November Freebie: Rudolph The Emotional Deer. Free printable feelings chart.

Hi, I'm Rudolph the emotional deer. How do you feel today? Happy? Tired? Sad? It is probably easy for you to answer. But imagine for a second that you are a two year old. You are still exploring the world around you. Your vocabulary is limited to tangible things and not some imaginary constructs like feelings. The simple question "How do you feel today?" puzzles you. What is "feeling". Yes, if you see tears you recognize that someone is crying. You know you smile when Mom says "Good job?". But you cannot relate a smile to a feeling. 

Well, Rudolph The Emotional Deer is here to help. 

Oh, wait, he has no eyes. And he does not have a mouth. And that is what this game is about. Invite the child to arrange eyes and mouth expressions to tell you how they felt today. Will the kid choose a smile or angry eyes. Try to find out why. Ask questions. "Why is Rudolph sad today?" Maybe he has been bullied by Prancer? Chances are your child will transfer their own emotions on the deer. 

But what if your child is too little. Well, help them out. Create a story. "Little Rudolph was walking around Santa's House and found a present. How did that make him feel? He was happy." Place smiling eyes and mouth on the face. Now you are showing that a smile expresses happiness and help your child match facial expression to feelings. 

The activity game is free for subscriber to this blog.  Enter your email in the box under Follow this blog. Download the file and print it out. For best results make sure the Fit to page box is unchecked. Use heavy card stock and laminate for longer use.

Pssst, laminated card stock doubles perfectly as Play-Doh mat.

Vehicles Quiet Book: The Fire Truck

My personal favorite pages of the Vehicles quiet book.

The fire-truck.

On the left page there is a cabin. 

Its door opens to reveal the driver. Can you guess who that is?

And the right page is so much fun. 

Pull the flap up ...

...to reveal the hose.

And of course the hose extends to extinghuish fires as needed. 

And there you have it - fire truck page. 

Want to make one yourself, a pattern for your own use (personal and commercial) will soon be uploaded to my Etsy shop. Do check it regularly or subscribe to this blog for news and updates.

Vehicles Quiet Book: The Numbers Train

The numbers train is coming to town.

The two pages aimed at teaching the child the numbers are made of felt, ribbons and beads.

The numbers can be put in the pockets. 

And taken out to develop fine motor skills. 

Older children can be challenged further by having the numbers unattached and allowing the child to make the correct sequence.

A pattern for your own use (personal and commercial) will soon be uploaded to my Etsy shop. Do check it regularly or subscribe to this blog for news and updates.

Vehicles Quiet Book: Traffic Light and Car Quiet Book Page (BONUS: Free Pattern)

I started telling you about a quiet book for a little boy teaching him about the world of vehicles.

When he opens the book the first thing he sees is a car moving towards a traffic light hopefully respecting the speed limit.

On the left hand page stands the big traffic light. To a grown-up it might not be at all that exciting. Yet a child faces a puzzle. Which light goes on the red button? Yes, the red one! The page stimulates teaches colors and helps embed the idea of road safety and traffic rules in the child's mind through games. It also develops the fine motor skills by prompting the child to button the lights.

The car on the right hand page is also a puzzle. 

What makes the car move? The wheels! Why don't we help by buttoning them up.

Apart from fine motor skills this page helps the child develop their sensory perception by exposing them todifferent materials such as felt, ribbon, thread,plastic or wooden buttons.

And finally, it is my first quiet book here is a little treat for you to celebrate with me - the concept "art" with explanations what materials are employed. Images are scaled for an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) page and you may use them as patterns for a quiet book you are making. A clearer pdf pattern as well as step-by-step instructions of the process are available at my Etsy shop. Note that these images are designed for your  PERSONAL use only. Should you wish to make and sell this quiet book page visit my shop and purchase the pattern and tutorial.

Want a quiet book just like this, please visit my Etsy shop. 

Lazar's Quiet Book: The cover

Happy New Year! May it bring love and warmth and happiness to your homes and lives. 

I will start this year by showing you my first completed quiet book. I was chosen to play Secret Santa for a little boy named Lazar, who had barely turned one. I was tossing several ideas before settling on the automotive theme. 

The first task was the cover, I needed some vehicular themed pages and could not find any. Here is what I thought of. 

Front: Lazar's name in a font loosely based on font of the Car's movies (Magneto bold if you are wondering). 

Every letter resembles a road - it is gray with yellow thread running stitch lane markings and small car wood beads. 

The back cover I am really proud of. 

A rear-view mirror of felt and reflective foil. 

And the side is a simple yellow felt strip. 

Pages are stitched together with sturdy embroidery thread and elastic and button are used for closing.  

Christmas Countdown 1: Ellie's Christmas Quiet Book Page

Now that I have scored and posted handmade items from around the web, it might be the time to wish you Happy Holidays with my very own creation.

My toddler Ellie will be getting all kinds of store-bought Christmas presents from friends and family but Mommy Santa has settled for something made just for her: a giant quiet book.

The book is themed seasons and nothing spells winter more than a Merry Christmas page.

The setting is a sitting room at a house. Along with a wreath, a fireplace and a decorated three.

We are waiting for Santa. 

The fire is burning under the jolly wreath and the bag with presents has been dropped unscathed down the chimney.

Our Christmas tree is decorated with big red balls (and a glittery star on top) but something is missing. 

That is right the presents aren't where we are supposed to find them in the morning. Good thing Santa has some tiny fingers to help him arrange the presents under the tree. 

So there you have it, a Christmas quiet book page. 

Happy holidays! 

And see you again next year!

Christmas Countdown 2: A Couple of Super Easy Last Minute Gift Ideas

Well, are you really running out of time (and money) and still want to make Christmas special.

Well, you can always throw candy or cocoa and marshmallows in a jar, wrap it up with a beatiful ribbon and call it a day. Or you can make an extra step and no one will ever suspect that you have not invested a lot of effort, money and time into selecting the one and only gift that is just so perfect.

That said set aside about 30 minutes (+time to the dollar store) and make those loved ones feel special.

2. For him

A key chain can range from the most boring to the most amazing gift ever. Still not sure. Check these out. 

Scrap leather with a cute spin.

Or the cork of his favourite wine (you still get to drink it anyway). Please follow these instructions before drowning the bottle down. 

1. For her

Lip balm will never ever be thrown away. Combine that with a nice dollar store locket and she will be ever grateful. 

Easy Peasy - coconut oil, lipstick, locket and stove. Still not making sense? Check out the step-by-step instructions.

If you are still not sure whether these will work, maybe you should consider a single yet elegant and somewhat precious flower.

And find out some more fun ways of gifting money on Buzzfeed.