Shannon from Hatch is back with a wonderful, open-ended art invitation for kids: stacked cardboard sculptures! Also known as threaded sculptures. Aren’t these FABULOUS? What I love most about Shannon’s idea is that it can even be done with toddlers. It’s very process-art oriented and works those small motor and hand-eye skills. Here is Shannon…
Cupcake Liner Flowers Easy Art Station
During my weekly art classes, I always set up one main project and then one art station. An art station is a table where early finishers can work independently. It’s usually something very open-ended and simple so that they don’t need any help or guidance. These cupcake liner flowers make a wonderful, easy art station…
Clay 101: Clay Exploration with Young Children
There are six art forms that I strive to introduce my art students to while they are in my classes: drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, construction, and clay. Of all these six, I think children get the most excited about clay. Their response is so visceral, they instinctively jump and clap with joy! Clay exploration with young…
Embroidery and Stitching with Kids
Have you ever wanted to try embroidery and stitching with your kids? I have! I’ve always been drawn to textiles. In art school I was passionate about fabric design, and in my 20s I used to make children’s clothing and sell them to Barneys in NYC. With my passion for fabrics and yarns, it’s actually…
24 Homemade Valentines
I’m so excited to share these 24 AMAZING ideas for homemade Valentines cards. Make them with your kids, or just by yourself. Making cards is such a wonderful family tradition in our home, and one that is fairly easy to keep up. All you really need is a bunch of art supplies on a big table…
Plastic Jar Lanterns with Kids
My dear friend runs a coffee shop, so I asked her if she had any big containers I could recycle into something cool for my art class. When she dropped off some giant mayonnaise jars, my mind immediately thought LANTERNS! After a little soaking and slicing, the base for these plastic jar lanterns were ready…
My Resolutions This Year Printable
Every year I write my resolutions for the year on this printable. I vary between easy resolutions, and more challenging ones. (You could even just leave just the words…they are resolutions enough!) My resolutions are usually about getting organized and carving out time for family. I love a new year. All fresh – not feeling behind…
Giant Cardboard Gingerbread with Homemade Puffy Paint Piping
I came across Heather Klausa’s Instagram @MAKEartStudios after she made these amazing giant cardboard gingerbread people using homemade puffy paint piping. I asked her if she would maybe want to write about them and share her process on my blog, and she said YES!! I’m feeling so lucky. Thank you, Heather, for indulging me! Read…
Drawing with Kids: Oranges on the Table
My friend Samara from Purple Twig in L.A. always has the best ideas for drawing with kids. When I saw these still-life orange paintings on her Instagram feed, I knew that I needed to know more! I just love that she used a piece of fabric for the table, and how she had the children…
Art Prompts Advent Calendar Printable
About a year ago I sent a survey to all of my followers asking them what kinds of things they might want to see me write about or produce on my blog. Several followers asked for an Art Prompts Advent Calendar Printable. I wasn’t sure exactly what that meant or what it might look like,…
