells
- rocks
- tape
- crayons
- flat toothpicks
- BabbaBox shell coloring pages (optional)
Directions for creating your own Sticky Wall Seashore:
The main tip I will give you for this project is to let go of what you think the end product should look like and embrace the vision your child has! Let them create and just have fun doing it with them! My seashore project would've looked very different from this one... but I think my son's project is BEAUTIFUL and he is so proud of it!
Create your ocean and seashore...
- Stick contact paper on your wall with the sticky side out and tape it in place using painters tape.
- Snip or rip colored paper and start creating your ocean and sand by sticking the paper onto your sticky wall.
Create some sticky fishes...
- Prep ahead a fish outline from colored paper and cut out the center
- Press paper fish onto contact paper
- Have your child rip and snip paper or tissue paper and stick it onto the center of the fish
- Cut around the fish (leaving a little sticky edge) and press it onto your stick wall
Create some sea anemone...
- Take rectangle strips of paper and tape them into small rolls.
- Snip the edges of of the rolls.
- Fluff out the little strips to make them seem like their tentacles are waving/moving.
Create some sea urchins...
- Stick paper circles onto contact paper.
- Attach flat toothpicks to the contact paper around the edges of the circles.
- Place a piece of contact paper over the toothpicks/paper to secure everything into place.
- Trim around the edges of the toothpicks and then add the urchin to your sticky wall!
Create a rocky seashore...
- Hunt for rocks and gather shells from around your house (several shells came in our BabbaBox that were perfect to use). Stick them on the sticky wall. If they are too heavy, use some tape. My son loved going on a rock hunt outside to find little pebbles for us to use.
- Color pictures of other sea shells, cut them out, and stick them on the wall.
As you can see, this activity kept us busy and creating for quite awhile! The thing I love about sticky wall collages is that they don't have to be done all at one time. They can be done over the course of a day... or two or three. The collage can be an ongoing creative project and is perfect for siblings to work on together. You can put them anywhere- on a screen glass door, a wall, an easel, or even on a kitchen cupboard.
After all of our hard work, we were ready for a seashore snack! There was a sailboat in the background of most of the illustrations in the book. Since my kids are picky eaters, I always love making healthy food a little more fun. These sailboats snacks are a simple way to do that.
Materials Needed for Seashore Snack:
- cheese cubes
- toothpicks with little flag triangles taped on them
- apple slices
Do you have any other favorite seashore crafts, activities, or crafts?
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BabbaBox Giveaway!
Have you signed up for a monthly BabbaBox subscription yet? If not, today is your lucky day! BabbaCo is GIVING AWAY a 3-month BabbaBox membership to one of our Toddler Approved readers!
Check out this post to find out what you get in each BabbaBox and why we are so excited about it.
Here's how you enter the giveaway:
Simply add a comment stating that you did each of the following:
(Please include your email address with each entry)
1. Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment with your email address below.
** Please remember to leave your email address with your entry. That is mandatory to enter into the giveaway.
2. Additional Optional Entries:
- Follow Toddler Approved on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and Pinterest (if you don't already)
- Follow BabbaCo on Twitter and Facebook
- Subscribe to the Toddler Approved Monthly Newsletter
- Be the first or last one to enter and get an EXTRA entry!!
- Share one link to a favorite seashore themed craft or activity!
*** Make sure to leave a comment for each additional optional entry so that we can make sure to count it. You get one point for each entry. If you write everything in one comment, then it will only count as one entry.
Entry Guidelines:
- This giveaway is open for entry from Tuesday, July 30th to Tuesday, August 7th at 11:59pm (PST).
- The random entry will be drawn on August 8th and announced on this post. I will notify the winner via email.
- The winner will need to reply to me within 72 hours of this announcement/email. If there is no response, a new winner will be drawn.
- See our Official Giveaway Rules for complete guidelines.
Even if you don't win the giveaway, you can still get 20% off your membership order by entering this special code for Toddler Approved readers: TA20OFF
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You are providing your information to Toddler Approved and not to Facebook. The information you provide will only be used for Toddler Approved.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of BabbaCo. BabbaCo will be compensating me for my monthly book-related craft and activity posts. All posts reflect my personal opinion and endorsement and are not swayed by compensation and/or free products. Please note that this post reflects my opinion and preferences and you might not share that same opinion.
Love your ideas i can not wait to do these with my girls ages 1 and 3
I love your craft! The sea urchin is such fun!
Am loving that sticky wall….. I'm going to have to do that tomorrow! I follow you on Pinterest and FB!
Erin etromano77[at]yahoo.com
I just subscribed to your monthly newsletter.
amyciske [at] gmail.com
I liked Babba Box on FB
amyciske [at] gmail.com
So much fun! Would love to win a 3 month subscription 🙂
amyciske [at] gmail.com
This looks awesome, would love to win!!! dabaur (at) triad (dot) rr (dot) com
Looks fun!
jlbroberg at gmail.com
These activities look so fun! My kids would love them!!!!!daniellecoleman2002[at]yahoo.com
I follow you on fb and pinterest:) daniellecoleman2002[at]yahoo.com
These activities look so fun! My kids would love them!!!!!daniellecoleman2002[at]yahoo.com
I just subscribed to your newsletter 🙂
I followed BabbaCo on Twitter
I liked BabbaCo on FB
What a great giveaway!! My email is jcmidnte@aol.com
My email is laurabush2005[at]hotmail.com. I think these would be cool to try with my toddler.
Laura
My daughter and I made these beach themed cupcakes for a picnic 🙂
familyfun.go.com/recipes/ultimate-beach-cupcakes-688237/
Nutty82@aol.com
I follow BabbaCo on FB
nutty82@aol.com
I subscribed to the email newsletter
nutty82@aol.com
THis would be a tremendous addition to our homeschool! Wow!!
daryn.kennedy@me.com
I follow Toddler Toddler on FB
nutty82@aol.com
oops, I follow Toddler Approved on FB!
My 2 year old daughter would love this!
Nutty82@aol.com
I'm a FB fan!
lavonne3[at]gmail.com
Fantastic fun and creative family resource. Love them a lot and fingers and toes crossed I can win this for my 2 yr old grandaughter
julieelectric[at]gmail.com
I receive the Toddler Approved newsletter!
I follow Toddler Approved on Twitter!
I follow Babba Co on Twitter!
I follow Babba Box on Facebook!
I follow Toddler Approved on Pinterest!
I follow Toddler Approved on Facebook!
LOVE Babba Box! Patiently waiting for my son's first shipment to come in the next few weeks!!
jmagreevy426[at]yahoo.com
My son just turned TWO yesterday and don't know a better present than receiving a 3-month Babbaco subscription for a crafty mom and curious son to enjoy! Fun times for all!
msmerl[at]gmail.com
I subscribed to the Toddler Approved newsletter
I liked Babbaco on FB
I follow Babbaco on Twitter
B23booboo@AOL.com
Very cool!
Looking forward to putting BabbaBox on the Christmas wish list for the kids.
Here's a link to a fun jellyfish craft for little ones.
firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Animals/paperbowljellyfish/paperbowljellyfish.html
wagnerb@mhs-pa.org
Beth
I follow you on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest!
I subscribe and LOVE your monthly newsletter!!!
I follow BabbaCo on Facebook and Twitter!
Awesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance!!!
I subscribe to your monthly newsletter.
I follow Toddler Approve on facebook.
I'm really excited to try BabbaBox!
I am really excited to try BabbaBox!
This looks like so much fun!
These sound great! thanks! erinyams[at]gmail.com
Wow this would be so cool to try out with my daughter. I love crafts and I want her to also.
nancy@cdf123.net
Such a simple activity but it turns out so cute. We gave these a Christmas gift for the grandparents.
funhandprintart.blogspot.com/2011/09/handprint-footprint-animal-canvas-art.html
Ashley
ashley_Dawn1223[at]yahoo.com
Your newsletter is great!
Ashley
ashley_Dawn1223[at]yahoo.com
Facebook Follower and I love it.
Ashley
ashley_dawn1223[at]yahoo.com
Love you Blog! AShley
Ashley_dawn1223[at]yahoo.com
odebt at yahoo dot com
manouvellemode.blogspot.com/2011/08/sand-pudding.html
Sand Pudding 🙂
kloving70[at]yahoo.com
Subscribed to Toddler Approved Newsletter.
kloving70[at]yahoo.com
Liked BabbaCo on FB.
kloving70[at]yahoo.com
Following Toddler Approved on Facebook and Pinterest!
kloving70[at]yahoo.com
Thanks so much! How exciting!
kloving70[at]yahoo.com
Following BabbaBox on twitter!
kjcarter68[at]gmail.com
Liked BabbaBox on FB.
kjcarter68[at]gmail.com
Following Toddler Approved on Twitter
kjcarter68[at]gmail.com
Follow you on pinterest!
kjcarter68[at]gmail.com
Following on FB.
kjcarter68[at]gmail.com
Those look awesome!
kjcarter68[at]gmail.com
Kristina
Always looking for creative inspiration for play with my twins
anita.ramage[at]hotmail.com
We'd love to try this!
Following on twitter!
Alliwithtwins[at]gmail.com
These look like so much fun !
Fabulous way to escape this summer heat …
Alliwithtiwns[at]gmail.com
These look fabulous…perfect for escaping the summer heat!
Alliwithtwins[at]gmail.com
I'd love to win this!
mrsmadrigal23[at]yahoo.com
would love to win 🙂
kcernick at netscape dot net
I subscribe to the monthly newsletter. (And I'm so glad I do!!)
ksworwood[at]yahoo.com
I follow on Pinterest!
ksworwood[at]yahoo.com
Looks so fun!
ksworwood[at]yahoo.com
That is such a cool idea! Thanks for sharing at tip toe thru tuesday!
Very cool ideas! dusichek[at]gmail.com
FANTASTIC! hrrussell[at]gmail.com
cool! kimchristenson at gmail dot com.
What great ideas. I already follow you on facebook and have your newsletter emailed to me.
anisalewis@sky.com
I subscribe to the Toddler Approved Newsletter!
I follow you on pinterest!
Love this giveaway!
aubrey@thekingsburys.com
Love this giveaway!
aubrey@thekingsburys.com
Awesome giveaway. Been wanting to try but put off by cost.
Thanks!
mreid14 at hotmail dot com
Awesome giveaway. Don't have the $$ to try it out, so this would be great.
mreid14 at hotmail dot com
toddler approved on facebook
kohavim[at]gmail.com
toddler approved on facebook
babbaco on facebook
kohavim[at]gmail.com
following babbaco on twitter
kohavim[at]gmail.com
follow on twitter toddler approved
kohavim[at]gmail.com
subscribe to newsletter
kohavim[at]gmail.com
toddler approved on google+
Sweet looking stuff in the box, but you round it out with your additions to the theme and enthusiasm. Thanks!
kohavim[at]gmail.com
Wow, those look great! Please count us in!
erind35atyahoodotca
Great giveaway!
dmb161@aol.com
I subscribe to the Toddler Approved Monthly Newsletter!
lindsey.g.ebert at gmail.com
How very cool!!!
lindsey.g.ebert at gmail.com
this looks so fun!
theiowafarmerswife (at) gmail (dot) com
Awesome giveaway!
julieruffrogers at gmail dot com
This looks like so much fun. My son would have a blast doing these activities.
katie045 at cox dot net
What a great idea and time saver!
triciaolson1 (at) gmail (dot) com
What a great idea and time saver!
triciaolson1 (at) gmail (dot) com
FOLLOWED ON PINTEREST
LMCNMKC AT YAHOO DOT COM
Looks like fun!
LMCNMKC AT YAHOO DOT COM
This looks really fun!
staciefontinell (at) gmail (dot) com
I'm sharing a link for some seashore/beach themed crafts! If you scroll a little ways down, my favorite (reason why I'm linking this) is the seashell critters 🙂 I think they are so super cute and that any child would absolutely love them!
Melissa H.
misshoanggg (at) gmail.com
I am so sorry! I forgot to add a link with my original post.
crafts.kaboose.com/seashell-critters.html
I follow Toddler Approved on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and Pinterest 🙂
Melissa H.
misshoanggg (at) gmail.com
I like BabbaCo on FB and follow them on Twitter 🙂
Melissa H.
misshoanggg (at) gmail.com
Am I the first one to leave a comment? I hope so 🙂
Melissa H.
misshoanggg (at) gmail.com
Yay! I love giveaways, and especially hope to win this for my son! It can be really frustrating for me to figure out learning activities for him that are fun and keep him interested 🙂
Thanks so much for a chance to win!!
Melissa H.
misshoanggg (at) gmail.com