Our old marker holder has a new admirer.
I have many, many photos like this -- of Daphne grinning ear to ear while clutching a marker that she has just pulled from the holder.
This is one of the marker holders I made for Maia and her toddler art group buddies about three years ago. Ours has gotten so much use and still works great! The holder is supposed to prevent markers from drying out as much, mostly by providing an easy way for toddlers to put them back in the lids. They do eventually dry out though, and when they do, I just buy a new box of markers and put the new markers into the old lids.
The directions for making the marker holder are in MaryAnn Kohl's First Art. The marker caps are held in place by plaster of paris and she suggests using an old metal loaf pan or something similar for the base. I think one of those decorative tins (you know, the kind that people use for giving cookies and fudge in during the holidays) would be perfect -- attractive, but also sturdy.
Our bowl has been fine except that it can be a bit tippy sometimes when putting a marker back. It hasn't stopped us from using and loving the marker holder, though.
It's been lugged from table to table, easel to floor, and kitchen to studio during the past three years. And it looks like it'll make the rounds again over the next three years...
By the way, if you didn't want to make your own marker holder, I noticed that Discount School Supply now sells a wooden marker stand that works much the same way.
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Note: I am a Discount School Supply affiliate and some links in this post may be affiliate links. If you follow an affiliate link and place a purchase, I will receive a small percentage of the sales price from Discount School Supply and will send you virtual hugs.
