When I first started collecting supplies like a mallet, a nail, wood and tin plates, Ken wasn’t too stoked about the tiny person taking part in our first crafting adventure involving actual tools.

I totally admit that the whole concept of a 35-month-old and a mallet was mildly daunting. But, she digs tools and I really wanted to test drive the pretty, old skool process of tin punching. So, we were off to the front porch to see if I would regret it all.

We set up the old wood board at tiny person height, drew our flower and went to town on the punching. The kiddo was TOTALLY into it, and did SO much better in the missing-my-fingers department than I suspected.

There in the bottom of a tin pie pan was my vindication. I was only mostly nuts.

Actually, there in the bottom of the tin pie pan was a very cool piece of art that got our daughter working on fine motor skills and was SOOOOO not messy – all major bonuses when I go planning future crafting adventures.

So, if you have a tool-loving preschooler or older kiddos who tend toward the tool shed, this project originally taken from Barbara Greenwood’s A Pioneer Story is a fun way to spend an afternoon in the shade and learn a little bit about folk art in the process. Plus, they make great sun catchers for a window in need of a little spicing up.

Here’s what you need:

- Disposable tin pie plates,

- A large, flathead nail,

- A mallet or small hammer,

- A large, flat board to do your punching on (it will leave marks on the wood),

- Paper,

- A marker,

- Tape, and

- String

Directions:

1. Collect your gear and set up the board at kiddo height.

2. Take the paper and pen and draw your design. Make sure it fits in the space inside your pie tin. Tape it down and get ready for punching.

3. Place the nail at one spot on your design. Hit the nail with your mallet or hammer a few times. Parents can hold the nail while kiddos punch. Move the nail around the design and repeat the hammering until the design is complete.

4. Punch two holes at the top of the plate and slide your string through, knotting it at the top. Hang and enjoy!