Sparkle Craft: Felt Storytelling Board
In the Martin & Sylvia: Saturdays! story, “When Pigs Fly”, Sylvia is a little upset when she hears others retelling her tales of beloved Explorer Pig. We all know how that feels, having your ideas or words used in a different way or when you least expect it. Mrs. Brown helps Sylvia see that retelling and sharing is just a weird thing that happens with stories sometimes.
Little ones have a lot of stories to tell! Make a felt board to support their storytelling, giving them a chance to bring their stories to life as they tell stories they’ve imagined or retell stories they’ve heard.
You Will Need
Two Sheets of Cardboard (about 9 inches by 12 inches each)
Exacto Knife
Cutting Board
Variety of Felt Scraps
Scissors
Rubber Cement
Googly Eyes (optional)
Sharpie (optional)
What To Do
Start by creating your standing felt board. You’ll need two thick and rigid sheets of cardboard. Leave one full size. With the second, cut two rectangles along the length of the cardboard sheet. Each rectangle needs to be 12 inches by about 3 inches.
About a third of the way from the end of the rectangle, cut a slit about ⅔ of the way down the rectangle and at a slight angle. The slit needs to be a touch wider than the cardboard itself.
With rubber cement, attach a felt background to one side of the full size sheet of cardboard.
With your scissors and leftover felt scraps, cut out characters and props for telling a story. Choose a story that your little one enjoys retelling or ask them what characters or props they would like.
Use googly eyes and a sharpie to add faces or other details to the characters and props as desired.
Insert your felt board into the stand.
Invite your little one over to tell a story!
Explore More & Make Connections
Does your little one want to record the stories they share at the felt board? How might you do that? What tools could you use?
About the Authors
Andrea Folsom
Andrea Folsom describes herself as a writer, editor, creative maker, and eternal optimist. She is passionate about learning and sharing new creative techniques, making beautiful spaces, and talking about the social-emotional benefits of creativity and art. She runs Crafting Connections - a website providing inspiration, practical advice, and projects for creative families - with her close friend Danielle Reiner.
Danielle Reiner
Danielle Reiner describes herself as a creative, a maker, and a mama. At the heart of her story is creativity, though that hasn’t always been the case. She rediscovered her deeply hidden creativity early in adulthood – with a ball of yarn and a couple of knitting needles – and hasn't stopped since. Danielle also runs Crafting Connections - a website providing inspiration, practical advice, and projects for creative families - with her close friend Andrea Folsom.
