It’s coming up on travel season! Easter, May long weekend, and then summer holidays! Are you ready for taking the kids on long (or short) trips and keeping them entertained along the way? Here’s a super easy art travel kit that will keep the kids happy.
The fine folks at Chalkola have sent us a set of their window markers and we’ve all been having lots of fun with them. They’re easy to use, and they clean up with just a baby wipe (or a damp cloth). The kids want to fill every mirror and window with their artwork now, just like they’ve seen in shop windows.
This had me thinking how we could find more uses for wet wipe markers. I was doing a little spring cleaning and found some plastic take-out boxes (This and other links in this post are/may be affiliate links) in the cupboard. We never throw these away as they are so handy for holding kids’ art supplies and bits and bobs around the house….so why not use them for the markers?
Of course, we didn’t just use the box for storing the markers (they do come in their own box), but rather we made a quick little art travel kit with them.
We divided up the wet wipe markers between two containers and added a little packet of wet wipes into each box. Now the kids were ready to go! They popped the boxes into their backpacks and we set off for a long walk in the countryside and along the sea, thoroughly enjoying the beautiful weather we had last week.
After stopping at a pond to check out some newts, and stopping to smell the gorse (it smells like coconut), we eventually stopped for a little snack and to enjoy the view of Belfast Lough. The fog from the early morning still hadn’t completely lifted, but the lough (lake) was a beautiful site.
The kids then took out their art kits and used the inside of the lids to draw beautiful pictures of what they saw from their vantage point halfway down the cliff.
They had so much fun doing this! They were proud of the pictures they’d drawn, and they wanted to take them home to show Daddy. Because they’d drawn the pictures on the inside of the lids, this was easily done. The pictures stayed put on the journey home. If they’d wanted to make a new picture all they would have had to do is to take out a wet wipe, clear the board, let it dry a couple of minutes and start again.
Think tic-tac-toe, hangman, pictionary….the kids can have hours of fun with such a simple little art kit!
The ease of doing this had me thinking it would be fun to do in the car as well. So the kids tried it out…
The wet window markers worked well on the inside of the car windows! The kids had fun making pictures for Dad. I think this would be a fun idea to do when kids wait in a car with one parent while the other is in the shops. Waiting at times like this are always soooo boring!
Phil thought the pictures were groovy and drove to work the next day with them still on the windows…..although I wouldn’t recommend doing that.
Chalkola also sent along a set of mason jar labels. After all, I deserve a little art fun, too, don’t I? I have been meaning to make some ginger jam, but with the great weather we’ve been out more and I haven’t made it yet. I’ll be using these labels to mark the jam jars when I give them as gifts to friends and neighbours.
In the meantime, I just couldn’t wait so I started to label kitchen jars! How fun! By simply using a wet wipe I’ll be able to change the name of the label with each new batch of cookies we make. I’m eyeing up our stainless steel tea and coffee pots to give them brighter labels, too!
The labels are removable, and they come in a few different patterns in each package. Even doggies will have their treat jar looking cute.
Have you tried out wet wipe markers yet? They’re also known as chalk markers. What interesting ways have you found to be creative with them?
Just a note: these markers are for use on non-porous surfaces only or you may not get them off again. Windows, mirrors, and plastic boxes are just perfect!
Use the code CHALK20A on the 6mm pens and received 20% off your Amazon purchase and use the code CHK20OFF to get 20% off the 15mm markers
Karen W says
I love the travel kit idea. Those markers look marvelous. I haven’t heard of them before. Thanks for sharing over at Littles Learning Link Up.
Crystal McClean says
I’m happy to have introduced them to you! We’ve been having lots of fun drawing on windows, doors, and mirrors, too!
Megan says
That’s a great idea. I love the idea of drawing right on the lid of the box you store the markers in. My boys are still a bit young to be trusted with markers in the back seat, but in a couple of years, I totally want to do this!
Crystal McClean says
Yes, things could get messy! But I’m sure they’d still have fun drawing pictures on the windows at home! It was something I’d never have been allowed to do – even Tempura paint was a no-no, but as long as you keep the kids away from the curtains you’re pretty safe π
Corinne says
I love this idea! We haven’t used chalk markers before but I think my kids are going to love them. So smart to repurpose the wipes boxes in this way.
Crystal McClean says
I’m glad to have shared it with you! I think kids would love to create a ‘menu’ for pretend play with these markers – and they’ll be honing up spelling and fine motor skills at the same time – note to self – give it a try next week!
Have a great weekend!
Mother of 3 says
What an awesome idea; we have some chalk markers and I love this idea of how to use them.
Crystal McClean says
Thanks so much! Light for the kids to carry, and easy to use π Have fun!
Alison Palmer says
These craft boxes are a terrific idea. I will be getting some of these wipeable markers for the grandkids!
Crystal McClean says
Fantastic, have a ball with them π
Michelle Marine says
What fun! We’re on a road trip right now and I wish I had some of those window markers for my kids. π
Crystal McClean says
You’ll be sorted with a new idea for the next trip π
Have a fantastic time…now get off the internet and have some fun!!
swapna says
So cute!! I took some crayons for our road trip and it was an epic fail, cuz he couldn’t even draw a straight line in the moving car!
Crystal McClean says
Oh dear, I’m sure that didn’t go over well.
I wonder if it was made into a game of who could make the funniest picture while driving on a pot-hole-filled road might work? Or an art lesson in impressionism?
Do you have any tips on how (successfully) keep kids busy while travelling?