Foot Notes

One of the cleverest ideas (IMO) I came up with for Jax’s first birthday party was the foot stamping activity.

I set up a table with blank cards and envelopes, non-toxic, child-safe ink (by My First Color Box), washable markers and baby wipes for clean-up. Guests were invited to ink their tots’ tootsies and press them into butterfly shapes (to match the party theme) to make their own keepsake note cards.

I know, right? Cute. Cute. CUTE!

Now, a little overdue (I’m a terrible procrastinator), it’s time to send thank you cards to all who joined us. I originally wanted to buy cards that matched the pink and green butterfly invites but then remembered that I had the materials needed (leftover from the party) to make our own hand-made thank yous.

Over the weekend Jax and I got crafty, stamping her pudgy feet into artistic notes of gratitude.  She got a kick out of it – literally kicking her rainbow-hued feet in excitement, leaving colorful toe marks on my legs and hands. Luckily the ink wipes off easily with a wet paper towel or baby wipe (if left on for more than a few minutes warm soapy water does the trick) and washes completely out of clothes.

This was seriously a simple and surprisingly non-messy activity. Jax’s piggies stamped a total of 25 cards and we got the job done in less than 15 minutes. Then I took an additional 10 minutes to draw the butterfly bodies and antennae and write personal notes in each card.

And it’s a relatively inexpensive craft too. The package of blank note cards was $9.99 for a pack of 50 at Hobby Lobby (and I used a 40% off coupon); the ink was $1.99 per pad and there is a rainbow of colors available, also at Hobby Lobby.

I already have plans to stamp Jax’s feet into ghosts and/or bats for Halloween greetings, reindeer for Christmas cards and hearts for her Valentines. FUN!

Not only does Jax have colored feet in this photo, she also has stained hands and a splattered tummy. We did this activity right after she finished her favorite snack of frozen blueberries. She was a mess and had a bath immediately after. The ink cleaned off of her much easier than the blueberries did – she still has purple fingernails.