“Squares & Other Shapes” with DIY Stamps and Craft

“Squares & Other Shapes” by Josef Albers

*this post contains affiliate links

If you are looking for a beautiful little primer for your toddler about shapes then this is an excellent choice.  Josef Albers is a fine artist who is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century and this book includes a brief biography of him at the back.  I love that it is full with samples of his work and are simple enough for children to understand and be enriched.  They are labeled with the shapes that he featured in each work to help children learn their shapes.  Isn’t a wonderful idea to teach children basic concepts through pieces that are a part of our history?

Click here to purchase “Squares & Other Shapes” *affiliate link

DIY Shape Stamps

Supplies for stamps:

• 2″ unfinished wood blocks (12) (Here are some that would work)
• 8X10 sticker foam sheet (8X10)
• diy stamps free printable printed out on cardstock
• pencil
• scissors
• matte Modge Modge (or other adhesive)
• paint brush

Process:

1. Print off the diy stamps free printable and gather supplies
2. Cut out the shapes on the printable
3. Trace the shapes onto the sticker foam.  (The pencil makes a nice indent in the foam so it is easy to cut along)
4. Cut out the shapes on the sticker foam
5. Stick them onto the “bottom” of your wooden cube
6. Using a paint brush and Modge Podge, adhere the corresponding paper shape on the “top” of the wooden cube in the position matching the foam shape on the bottom.  I did a light layer of Modge Podge under the shape and then again on top to seal it.

You can have all kinds of fun with these stamps.  We used them with ink, but they can be just as easily used with paint.  Below I explain the simple craft that we did with them that was inspired by Josef Alber’s artistic style and soon I will be sharing another craft project where we use them.  My little guy likes them so much that I anticipate there will be many more craft projects to come where they are used.

Josef Alber’s inspired Craft

supplies:

• white copy paper (8X10)
• colored paper (8X10)
• DIY shape stamps
• ink pads
• scissors
• gluestick

Process:

1. Fold the copy paper into four sections and cut along your folds.
2. Fold each newly created rectangle in half diagonally and cut along the left-over exposed edge to create a square.
3. Repeat with each of the four rectangles.
4. Using your stamps, stamp some shapes on your four squares in whatever fashion you desire.  Afterwards, glue them onto a colored paper however you would like.

If you give this Beyond the Book activity a try I’d love to hear how it goes! Share it on Instagram using hashtag #beyondthebook (I’m on Instagram as @book.nerd.mommy) or even just comment here with your thoughts. It would make my day! Or to simply save for later pin the image below.