Its a Hero

How To Totally Ruin Pinterest Crafts in 4 Simple Steps //

by 45 Comments

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Let me quickly set the stage — Ari wants to do a Fourth of July craft and I want to oblige. I mean, I’m a crafty mom, right? I do a quick pinterest search, locate a ‘firework’ paint craft, and gather our supplies. Easy peasey!

Or, it should have been. But guys — here’s the truth behind all of those cute, messy, Summer crafts — your children? They aren’t cute; they aren’t easy; but they are messy. And your toddler? They won’t care. Not even a little bit.

So I’m sharing with you what I learned the hard way. How to totally ruin messy Summer crafts in 4 simple steps.

Step 1. Take that easy Pinterest tutorial and expect your toddler to listen (and follow) simple instructions.

Step 2. Set out the supplies, including the paint, and turn your back for approximately 5 seconds. (There’s a 99% chance your toddler has just stuck their hand in the paint)

Step 3. Verbally guide your child through the instructions, letting them get creative and messy. (They will get messy because they’ve decided to just paint the table).

Step 4. Grab your Viva Paper Towels and Clorox spray so that you can clean the mess (Toddler is now painting a tree. No, not painting a tree on the paper; like, literally painting the tree….)

There may have been tears and voices raised. But now I realize it’s kinda funny. I know it is. And after my four year old and I cleaned up the mess, together, with our Viva towels and Clorox spray, I laughed. I mean, what else could I do!? I couldn’t actually be mad. He was doing what he was supposed to do — being a kid + getting messy.

And, luckily, I have saved a ton of money on the Viva towels and Clorox spray when I partner the low prices at Walmart with the Ibotta app rebate savings! So it’s definitely a double-savings win.

This time I took the kids with me to Walmart, but lately I’ve been using their convenient grocery pickup — which saves me both money AND time (which, let’s face it — is the most important thing for a busy mom!).

At the end of the day, I have a happy kid, a (sorta) craft, and a freshly-cleaned table. What else can a mom ask for!? (hint: more sleep).

So tell me — what’s your biggest “Pinterest fail” and how did you clean it up!? 

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Trish

    Love this! There’s so many projects I could do with my youngest boy, but I know that there will be more of a mess than anything.. lol So usually I just pass on them all and he just sticks to making slime.. Which is pretty messy as well, but he has learned to clean his mess up or mom wont let him make it again. lol 🙂

    Reply

  3. Cassie

    My biggest Pinterest fail was this craft project where you dip glasses into water with nail polish in it. It’s supposed to come out looking all mosaic and pretty with the nail polish color. Instead, it got all goopy or totally didn’t work. And, if the nail polish got on the inside of the cup, it was instantly no longer safe to use. #Fail

    Reply

  5. Clair

    Haha! Loved this! So very true…better embrace the use of the Clorox and Viva paper towels when the idea of paint, craft and small child are all said together ?

    Reply

  6. Virjinia Harp

    This is too funny. Although I’m willing to bet that he enjoyed himself and doesn’t mind that it didn’t come out like Pintrest said it should. Also, thank goodness for Clorox and Viva!

    Reply

  9. Kecia

    I think crafting outside is a great idea! My kids like to really get into their crafts – which can mean a mess for Mom to clean up afterward.

    Reply

  19. Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen

    Crafts can be so much fun, but it does seem like there’s always a bit of a mess to clean up! LOL! We manage to make big messes out of the smallest of projects.

    Reply

  25. Jen

    This is too funny!! I love the in the end, he’s holding up his craft with pride. That’s really all the matters, right?! This was such a fun read. Thanks for sharing this!

    Reply

  33. Maria Brittis

    Those kids of yours are precious, love the expression of your daughter holding the viva…Priceless!
    I have not tried the grocery pick up, I wonder if its at my Walmart. Love those rebates!
    Maria

    Reply

  41. Kristen

    I always fail at letting them just do what they are gonna do when making a craft. I am a perfectionist so I’m always trying to get them to do it the “right” way. But whatever they make I will love it!

    Reply

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