Sparkler Cork Painting

This is the first year that Freddie has really noticed and enjoyed fireworks if we’ve seen them coming from neighbouring houses, and they watched Adam and I light some sparklers in the back garden last weekend. I can’t wait until they’re old enough to have a go themselves!

In the meantime, I thought it would be nice to have a go at painting some ‘sparklers’ of their own using paints and corks. You really need another reason to drink more wine?!

You will need:

• Black paper/card
• Coloured chalks – to draw the sparkler handle and tracing lines
• At least two old wine corks
• Coloured paints in dishes/saucers – we used red, yellow and gold sparkle paint for our picture
• A straw, or pipe cleaner for the sparkler
• PVA glue, or selotape for sticking your straw/pipe cleaner to the picture

Instructions:

1. On your black paper, draw a vertical line with your coloured chalk. Then, faintly draw a few lines shooting out of your line with some white chalk to create a rough ‘sparkler’. These will give your toddler some guidance as to where to put their paint.
2. Then let your toddler go crazy with the corks and the paint!
3. Stick your straw or pipe cleaner onto the original vertical line you created, to make a ‘handle’ (I can’t think of what else you call the bit of the sparkler that you hold? If I do, then i’ll get back to you!)
4. The result may not be perfect, but they’ll have had plenty of fun doing it! Older children can use more colours/go into more detail with their picture.

Here is Sasha having a go:

…She actually gave it a really good go for her age (18 months), and also ended up using her fingers too, which was fine.

Freddie got stuck in too, and enjoyed going a bit mad with the paint. I’m really pleased he liked this, as he can sometimes be a bit funny with having paint on his hands, but didn’t seem to mind at all on this occasion. All the extra painting he’s doing at preschool now must be helping!

…and here is his picture!

Becky

Meet the award-nominated UK lifestyle blogger behind Spirited Puddle Jumper – a mum of three living in South East London! Becky shares the real ups and downs of family life, parenting tips, and lifestyle inspiration, proving that being a mum doesn’t mean you stop being fun or having other interests! Follow along for honest insights into UK family life and opinions on a whole range of topics, from travel and food, to beauty reviews, home and DIY, business and health and wellness.