PLAY DATES | DIY CORKBOARD FRAME

​Some of the best relationships that I’ve formed over the years have been through the mommy connection and each play date that we have brings us closer together. So for this blog post I wanted to honor the mommy group and help foster it by showing you an easy DIY activity to bring mommies and kiddies together. Kids have fun. Mommies can talk. And life is good. I say let’s play! 

​There’s something special about the band of mommies. I don’t have to worry about picking up every toy when she comes over or that the cookies may have gotten burnt or that my little one is running around with a monkey suit on because I know she gets it. Heck it could have been a scene from her house earlier in the day! Just saying. :)
 
Rough days. No problem. Conversations interrupted. No problem. Screaming children dancing around in circles. No problem. This is our ‘perfect’ and we love it.
 
Now that the chilly weather is behind us, play dates are springing up everywhere! But it’s wet and muddy outside. So while the snow pants are in the wash or hanging to dry let’s set those active minds to work indoors.
 
There are so many cute DIY ideas with frames for all age groups. Not only do they look great, but the end results are easy to transport home and quick for mom to put on display. After all these moms are our friends!
 
The DIY corkboard frame is so much fun and in only a few simple steps the little ones will have made something their quite proud of. 

​Here’s what you’ll need:
 
corkboards (I found mine at the dollar store)
craft paint and/or stamp pads (we used both)
trays if using paint
stamps or make your own with potatoes | if going the potato route you’ll also need small- to medium-sized cookie cutters and a sharp knife
paintbrushes
scissors or box cutter
frames
paper towel
tacs (optional)

1. Lay the corkboard over your frame for sizing and using either scissors or a box cutter, remove the overhang cork so that the board fits snugly inside your frame. I did this in advance so the kids could get started on the exciting stuff right away.
2. Squeeze paint on trays - one colour per tray. It’s a good idea to have a few empty trays with paintbrushes lying around for mixing new paint colours and keep the creativity flowing!
3. We made our own potato stamps thanks to Martha Stewart. If you have stamps that you’d like to use then you can skip this step but it was really great to watch the kids be amazed that a potato could turn into a stamp!  | instructions here
4. Have the kids press the stamps onto the stamp pad or dip the stamps directly into the paint. For kids that don’t want to get their hands dirty, have them paint the stamps with a paintbrush. Press the stamp down onto the corkboard. Have paper towel handy to wipe excess paint if needed. The kids might want to freestyle paint with a paintbrush directly onto the corkboard. That’s fine too!
5. Once their creations are complete, let dry. Craft paint and stamps dry quickly so they work perfectly for a play date. Just the right amount of time to grab a snack.
6. Place the dry, painted corkboard into your frame. That’s it – simple and beautiful! Send the kiddos home with a few decorative tacs so they can pin up whatever they like on their personally designed corkboards.

​These look great on their own so if your children are a bit young for tacs then let their painting be the focal point.
 
If you try this on your next play date, be sure to tag @leframeshoppe on Instagram!