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…
Open-ended Crafts for Kids
Turkey Craft from Cardboard
When my 6-year old art student asked me if I could come to her birthday party and make art with her friends, I practically screamed YES! I love doing Art Bar Parties because it’s very different than a class in that the birthday child really feels like he or she is the leader, and takes…
Collagraph Printmaking with Kids using Wooden Blocks
Jennifer from Small Hands Big Art is back! She is sharing this GORGEOUS collagraph printmaking project that she did with her students. They used big wooden blocks and designed these absolutely stunning quilts using warm and cool colors. Can we just call Jennifer the queen of color, please? Let’s find out how she made this…
Sand Art Bottles with DIY Dyed Sand from the Beach
You guys, these sand art bottles are completely cost-free! I dyed sand from the beach and the bottles are recycled. My art campers made these last summer and I’ve been dying (lol) to share them with you! These would make a gorgeous vacation keepsake. In fact, these were so successful that I briefly thought about packing…
Patterned Cardboard Animals with Templates
By now you all know that I am a lover of cardboard (as professed in my latest book, Cardboard Creations), and am always thinking of new ways to re-use my collection of recycled boxes. These patterned cardboard animals were really fun to make both for me and my kids! They sit on our mantle currently…
Spin Art For Your Walls
Every summer we make spin art in Art Bar Camp. It’s actually a wonderful first day project to loosen the kids up, get them chatting with their new friends, and build teamwork but sharing paints and helping each other. Once dried, these petite little paintings can all be hung up together to make a gorgeous…
Layered Abstract Paintings with Kids
I am thrilled today to introduce you to a new contributor to Art Bar. Please welcome Jennifer Bryant from small hands big art in Charlotte, North Carolina!!! I have been stalking wooing Jennifer for many many months because I simply am in awe of everything she does with the multi-age kids in her art studio….
40 Summer Art Ideas for Kids
I’m so happy to present you with this amazing list of 40 Summer Art Ideas for Kids! It hit me as I was scrolling through my Art Bar Pinterest page that I have accumulated quite a big bunch of summer art projects through all of my camps. I thought of writing another ebook, but then…
Cupcake Liner Wreaths
There is not a sweeter art activity than these cupcake liner wreaths for Spring. Great for honing skills such as beading and pom-pom making (fine motor), sorting and patterning (mathematics), and design. These can also just as easily become crowns (see below) or mobiles. Fact is, cupcake liners are one of my fave materials ever!…
Mother’s Day Portraits: “Queen Mom”
One of my favorite seasonal are projects that I do with my students is making Mother’s Day Portraits (and Father’s Day coming soon!). This year, as the kids were drawing with their Sharpie before painting, one of them added a crown. She said it’s because her mom is the queen of the house. Well, yeah…
