Cats, mice, cops and robbers crafting

cat and mouse acorn craft

Sunday was a quintessential overcast, rainy autumn day. Perfect for a bit more crafting inspired by Pinterest.

cardboard maze acorn craft

To start, we created cardboard mazes, inspired by this pin. Lots of snipping and sticking. We used the lids from shoe boxes, cardboard from recycling bin and lots and lots of sellotape.

handful of painted acorn craft 2

Next came the acorns. Inspired by this pin and this Totoro pin. BL decided that instead of one acorn, she wanted two: a cat and a mouse. TF decided on cops and robbers. Acorns were painted to match.

cat and mouse acorn cardboard maze craft

Their idea was to race the mouse or robber from one side of the maze to the other. If the cat or policeman caught up, then the game was lost.

cat acorn and mouse in cardboard maze

If the mouse or robber made it through, then the game was won. Simple but fun.

cat and mouse acorn cardboard maze craft 2

Making the maze was fun. I helped them, but they each knew how they wanted the mazes to look. At one stage I wasn’t sure my roll of sellotape would last. It did. There was a lot of little bits of cardboard under the table and chairs by the end. Always a sign of a happy creative time.

robber acorn entering cardboard maze craft

It’s funny to listen to their running commentary as they tilt the box lid up and down to move the mouse or robber. Little stories are created each time the game starts.

cops and robbers acorn cardboard maze

In each story the mouse is cheered on. A few times, the mouse has eaten the cat. I notice that the cop and robber take it in turns to be the lead character.

I suspect that these are toys that they will come back to time after time. Picking up and playing with them in an odd few minutes. They had fun making them and love playing with them. (It also encourages them to think strategically and is an exercise in coordination.)

handful of painted acorn craft

Another perfect rainy day activity for the children.

Linking up with LetKidsBeKids A sentiment close to my heart.

12 comments

  1. That looks amazing!!
    I love those acorns. We decorated acorns the other week, but yours are soooo much better. Love the themes.
    Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids

    1. Crafting with the children never ever ends up as I imagine. They add so much of their own ideas. Had no idea that we would end up with the themes they went for. Or even that there would be a theme. 😀

  2. oh my goodness! this is the best post ever!! you guys are just so clever! i love this idea! we love cardboard crafting over here… i can promise you this will happen at our house at some time this winter!
    thank you for the inspiration!!

    1. Oh melissa, thank you. Can’t take all the credit, as inspirations are from Pinterest. Really love it that the children have reached the ages where they can do these things and its more about their creativity.

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