Foam Stamps

Hands up if you have a set of interlocking foam alphabet, number or animal play mats.  The twins haven't played with theirs for at least a year.  We are gearing up to move house so I have been tossing and donating left and right. 

Side note: I should also probably be banned from entering stores between now and our move date because I seem to bring home two bags for every one I get rid of.  

During a toss-out vs donate frenzy on Monday I found an entire box full of foam play mat pieces.  I studiously set to work piecing it back together so I could clean it and donate it.  Of course there were at least a dozen pieces missing.  I eventually gave in and tossed them in the trash.  But I felt guilty.  I hate throwing things away. I always try to find a way to re-use items.

Last night when everyone was in bed the light bulb finally went off.  And dumpster diving style I went into the trash bin and retrieved as many pieces as I could.   Thank goodness too because the trash truck arrived this morning.

I dug up some scraps of wood in my craft room and a bottle of Elmer's Craft Bond and set to work making stamps for the kids. 

Then I tested out a couple before the kids came home from school.  The verdict: these work great if you pour a little paint onto a re-usable plate, similar to what we did for the Spring Memory Book project.

Or you can hand paint them and create something like this:

These would make a lovely handmade Easter card for someone special.