HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

 

We had fun this past week making Valentine heart crayons  for my daughter’s classmates. It happens to be 8 little girls so making them into a necklace was perfect for them. Glitter, jewels, glue, buttons, hearts….oh the fun of being an artist! I didn’t get a picture of the heart molds, but we melted round ones too. I have a little more time these days being 6 months pregnant and on modified bed rest…..my daughter is loving it! Painting is keeping me sane! Enjoy Valentine’s and I hope you get lots of hugs and kisses today!!!

Here is a link on how to melt the crayons. We baked them at 300 degrees for 7-8 minutes instead of 150 for 15-20. I took them out right when I saw the last one melting so that the colors didn’t get so melted they became brown mush! Let them cool 5 minutes or until a toothpick can stand alone in it to make the holes. Also, if you use a silicone tray make sure it is meant for the oven and not as an ice tray!!!

I Wish My Elves were REAL!

 

Now, I am NO Martha Stewart….but I had a serious compulsion to create these little elves when I saw them in the December issue! My 4 year old daughter and I started them on Thanksgiving day and let’s just say it is not a one day project! The mittens, shoes and hats are all hand-sewn and little faces painted. MUCH more tedious than I had anticipated, BUT DAMN THEY ARE CUTE! I just wish they were real because as you will see in the above posts….I was very busy for the holidays!!!

HAPPY CREATING!

Happy Birthday USA

ENJOY THE DAY!

My 3.5 year old had a great time cutting out stripes and punching out ‘stars’ for her Fourth of July Flag…..very INDEPENDENT!!!  We use a small cup of watery glue with a paint brush! It’s great fun to ‘paint’ glue you know!

There are a just few sites that I am addicted to….. if only there were 4 more hours in each day!  Enjoy these  fantastic resources for loads of summer fun.

THE CRAFTY CROW….amazing links to all sorts of cool sites!

THE ARTFUL PARENT….always inspirational for things to do!

MAKE AND TAKES….an elementary educator turned crafty mom!

ART PROJECTS FOR KIDS….a step up for those who want art projects.

Please share if you have found or have a great site for child’s play!

My Little Artist

 

Riley LOVES to paint. What 3 year old doesn’t ? We needed something above her bed so what better than her own artwork! I love her ‘people’ you can see the stages of development here and to see her create these little guys makes me beam with excitement. I preach process not product, I know, so all I did was encourage a person and then she could paint whatever else she wanted….just not over the person!!! She is so proud of her canvas. I think it is so important to display their creations and give specific, genuine praise. Acrylic on canvas with a three year old….great art fun.

Thank You Cards

This is a great idea for thank you notes from children. I don't know about you, but I have crayons in my purse along with little bits of paper. When we are waiting any length of time at the doctor or out to eat Riley makes a little artwork.

These were made with crayon and then a new favorite medium....watercolor crayons! I found them at Michael's Craft Store. They are SOOOO COOL! Use them like a crayon and then dip a brush in water to spread the color around or soak pieces in water and smear them on for bold color!

Great fun for your little artist.

Pair a set of watercolor crayons with a blank note card set for a great gift!

Crayon Texture Rubbings

Crayon Texture Rubbings
Texture is one of the six elements of art.

Take a nature walk and have your child look for areas that would make good texture rubbings. Riley thought that the middle of the sidewalk looked just fine about 50 times! She thought it was so cool to be 'making artwork' on our walk. Crayons without paper are best so that they can be rubbed on the side. Older children can find letters and see what words they can spell. Younger children can identify letters and just think it is so neat that they ‘appear’ on their paper!
So go enjoy a fall walk outside and make some art.

BE CREATIVE & HAVE FUN!

Watercolor Fun With Salt!

Watercolor painting is great fun for children. We use washable watercolors and watercolor paper from the art and craft store.

These could be amazing holiday gifts when framed for grandparents!

Remember it is about the process, not product for young children. The watercolor tray will quickly look muddy brown or close to black and the water cup will be almost as much fun as painting! Be ready for fingers and hands to be painted or squished into the paint...allow the exploration. For added tactile fun allow children to shake salt onto the wet color and watch what happens. My daughter couldn't wait on the salt to work its magic, she smeared it right away. As long as it's fun, right?

Get creative, cut away sections that are really neat and frame them for your home or as gifts. Also, use sections for making cards.....endless possibilities.

Be Creative....Have Fun!

Art Project Bags

Here is an idea for you. If you are tired of giving plastic toys as gifts, get creative. Bag everything needed for an art activity and as my daughter says, "da ya" you have an original creative present. Also, quite possibly the most important thing you are giving the child is quality time spent with a loved one!

Bags shown here include projects previously posted.

(Business investors feel free to contact me for further discussion!!) :)

Crayon on Sandpaper Art

Crayons really do have so many interesting possibilities. Introducing something like coloring on sandpaper gives children a new and exciting texture to explore. Just when they thought crayons were BORING....a cool new project is theirs to experience!

Options for this project.

1. Color designs on sandpaper with crayons. For younger children the process will be the fun, no need to expect a masterpiece.

2. After designs are complete and sandpaper is full of wax, transfer it to paper. Lay sandpaper design facing up on newsprint. Place drawing paper on top. Cover with newsprint. Iron on LOW setting. Check transfer progress carefully and stop when crayon has melted .

3. OR....Place sandpaper full of crayon drawing facing up in the oven at 225 degrees for 30 seconds.

Please use caution with children and keep hot wax out of reach until it cools!!!

BE CREATIVE...HAVE FUN!

Sand Art For Pre-Schoolers

Color the sand.

Squeeze on the glue...LOTS OF GLUE!

Shake on the sand.

Squish it in your fingers....MAKE A MESS!

Clean up with water play!

Sand Art for Children
It is all about the PROCESS not the PRODUCT.
Materials: dry play sand in baggies, food coloring, white glue, cardboard, towels
Process: Squeeze food coloring into bag of sand, SEAL BAG WELL, shake- shake- shake. Mix colors and allow for color exploration. Allow child to squeeze glue all over cardboard. Younger children will pool glue and love just squeezing it out without any intention for a "picture".
Big fun. (Stock up now while glue is only .22 cents for back to school.)
Older children can draw simple outlines with the glue to create a picture.
We snipped the corner of the bag and shook out the sand. (A shaker bottle would be great like an old Parmesan cheese container!) Allow children to MAKE A MESS. The manipulation of the glue and sand together is great tactile exploration. Shake off excess sand and enjoy an original abstract sand art creation! Clean up is always fun too!
(Food coloring may stain hands for a day or so.)

Be Creative! Have Fun!

Magic Marbleizing: Fun ART with Children!

This is such a fun project. Don't be afraid of making a mess just try it and you will be amazed how cool it is!

Smooth out about 1 inch of shaving cream onto a flat surface.
Drop food coloring or liquid watercolor onto shaving cream.
Use a toothpick to swirl the color into fun designs.
Press paper lightly onto the shaving cream and pull up.
Scrap excess off with a spatula. Use the same shaving cream for several rounds. The shaving cream acts as a medium to hold the color until you print it. The options are endless! Make cards, abstract art, or just have fun seeing the one of a kind designs that appear. Kids will love the process so let them loose and have fun. Riley's favorite part is squirting the bottle and swirling the colors.
(Warning...fingers may stain for a day or so...it is all worth it though!)
BE CREATIVE.....HAVE FUN!

Art for Kids

Here are some great projects you can try with your little ones. Remember it is all about the PROCESS…not the product with young children. Think of it as “playing with art materials” and relinquish all expectations as you know them! HAVE FUN!!!

• Thank You Cards
• Crayon Texture Rubbings
• Watercolor Fun With Salt
• Art Project Bags
• Crayon on Sandpaper Art
• Sand Art for Preschoolers
• Magic Marbleizing: Fun Art With Children

Below are great resources to browse through on the topic of ART FOR KIDS:

• Drawing Development in Children (Every parent should recognize the stages their child will go through in their creative cognitive development.)  I love this chart. It is a great summary of the creative development in kids. Viktor Lowenfeld and Betty Edwards are go to gurus in the art education world.
• ART PROJECTS FOR KIDS (…amazing resource for projects of all ages!!!)
• The Artful Parent (interesting links and ideas all in one place)
• A must read interview from Julie Liddle , ''Another crucial piece of the ART IN HAND program, is helping to educate parents so that THEY understand all this talk about “process vs. product” and what it means to do art that is developmentally appropriate for young children. I really enjoy bringing this kind of mindful, creative approach to parents, opening them up to truly “hearing” what their child has to say, both verbally and nonverbally through their art.”
• Ten Cardinal Rules for Teaching Children Creative Art from Susan Striker    I love her Anti-Coloring Book line for children. They are fantastic gifts! Also, read the parent resource page for great reminders.
• Preschool Arts and Crafts Activities from education.com with activities and lessons categorized by grade.
• A great resource for art materials Discount School Supplies also has a community arts and craft section for cool ideas.