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Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Jan 24, 2007 3:26pm
Thread (disabled) Board
My littlest kitten asked me to teach her how to carve a stamp today. So after some hmmming and haaaawing, I relented. Feeling sorry for her because she feels left out by all of the "attention" (therapy) her sister is getting won out over the nagging terror at the fact that she is a four year old perpetual train wreck.
No one lost any digits. My tools are still in one piece. Surprise, surprise! And she has a nice little star to show for it.
But they really pay attention to us "big people" don't they? The first thing she did after inking the stamp was "huff" on it! Then she asked "Can I make this a postal, or should I plant it?"
Maybe when I stop shaking with laughter, I can get back to working on the stamp I was carving!!
S
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66161 by Nitrocat
Jan 24, 2007 6:27pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote The first thing she did after inking the stamp was "huff" on it! Then she asked "Can I make this a postal, or should I plant it?"


ROFLMAO...... oh I love hearing stories about little letterboxers hatching :-)

YT
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66161 by Nitrocat
Jan 24, 2007 7:06pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Oh my goodness she is too cute! My 5 yr old girl is the same way...thankfully she hasn't asked to use the carving tools yet. I don't even trust her with the kiddie scissors! LOL

Keep up the good work! *GRIN*

D5 Mama
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66223 by Smimle
Jan 24, 2007 7:11pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote I don't even trust her with the kiddie scissors! LOL


I expect you have all seen it but just in case here is a good tutorial for Mums with children wanting to carve:-

http://www.letterboxing.org/kids/kidstamp.htm

YT
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66223 by Smimle
Jan 24, 2007 8:22pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I had her right on my lap under strictest supervision. Kiddie scissors? I hid the last pair in the top of the coat closet right after Christmas. One of her princess crowns got tangled up in her hair, so she used her little kiddie scissors to cut it free. Logical, effective, and disasterous. And don't even talk to me about markers! (Let's put it this way-she can now count to 88, because there are 88 keys on a piano. Enough said!)
Stacy
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66161 by Nitrocat
Jan 24, 2007 9:14pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote "Can I make this a postal, or should I plant it?"


Adorable! Such a precious moment. I hope your immortalize the moment with a stamp! **nodding** lol
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66266 by Nitrocat
Jan 24, 2007 9:17pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote don't even talk to me about markers! (Let's put it this way-she can now count to 88, because there are 88 keys on a piano. Enough said!)


Ack! hyperventilating as I type. Magic Clean Eraser. It's all I can say at a moment like this.
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66266 by Nitrocat
Jan 24, 2007 9:32pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Yes...my lil darlin'....she's quite the ingenious mischief maker. If it's not marker...it's crayon, pencil....even a Sharpie once. We have a lovely lil drawin' of the family on the wall behind our easy chair...in Sharpie! *sigh* Hey...I'm never gonna be able to afford the real stuff....so...why not have cheap, meaningful art on the walls...right? *wahhhhhhh*

At least once a week I have those days where I'm cleaning up one mess in one room while the kiddos are creating another disaster in another room...and I just keep following them through the house tearing my hair out. It's exhausting I tell you! This stay at home mom stuff is for the birds...specifically chicks...crazy chicks! At least...that's what I'm becoming! I know...people give me funny looks when I start "muhuhahaha"ing....but it's the only way I stay on the "right" side of the edge....you know the edge...the one my kids are trying to send me over! LOL

D5 Mama
*muhuhahaha*
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66278 by Shadohart
Jan 24, 2007 9:36pm
Thread (disabled) Board
One of the things I've done to my little "artists" is give them a regular cloth with soap and water on it and make them SCRUB the crayon/pencil/marker marks on the walls....so they know how hard one has to work to get it off. When I think they've scrubbed enough...I'll hand them a "Magic Eraser".

I love when my 1st grader tries to pin his "artwork" on the younger ones. You know...the ones that can't spell or even draw that well yet. Yeah buddy...I'm sure the little 4 year old wrote YOUR name....on the wall...above his head....mmmmhmmmm....nice try! Here's a cloth with soap and water...start scrubbin'!

D5 Mama
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66281 by Smimle
Jan 24, 2007 9:38pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Hey ya know what gets sharpie off of walls and stuff?? Mr. Clean MAgic Eraser. That stuff is sooo good! I also know regular magic marker will come out of rugs wth babywipes.
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66284 by KBgirl
Jan 24, 2007 9:41pm
Thread (disabled) Board
That's good to know! I'm going to have to stock up on Magic Eraser before we tackle the livingroom wall Sharpie art though...it's a rather large area!

As for markers...how about couch cushions? I'll have to try the baby wipes on that! I have a rug with marker on it too that I will have to try removing with babywipes!

Thanks for the tip!
D5 Mama
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66282 by Smimle
Jan 24, 2007 9:42pm
Thread (disabled) Board
oh, so you DO know about the magic eraser. Thsi is where the Mwuhahahahahah!! comes in. I see.

Ok really going to bed now.

Hey, look.. I got a star!! yay!
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66281 by Smimle
Jan 24, 2007 10:11pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Cleaning the house aka walls while the children are growing-
Is like shoveling snow while the snow is still snowing!

Love it - live it myself- only when they are asleep do I make any headway then it's like only worth 15 minutes of daylight if I am lucky. I am like a cleaning vampire! hehe

teekasue
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66281 by Smimle
Jan 24, 2007 11:36pm
Thread (disabled) Board
My older kids are past the "drawing on walls" stage and my younger ones are just approaching it. There are pencil marks on the bottom left corner of my computer screen RIGHT NOW. But we have two times every day when we all pick up - once in the morning before we start school and just before dinner. It makes us all feel better to feel miserable together.

It helps to have a high tolerance for mess. My arch-enemies are puzzles. I hate puzzles because the pieces never all return to the box - they hide in corners, under closet doors, in the baby's mouth. And yet I keep buying them, duh! One half of my brain says, "good for the mental development" while the mess-control half of the brain is obviously taking a nap. Same things with game pieces. I can't count how many times I've been on the brink of throwing away every puzzle and game in the house.

The mommy-madness continues. But even so, the little buggers are worth every minute. Keep on laughing, D5, and stay away from the edge.

Murray7
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66298 by Murray Herd
Jan 25, 2007 12:15am
Thread (disabled) Board
Don't get me started on puzzles and games with little pieces...and legos...ARGH! My brain does the same thing as yours! LOL Heaven forbid both sides of my brain are awake at the same time! Can just see it now...
"Hey...you...no buying puzzles..."
"But they're good for developing motor skills and teamwork amoung siblings...and...and..."
"NO PUZZLES"
"But..."
"NO"

The inside of my head would sound like me vs. the kids in real life! LOL

going to bed...so both sides of my brain can rest! hahaha

D5 Mama
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66209 by The Yorkshire Tortoise
Jan 25, 2007 12:46am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote little letterboxers hatching :-)


I'm laughing at this. :)

Shiloh
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66286 by Smimle
Jan 25, 2007 3:57am
Thread (disabled) Board
I used to work in a furniture store in the service department. PLEASE test the baby wipes (or even water) on the back of your chair or couch before tackling the stain. Lots of upholstery fabrics are dry clean only and furniture sales people don't often tell you when you buy it.

Woodsong
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66310 by Woodsong
Jan 25, 2007 4:58am
Thread (disabled) Board
Do you think Magic eraser will work on a slimy spot on the wall that was left from one of those slimy spider things? My kids had these icky things and stuck them to the wall to watch them slither down. And left a nice little slimy spot. At least its not a trail all the way down the wall. But its definately sticky and gross! Any ideas?
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66286 by Smimle
Jan 25, 2007 6:14am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote That's good to know! I'm going to have to stock up on Magic Eraser before we tackle the livingroom wall Sharpie art though...it's a rather large area!

As for markers...how about couch cushions? I'll have to try the baby wipes on that! I have a rug with marker on it too that I will have to try removing with babywipes!

Thanks for the tip!
D5 Mama


The best thing for sharpie, etc is rubbing alcohol - yup, the plain ol' rubbing alcohol that costs about 75 cents at the store. Just wet a papertowel and scrub til it's gone. I've used this on fabrics - don't know about the wall. When my daughter (age 2 then) used sharpie on a chair I was painting for her (she was "helping") I never could get it off, and it bled through the paint. I left it, as a reminder to myself to not leave sharpies out.......

But the alcohol works great on fabrics, just try on a hidden place first to make sure the fabric is ok with the alcohol.

My daughter (now 4) is my child who NEVER forgets to put the cap on her markers, and puts her crayons back in the box..... my 7 yo now.......... he's like me - surrounded by the "mess" of his artistic genius :-))

Mama Fox
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66284 by KBgirl
Jan 25, 2007 6:19am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote I also know regular magic marker will come out of rugs wth babywipes.


OMG, had no idea. We live in a furnished rental at present and my 6 yr old accidently wrote on their light tan sofa with red marker. Didn't know what I was going to do about it. Just saw your post, tried the babywipes and WOW, it works. Red totally gone. Thanks a million!!! And now markers only used at the table:)
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66278 by Shadohart
Jan 25, 2007 6:47am
Thread (disabled) Board
Magic Eraser does work well. Sometimes too well. I really don't like using it on painted surfaces because it mars the paint. Just test it somewhere inconspicuous before using it.

I don't follow the kids around picking up their messes. I follow them around nagging them to pick up their own messes. I don't expect them to fold my laundry or clean up after me. Why should I teach them that it's okay to expect Mom to fold their laundry or clean up after them? Yes, that means that the house is not up to Martha's standards much, but we're comfortable.

My biggest shock came with my 4yo. Her older sister is a fanatical neat freak. She never leaves the table without scraping her plate and putting it in the sink. And I didn't have to teach her that! Imagine my surprise when the little pink cyclone was born! She goes through her day leaving a trail of paints, uncapped markers, discarded dress-up clothes, unfinished puzzles and other assundry detritus of childhood in her wake. It produces some really spectacular matter/anti-matter reactions with predictable regularity.

I have a poem about it though. If you want, I'll send it to you. I'm not sure the AQ boards are the place to put it.

Stacy
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66319 by Crazyolis
Jan 25, 2007 6:47am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote Do you think Magic eraser will work on a slimy spot on the wall that was left from one of those slimy spider things? My kids had these icky things and stuck them to the wall to watch them slither down. And left a nice little slimy spot. At least its not a trail all the way down the wall. But its definately sticky and gross! Any ideas?


You could try it. Be aware that Magic Clean Erasers are really just very, very, very fine chunks of soft abrasive. If your walls are painted, test on an inconspicuous section (say, behind the fridge or the TV) to make sure it doesn't take off too much paint, or that it doesn't remove the finish of the paint. Be sure to let it dry thoroughly so you can see the final result. Flat paint (as opposed to eggshell or satin) is notorious for showing every little mark.

-AG (who learned the hard way in our dark slate-blue family room....)
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66310 by Woodsong
Jan 25, 2007 7:16am
Thread (disabled) Board
LOL "Dry clean only"....ROFLMAO....oh....with 3 kids...this couch has had just about EVERYTHING on it...poor ole couch.....*shaking head*...dry clean only HA HA HA HA! Not in this house!

Thanks for the advice though...maybe some day...when the kids are grown and out of the house...we might own a "dry clean only" couch....but not now....oh....that's too funny.....it just wouldn't last in the here and now....in my house!

Oh my goodness! Thank you for the laugh!

D5 Mama
*still laughing....dry clean only...HAHAHAH*
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66355 by Nitrocat
Jan 25, 2007 7:50am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote I really don't like using it on painted surfaces because it mars the paint.


*sigh*

I found this out the hard way, unfortunately!!! I have places in two rooms that are faded thanks to those darn things!!! They really should say that on the box ( or I should start reading directions! ) so you would know things like that!

My diva is horrid about leaving messes! And thank goodness that she is finally out of the writing on the wall thing! My son dosen't really care about making art, so we never had to worry about that with him....but her...whoo!

moonshowr
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66371 by Electric City Four
Jan 25, 2007 8:33am
Thread (disabled) Board
toothpaste takes crayon off walls...my mom used to make me scrub it with an old toothbrush, too, so the bristles would get in every pit of the painted cinderblock wall, and so it would take more work that a big scrub brush. Be careful though, if you use a whitening toothpaste, some of them have bleach in them that can mes up your wall...but those with bleach are really good for cleaning grout...

night writer
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66355 by Nitrocat
Jan 25, 2007 9:19am
Thread (disabled) Board
Yes, we want to hear the poem about the "pink cyclone". And after this thread it sounds like it'd be appreciated on this AQ board, if you feel comfortable posting it. If not, AQ mail is fine too.

Thanks,
Murray7
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66300 by Smimle
Jan 25, 2007 9:45am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote "Hey...you...no buying puzzles..."
"But they're good for developing motor skills and teamwork amoung siblings...and...and..."
"NO PUZZLES"
"But..."
"NO"


I'm hearing this in a Gollum voice - hysterical!

My problem is the little figures, like Heroclix - they are sharp and pointy when you step on them with bare feet, and they never stay in their boxes! I find them in them most unlikely places...

Mariette
(dbltall of Team MessMaker, Messmaker 2.0, and MyAdvancedMessMaker)
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66406 by SubRosa
Jan 25, 2007 5:51pm
Thread (disabled) Board
In my house, it's the Polly Pocket pieces everywhere... aargh!

-Mama Bear
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66365 by Smimle
Jan 25, 2007 5:53pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote *still laughing....dry clean only...HAHAHAH*


And I'm trying to imagine how you dry-clean a couch. I have this vision of hauling the couch into the local dry cleaners and watching them hook it on those revolving hangers...

-Mama Bear
Re: Ready or Not...
Board: Kid Shenanigans
Reply to: #66383 by Romana
Jan 25, 2007 6:33pm
Thread (disabled) Board
toothpaste takes crayon off walls

It also stops some bug bites from itching--seriously! Dab a little on and the cooling sensation really helps. Just beware if you have dogs--they like to lick it off of your legs! :-)

Amyrica