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Following the huge success of our pattern blocks on contact paper play, I decided to try putting it all up on our wall. Emma helped me place several feet of contact paper, and the kids and I had a blast using pattern blocks to create mosaics on our dining room wall!
The wooden blocks make for an incredible visual and sensory experience! We decided to add in some small foam blocks we had:
These were easier for the kids to stick on, since they are lighter weight – you have to sort of press the pattern blocks on for them to stay – but once up, they’ll stay for hours (it’s been over 48 hours now, and they’ve remained stuck to our wall without any trouble). At first, I worried that the contact paper might ruin the wooden blocks, but it doesn’t seem to be causing any trouble.
Johnny especially loved the feel of the soft foam stuck to the contact paper – all the more since we had the blocks spelling out his and Emma’s names!
We’ll leave this up for a few more days – it’s fun to play with, and beautiful to look at!
Sharing with Rainy Day Mum, let the children play, Sense of Wonder, NurtureStore, Link & Learn, and Multiple Mommy
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What an awesome idea. And it really is pretty.
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Beautiful! Such a fun and thoughtful mama
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What a fantastic idea! I’ll definitely be trying this once we get some new contact paper. (Sadly, we can’t buy it here, so it’s one of the things we stock up on during our summer holidays!)
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Brilliant! My kiddos would love this! I must try it!
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maryanne Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 4:18 pm
I bet they would come up with some fantastic designs!!!
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Did it cause problems for the foam blocks? It would seem like it might cause small tears in them.
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maryanne Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:07 am
No problems – for the wood pattern blocks either (which I had worried about a little). Contact paper uses a very gentle adhesive. Maybe it would cause problems if you left them up for a long time, say, over a week? The foam blocks fell off sometimes, but I think that was because the kids were barely sticking them in place – the ones I stuck on are still there today, as are some of the ones the kids put up. None of the wooden pattern blocks fell down on their own.
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This is awesome! I think it would be fun to do a nature collage this way sometime with pressed flowers and plants.
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maryanne Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 2:04 pm
That would be fantastic! We’ll have to try this spring :)
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I love this! What a fun way to display your little ones creations in the home :)
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MaryAnne, this is awesome. We are totally doing this!
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maryanne Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Your girls will have a blast – and so will you! =)
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That’s a great idea!
Visit Jenny … Wordless Wednesday: Happy Birthday Uma
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Great idea for make old new and upping the fun!!!
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How awesome!! Now I wish we had a set of pattern blocks. I cut out some foam shapes, and I think that could work well too for those who don’t have pattern blocks.
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maryanne Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 2:41 pm
That would definitely work – great solution!
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This is such a fun idea- we are going to have to try this! I shared it on FB but it wouldn’t let me tag ya!
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maryanne Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Thank you for sharing my post on Facebook! We have had so much fun with this activity!!!
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Great idea to make the leap from table top to wall!! When I saw the tabletop version the other day, I thought you’d used the new sticky cling wrap… Press’n'Seal. Would probably work on the table, but not on the wall. (And I can’t think of the prices to figure out which would be more economical.)
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maryanne Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 4:08 pm
Ooh now I’m tempted to pull out our Press’n'Seal to see if it would work as a tabletop version! For length, I’m pretty sure it would be more economical, but it isn’t as wide as contact paper. It’s definitely less sticky…
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Love it on the wall! What a fun ever changing visual art piece!
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You have the best ideas!!!
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maryanne Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:55 pm
Thank you!!! :D
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How great is this! I actually got rid of my pattern blocks because they were so frustrating… Looks like it might be time for a re-purchase :)
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maryanne Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:55 pm
I think they are much funner, this way =)
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Wow, that is even COOLER! How long will the contact paper stay sticky, do you think? Will you have to keep on changing it?
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maryanne Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 8:40 pm
Thanks! I think the contact paper gets a little less sticky every day, so maybe it’ll last a week?
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Awesome idea!!! My kids would love this!
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This is a pretty neat idea – and it looks very nice too!
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This is so clever and looks beautiful.I am sure the kids had such fun.
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MaryAnne, You are just the coolest mom!! I seriously aspire to be more like you. I love this idea!
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Such a fabulous idea. I love taking everyday “toys” and playing with them in innovative ways. This is such a creative way to use the pattern blocks. You have inspired us to give this a go.
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All your posts with contact paper has inspired me and I’ve just done a craft supplies order and put some on (well sticky back plastic as we call it in the UK) I love this idea and what a great sensory wall as well – especially with their names on.
Thank you for linking up to Tuesday Tots this week and I look forward to seeing your ideas next week :D
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maryanne Reply:
February 28th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Hooray!!! Can’t wait to see what you do with it, once it arrives =)
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What is contact paper and where do I get some from? Brilliant, have already pinned this!
Thanks for linking to Family Frolics
Kerry
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maryanne Reply:
February 29th, 2012 at 2:33 pm
Contact paper is vinyl (or something like vinyl?) that is sticky on one side and not on the other. Ours is clear, but it comes in different colors and patterns as well. I think it used to be a popular shelf liner. We’ve bought it from Staples and Amazon before. =)
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I love this idea so clever!
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I pinned this earlier this week but had to comment and let you know how much I love this!! Such a great idea!
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maryanne Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Thank you for pinning, and I’m so glad you liked this idea!
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Wonderful! Your children are so lucky to be able to do things like this. People who read your blog are mmotivated to try somethng similar. Very nice, Carolyn
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maryanne Reply:
March 2nd, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Thank you!
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Oh, I love this activity! Currently obsessed with contact paper…
:-)
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What is also so very cool about this activity is that by placing it on the vertical service of the wall you are encouraging good wrist extension and development which plays a crucial role in handwriting skills later on. It encourages a correct pencil grip and will discourage a weak wrist that can result in the “hooked over” hand position during writing seen in so many kids. Little do they know that they are working on these skills while they are having so much fun.
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maryanne Reply:
March 11th, 2012 at 8:20 pm
I hadn’t even thought about that, but I can see how it could help with developing handwriting skills! Thanks for the insight!!!
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[...] Sensory Wall Mosaic Art {Mama Smiles} [...]
What an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing this, my boys will love it!
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This is such a neat idea. I am going to try it on the wall in my preschool classroom, but I am going to try it with velcro.
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maryanne Reply:
March 11th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
Velcro would be a lot of fun!
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What a great idea!!!!
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maryanne Reply:
March 22nd, 2012 at 8:58 am
Thank you! :)
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What an awesome idea! I think I might have some wall space left in the kitchen…
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Thank you, I love this! Were they able to remove and restick pieces to make new designs
each day? I have 18 Kinders and know that they would love to move the designs
around. I already have plastic wooden pattern blocks but would purchase the light
foam blocks if they could be pulled off and reused on the same sticky paper over a few
days. I also have small coloured wooden blocks and will try those as well. I have done this with nature materials on a table and it is awesome.
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maryanne Reply:
April 21st, 2012 at 9:40 am
They were able to move the pieces around, with no trouble! The paper does slowly become less sticky over time as little hands touch it over and over. :)
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