A Busy Bag! Easy to Make, for Ages 2-5

Here is a simple busy bag I threw together last minute for Ella to take to the restaurant tonight.

Ella loves to carry a bag or purse everywhere she goes, so I skipped the Ziploc and choose this bag instead. 

This isn't just for girls, my boys love to carry bags too.

Here is the contents, 2 chenille stems (pipe cleaners), a popsicle stick, and a tupperware of big hole beads. The beads go onto the stems and the stems can be wrapped around the stick in various ways.

Everything here (or similar item) can be purchased from the Dollar Tree, including the tupperware.

This bag occupied Ella (2 1/2 yrs) before and after her meal. Here she is wrapping a beaded chenille stem around the stick and she then had fun pretending it was a popsicle.

Emmitt (5 yrs) made himself a similar bag after seeing me put Ella's together and added a roll of washi tape to it. He grabed a robot lunch bag to carry his in. He made his into a character from one of his computer games.

Ella has a bag addiction and I have an eBay addiction so here is where it collides.

Ta-da!!!

Yes, twenty three cents and free shipping.

I purchase a good portion of my craft supplies and the kids craft supplies (and general junk) from eBay international sellers.

I will do a post on what and how you can buy craft supplies from eBay international sellers.

Chenille Stem / Pipe Cleaner Sculptures

This craft was entirely created by Emmitt. He decided to get out the chenille stems while hubby and I watched a movie last night and picked it back up today. Easton joined in and made his own thing. Since Emmitt was creating trees I suggested he get some cardboard and make a scene.

Ella was simply not interested so I got out some paint sticks for her.

You'll see the kids using the craft room/classroom for this activity. This is where we keep our supplies and do most of our crafting.

Look at this mess! 😲

Here is Emmitt digging in the "recycle materials box" I keep boxes, tubes, old chop sticks, and anything else in here.

Emmitts finished work. He placed a person climbing in the tree.

Easton's face, he had fun demonstrating the sound his face was making...😵

Ella doing her own thing with the paint sticks.

I like to buy my chenille stems for about 20 for $1, usually from the Dollar Tree or on sale at Hobby Lobby. The huge quantity I have at the moment came from a yard sale last summer (score!).

Here are the paint sticks Ella is using:
Instant educa solid poster paints