Take the tape outside
3 April 12
Sticky-tape is such a great craft resource for children — more so if we let them take it outside to use on projects that incorporate natural materials. This idea wasn’t mine, it came from our daughters while they were playing in a garden.

Then Aisha thinks to ask if they can use their sticky-tape outside. Of course! What a great idea!

Aisha’s boat needs more construction oomph than sticky-tape, so the project is abandoned. Brioni, however, has her imagination ignited by the flowers and combines them with a soft toy.


Whenever I buy sticky-tape, I always buy great quantities so I don’t feel like I need to moderate the girls’ use of it. This was a lesson I learned last year with matches, and letting go of little things like monitoring how much sticky-tape is being used is incredibly freeing!
1 · Kylie · 3 April 2012, 21:28
Couldn’t agree more Lauren. I always have an over abundance of stationery, that way we never run out of anything and I’m not scrambling trying to find items that I need that may have possibly been used up during play.
2 · Georgia · 3 April 2012, 22:02
Hi! I am so happy I found your blog. It’s beautiful and I am enjoying reading back entries on my phone (though it is difficult to comment there, I apologise). I am totally inspired by your freeness. We used to live in a bus and I am feeling that gypsy-ache again so I am enjoying all your posts to satiate that for the time being. My husband said he saw you in real life on the train at fortitude valley. he said he was going to scream out SPARKING ADVENTURE but thought it was best not to given it might have freaked you out and also, he works at the station and it might have got him in trouble! anyway, I wanted to leave you a note and say how much I love your blog and I hope we get to meet in real life <3
3 · Jade · 6 April 2012, 00:59
I am such a sticky-tape controller! Honestly, I’m the worst! Letting my kids cut off exactly however many 2-inch-long strips they actually require and then putting it away. It has taken this post for me to realise the obvious – that it’s something that costs nothing, we probably have 16 rolls in the kitchen drawer, and when we run out we can…just get more. A simple yet classic insight from you once again :)
4 · Manou · 11 April 2012, 13:28
Good idea,Lauren.Sticky tape is quite dispensible!