Create postcard-sized Mixed Media paintings, get inspired by the seasons, have an epic, two day Collage Craft Party like we did or collect your children’s mini creations throughout the year to make a calendar! This is my absolute favorite, toddler approved project to experiment with first layering techniques and Mixed Media! Materials Sharpies Oil pastels…
Liquid Watercolors
Thanksgiving Canvas Banner
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. – William Arthur Ward For Thanksgiving we focused on themes of sharing and caring, community and compassion for each other. We practiced saying ‘thank you’, discussed how we can make each other feel good and tried to remember who helped us…
Autumn Shadow Boxes
Collecting and creating art with pieces of nature encourages us to observe the changing seasons and engages our senses. During nature walks the children like to collect leaves, pinecones, sticks and small rocks etc. We talk about the different colors, shapes and textures: “Some of the pinecones are spiky!”, “The wood is so soft!” etc. …
Leaf Banners
After observing and talking about the changes outside in nature and reading various books about autumn, the children started to notice how many different leaves there are and wondered more about leaf veins and why leaves fall off the trees. Their thoughts and questions about autumn are constantly present while playing and creating. Through art projects…
Tape Resist Painting
Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. – Hans Christian Andersen Tape-resist is a simple and fun process art technique for young children. You can create any design, make open-ended abstract masterpieces or explore and create spring flowers like we did. Materials: Watercolor Paper Painter’s Tape Liquid watercolors Thick…
Mountain Styrofoam Prints
Nature is one of the most underutilized treasures in life. It has the power to unburden hearts and reconnect to that inner place of peace. – Janice Anderson Printmaking is always fun with any age group. As older children grow increasingly critical of their drawing abilities they sometimes get frustrated and often end up reluctant…
Spring Shadow Boxes
We love making Shadow Boxes! They create the perfect depth and backdrop to capture any little keepsakes and lend themselves perfectly to display miniature scenes, three dimensional artwork and other found treasures! You can hang them on the wall or place them on a shelf and they’ll always look neat and finished! Inspired by the various…
Mother’s Day Banner
Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible. – Marion C. Garretty Ever since seeing Meri Cherry’s lovely Mother’s Day Banners (head over to her website for a full list of materials and instructions) I wanted to give them a try myself, adjusting them slightly to suit a younger…
Magical Fairy Potions
Do your children love playing with water and anything else that involves pouring, scooping, dripping and stirring? Making ‘fairy potions’ provides some great sensory and fine motor opportunities. When stirring their concoctions children get to squeeze, pour, scoop, smell and explore properties like texture, flexibility and fluidity. Plus, it’s a perfect opportunity to welcome spring,…
Earth Day: Litterbug Banner
The child is not a citizen of the future; he is a citizen from the very first moment of life and also the most important citizen because he represents and brings the ‘possible’ […], a bearer, here and now of rights, of values, of culture. It is our historical responsibility not only to affirm this…