*Update: I just completed the Tutorial for this. Check it out
here.
One of my dear friends gave me a Chalk Mat at my baby shower. Not for the baby, but for the toddler. Perhaps it was that miraculous gift, or perhaps something else that has our son behaving near perfectly every Sunday since. Perfection for me at this point would be not talking loudly and not starting his own prayer every time we tell him "It's time for prayer, fold your arms". But what can I say, the moments we haul him out to the foyer are few and far between lately.
No matter his behaviour, he loves this new toy! If it was the Chalk Mat though I hope that my sister-in-law is enjoying it's magical abilities. I managed to sneak one of them into the Christmas package for her son!
Most of the materials were a kit provided by my friend but I chose to use laminated cotton instead of cotton. The laminated cotton means the chalk dust can easily be wiped off the entire thing, and the damp sponge doesn't soak through to the inside. It looks fabulous too! It's also super easy to sew. I'll tell you more about another experience with laminated cotton soon.
Chalk cloth, available on a few online fabric sites, makes it possible to write on this. I wish I'd thought to actually draw on it before taking pictures and sending it off.
My son loves to draw roads, or train tracks to drive his cars around on it.