We want happy paintings. Happy paintings. If you want sad things, watch the news.

Isn't that a happy little tree?

Oh Bob Ross how I miss you, but this little gem of a site really makes me happy. The things Baby Girl will never know - you and your happy little trees and mountains are one of them.  The lack of a potentially stoned hippy painting on PBS is no reason for Baby Girl to not enjoy some painting fun though.  With this in mind, I decided to tackle finger painting with a 5 month old. 

I put quite a bit of thought into this project - more than I normally do which is odd because this is a simpler than normal project for me. I wasn't sure if she was too young to do this but at the same time I thought she would enjoy the texture of paint. This is also a clothless activity and if there is one thing the girl loves it is being naked.  But if we were going to paint it needed to be edible because everything she touches goes in her mouth so do I make paint or do I buy paint.  Then if we did paint what were we painting on and what were we making.

Pinterest you amazing little gem you - you helped answer my questions.  Of course you also gave me too many choices leaving me paralized with indecision.  After more internal debate than really neccessary, I decided to make my own fingerpaint and to create Valentine's Day cards to send to the grandparents. Mistakenly, I had a clear vision for these cards including this and this.  We had limited success executing this vision.  But full of optimism and plans we began our painting adventure.

I used this recipe for paint. While not particularly crafty, I do really love to cook so I have more products to color food than normal. Again, after more debate than needed, I decided to use my Wilton's food coloring 8 pack to tint the paint. These turned out great.  I also decided to use silver metalic flakes to see if I could get glitter paint.  This turned out not so great. I got a light grey color not glitter and for some reason this paint was super runny.  I put each color into a little tupperware container and then still had some left.  The final result looked like this (the weird glitter not glitter paint is the one in the middle):

After making the paint, it was time to set up for the mess to follow. Knowing I would want lots of room, I rolled up the rug in Baby Girl's room and put down a big plastic table cloth down.  Not to fear kiddo has a radar for where not to go and immediately rolled to the edge of the cloth pulled it up and put a big red handprint onto her wood floors.  Thankfully the paint cleaned up really quick and easy leaving no marks. This is a big plus for the homemade paint!

Ready to Roll

After maybe 30 minutes of fun times this is was the result:

Binky redo

Why we used paint made of flour and water - lots made it into the mouth.

 Completed Valentine's Day Cards - full of love and Baby Girl slobber

Completed works of art - they are already in the baby book. I wonder if I should put a rider on our home owner's insurance since clearly they are priceless!

What a 5 month old looks like post finger painting. Thankfully the sink could hold the mess while the bath was ran. 

Quiet contemplation and reflection on the art that had just been created or she had dropped her bink and was looking for it. Can't tell.

The final verdict:

• The paint worked out really well but didn't keep at all. (It grew mold like I didn't know you could grow) I think next time, I'll go for a half batch and maybe try to freeze leftover paint to keep it from going from art class to biology class.
• Clean up was surprisingly easy. I used a bowl of warm water and some baby wash cloths to clean up as we went. The paint washed off of Baby Girl in a warm bath with minimal scrubbing. The wash cloths were stained but that doesn't really matter. The paint washed off the floor and any that got on the table cloth actually peeled off once it dried (not that that mattered since it was plastic).
• This would have worked better if Baby Girl was sitting more with a table/tray to play on. Next time I think I will have to try the tray to her bumbo or find a way to put up to the table.
• Baby Girl did not like mom serving as art director so next round I probably shouldn't have a specific product in mind.  My attempts to get a specific product this time only ended up in anger. 
• I started this way, way, way, way to close to nap time.  This activity takes more time than I anticipated because set up and clean up are so extensive.  I allowed an hour for the whole thing. I should have allowed closer to 2.

One final Bob Ross quote to end on:
"You can do anything you want to do. This is your world."