Today grandma came over with that look – you know, the one where she’s bored stiff watching daytime TV again. So I grabbed my idea notebook and went “alright Nan, we’re getting crafty!” Needed stuff both easy on her hands and actually fun for us.
The Great Cardboard Box Transformation
First up, raided the recycling bin. Dragged out this massive cardboard box destined for the dump. Grandma raised an eyebrow. “What on earth…?” I just grinned, dumped acrylic paints on the kitchen table, and yelled “We’re making a dang playhouse!”
Grandma got right into it. Snatched the biggest paintbrush:
- Splashed pink paint everywhere for the walls (messy but hilarious).
- Cut wonky windows using safety scissors – wonky is charming, right?
- Taped old fabric scraps inside for “curtains” (looked more like ghosts).
- Drew flower doodles all over the roof with her shaky hand.
Our masterpiece looked like a drunk gingerbread house after a storm, but man, she laughed harder than I’d seen in ages. Cat promptly claimed it.
Memory Jar Scavenger Hunt
Later, I remembered her complaining about forgetting small joys. Went to the pantry, grabbed an empty pickle jar – “Found our memory jar!” Grandma chuckled, smelling faintly of vinegar.
Then came the fun part:
- Tossed photos of her garden, old holiday spots, even grandkids into the jar.
- Scribbled tiny notes with things like “Scones & Jam, Tuesday” or “Best Sunflower 2003”.
- Made up silly clues leading to spots around the house: “Where does tea go cold?” (Her favorite chair!).
Watching her hunt, squinting at clues, finding a pic of her long-gone dog… that tight hug said more than words.
Kitchen Chaos Cookies
Finally, baking – but the lazy way. Pre-made cookie dough, chucked in chocolate chips and crushed pretzels. Grandma snuck in extra sprinkles when I wasn’t looking.
The real magic?
- She shaped cookies into lumpy hearts and uneven stars (“Abstract!” she declared).
- We laughed at burnt edges (“Extra crunch!”).
- Shared them outside with weak tea, feeding crumbs to sparrows.
Best part wasn’t the crafts. It was her eyes lighting up messy and proud. Simple junk. Real memories. Done is better than perfect. Try anything that makes you both laugh.