I discovered artist Mano Kellner on Pinterest and was immediately drawn to her “art boxes”. They are very curious, quite charming, and even a bit mystical. I was so inspired by this one that I immediately started to plan how I could make something similar with my art students. I decided on making dioramas using the…
Washer Necklaces
Today I want to share with you a very simple and insanely cool way to make these beautiful washer necklaces with your kids. Can you believe these are just ordinary washers from the hardware store? I think they look like something you would find at Anthropologie! My daughter made these all by herself (age 10), and…
Mixed-Media Wooden Structures
I remember the day my art students made these mixed-media wooden structures two summers ago. My husband came home from work and saw them all on the table (reference the last photo in this post) and said, “Are these Game of Thrones inspired?” and I was like WAIT A MINUTE!!! No, but now that you…
“Face the Foliage” Inspired Flower Portraits with Kids
Do you all know Justina Blakeney? She’s a designer and artist who lives in New York and I just LOVE her style! I can’t get enough of her patterns and colors and everything that she creates. She has several IG accounts. Her most famous is @TheJungalow. But today I want to share with you her…
Arts and Crafts Birthday Party for Kids | My 20 Best Ideas
Have you been wanting to plan an arts and crafts birthday party for your child, but don’t really know how to organize it and what crafts to choose? Well, let me help you! I have done lots of parties and I thought it was time I share my 20 best ideas with you. Plus my…
Cardboard Cupcakes inspired by Wayne Thiebauld
If you are thinking to yourself, does Art Bar really have any more cardboard ideas in her? The answer is always YES!! We made these cardboard cupcakes inspired by Wayne Thiebaud a few years ago but I never got around to writing about them until now. We did a smaller version in art class, but…
Paper Plate Flower Masks
I love figuring out ways to use stuff that I already have in my closet. With Springtime in full bloom, these paper plate flower masks are the perfect idea. We’ve made things with paper plates before, like these party hats and these washi-tape trays. Paper plates are a hidden secret for art teachers. If I…
Giant Recycled Egg Carton Village | A Process Art Collaboration
A few weeks ago in my Spring Break art camp, I created this giant recycled egg carton village by gluing almost 50 egg cartons into a huge box. My art students loved this process art collaboration because there were no rules (other than don’t splatter paint on people) and they could really use their imaginations…
Earth Day Signs with Repurposed Materials
It’s almost Earth Day! We made these Earth Day signs with repurposed materials just in the nick of time. I’m hoping my art students will do a little march around their neighborhood on Monday 🙂 I save many of our old clothes that have ripped or are just worn out and I cut them up into…
Beaded Wire Maze Sculptures
Bending wire is one of those things that all kids love, so I’m always trying to think of new ways to work with this versatile and pliable material. The inspiration for these beaded wire maze sculptures were really twofold… Our first inspiration was Alexander Calder, and all his work with wire, especially his circus series….
