gift idea

it's too late for father's day but i thought i'd share for anyone who's got an upcoming birthday for a special someone. i didn't expect this gift to get such a big reaction.

i bought a pack of crayola washable non-toxic fingerpaints and a couple of matted photo frames. i sent DH out of the house on an errand and while he was gone i quickly changed the boys into old onesies that barely fit (that i could afford to get all painty) and sat them in their high chairs. i squeezed a little paint out onto a plate and dabbed each of their hands into a color and helped them slap the paint around on the photo matte. when we were all done i took a photo of them with the paint on their hands, printed the shots, and when the mattes were dry i framed it all together. and this is what we got:

http://www.gofalldown.com/cacophony/myimag...rsDayFrames.jpg

babies' first paintings.

for us it was particularly symbolic because it was for father's day and DH is senior art director at his company. instead of dreaming of playing catch with his sons, he dreams of teaching them to draw. so this was his boys' first artwork to hang in his office. he's a big tough guy but heck if he didn't tear up when he saw these. (i also videotaped the process so he could watch it later. so he wouldn't feel entirely left out of the activity)

it was a big bang for a relatively inexpensive gift and i would recommend the project to anyone who's willing to deal with the chaos and mess of babies with painty hands.

 

GREAT IDEA!!!! I am definitely using that idea for Grandparents day coming up.

 

How beautiful!!
What a great gift :wub:

 

That is an awesome gift!

 

That's so cute, what a great idea!

 

Oh this is such a lovely idea, really thoughtful!! They turned out so nice!

 

OMG, that is a fantastic idea! And the finished product turned out so great! I bet your DH was just floored!

I bought a stepping stone kit and made impressions of the boys' feet with their names and "Father's Day 2009". In the kit there were stamps for the letters, and bits of glass to make mosaic designs. I thought the boys would freak about getting their feet dipped in concrete, but they were very interested in the process.

Now I'll have to figure out an occasion to use your idea! Maybe for DH's birthday.....