The Embarrassing LunchBox: I Spy Bottles

My kids just had Christmas with an influx of new and awesome toys. Toys that light up, make noise, and completely entertain. So when I decided to make "I Spy" bottles for my girls I wasn't expecting to get a big reaction. Boy was I wrong!!! Our girls were SO EXCITED and it completely entertained our 2 and 4 year olds. I actually made these for a car trip we will be taking, but they worked really well this weekend while we are cooped up due to dangerously cold weather.

Do you have everything you need? Here is the list:

Uncooked Rice (I bet popcorn kernels would work)
Empty Bottle
Hot Glue (this could be done another time if you are planning on watching the kids with them)
Trinkets (anything you find around the house that fits in your bottle)
Camera and Printer
Contact Paper and Dry-erase Marker (if you are wanting to make your project dry-erase friendly)

Here is what I found around the house. The doggy and butterfly buttons I purchased for 50% off at Hobby Lobby. I cut a piece of ribbon, found a couple of bugs in leftover Halloween stuff, grabbed a Penny, Gem, beads, candle, mini closepin, mini crayon, and marbles.

I found that layering rice and trinkets in your bottle works the best. If you wait to put your trinkets in after your rice it's a little hard to shake down to hide them. I did about three layers in my second bottle: rice, trinkets, rice, trinkets, rice, trinkets. Filling the bottle about 3/4 full. (Leave room so your rice can move freely when you shake it) I then hot glued the lids shut (I am never good at this. . . but I think they are shut pretty good!)

I took the above picture of my trinkets and printed it out. I glued it to some cardstock to make it more kid-proof. I wanted the girls to be able to cross off what they found so I covered the pictures in contact paper. Now when the girls are finished they can wipe them clean and start over!

Here are the finished products! If you make more than one bottle be sure to label the bottles and the backs of the corresponding cards! My bottles/contents were very similar so this was especially important for me!