Happy Tuesday, friends! Hope you’re all getting a touch of this glorious autumn weather we’ve had in Kansas the past couple days. I am slightly terrified of the winter ahead, but boy have I missed FALL!
As part of our Busy Bag Blogger Swap (say that 10 times fast!), last week I shared the fun felt food activities that Natalie and Blair sent us. And since that post, Arden has decorated approximately 7,000 cupcakes. I tell ya, the girl is obsessed!
Today I want to share with you another one of her obsessions: fishing. No, not the real thing. In fact, the one time we took her fishing this summer she had a full-on, body-flailing meltdown because she wasn’t allowed to get in and swim with the fish. Better luck next year?! Anyway, this “Go Fish” activity is one that never leaves my diaper bag and has been a lifesaver at multiple restaurants, airports, etc. My sweet friend Emily made it for a busy bag exchange we did earlier this year…so I straight-up stole her idea and sent it over to Erinn and Ashlynn for some fish-catching fun!
Here’s the step-by-step to creating your own…
Materials:
(I found everything listed here at Wally World!)
5 sheets of colored felt + 1 blue sheet for the water
1 small plastic tackle box with 5 compartments
1 wooden skewer
string
5 flat washers
1 small round magnet
wiggly eyes (optional)
hot glue gun & scissors
The first step is to make your tracing fish using some scrap paper.
By the way, you get bonus points if you don’t have to google and print out “fish clipart” like I did 🙂
Cut out 2 felt fish from your first color…then glue a washer to the middle of one of the fish.
Next you’ll hot-glue the 2 sides together, with the washer sandwiched in between.
Repeat with the other 4 colors and add your wiggly eyes!
Cut the pointy side off of the skewer and size it down to about 4-5 inches.
Put a line of hot glue down one end of the skewer and start wrapping your “fishing line” around it. You’ll then add the magnet to the other end of the string.
Measure and cut some of the remaining felt to fit in the stalls…and a bigger piece on the inside of the lid, which will serve as the “ocean”. Glue all of the felt into the tackle box.
Add some simple instructions…
And the very final step–catch some fish!
Just a little disclaimer: these pictures were taken after an afternoon at the pool–hence Arden’s diaper-only attire. Next time I’m planning to share a DIY on the ol’ blog, I’ll try to have her fully-clothed 😉
Before sending our package off to Erinn and Ashlynn, I added The Pout Pout Fish…simply because it’s the cutest book EVER!
Do you have a busy bag creation to share?! We’d love for you to join us by linking up below and hopping around to get some great new ideas as well. Let the busy box crafting begin! 🙂
Erinn at Strawberry Swing and Other Things
Colleen at Meet the Sullivans
Emily at Dear Owen
Julia at My Life in Transition
Natalie at Nat Your Average Gal
Julie at The Girl in the Red Shoes
Michelle at Ten June
Vanessa at Sunflower State of Mind
Sara at Running from the Law
Natasha at Schue Love
Erin at Hello Erin
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Cute! I'll have to come back and read what the other Ladies did too.
This is seriously too cute!
Oh my goodness, this is too cute. I can't wait to make one of my own for Lilly to play with. In fact, I wish I had time this week to whip it up since we will be spending a lot of time in the hospital Thursday-Sunday. This would be a great busy activity for her!
Love it, we are still having a blast playing with it when I need to quiet her for a few minutes. Now if only I could keep the baby busy with something other than tossing sippies off her highchair! Thanks again!
I love this idea! So cute!
Mind blown at how cute and perfect this is!!
Genius! Totally stealing this cute idea.
What a darling idea! I so wish Ham didn't put everything in his mouth or I'd whip this right up…afraid he'd swallow the magnets by accident. :/ #boyproblems
This might be my favorite busy bag idea ever! So great!!
We did a similar exchange a while back, and this was included in our busy bag. Marcus loves to go fish, but they are so much bigger, and aren't in a cute, clutter-less container. I may have to revamp our fishing experience a bit.
I am going to do this! I looked for the magnet though and couldn't find it anywhere. Where did you find the one with the hole in it?
Hey Jen!! I actually got it in the craft section at Wal-Mart. The one here is a little bit bigger than Katy 's though (they have fabric and such)…did you check Hobby Lobby or Michael's??
I've checked everywhere! I may have to order online. I was just wondering if you found it in a different section. I'll look at another Wal-mart. Thanks so much! 🙂 Glad ya'll are doing well!
In case anyone else is having a hard time finding the ones with the hole in them….
I just ordered from K & J Magnetics $5.00 shipping is worth not having to go to Wal-mart again. 🙂 I ordered the R622 and R821 and I'll see which one works best. Can't wait for Carolina to try it, and a few of her friends too!
Jennifer
Thank you so much, Jen!!! Sorry to send you on a wild goose chase, but I'm glad you found something that'll work!!!