I love these collages because they are so personal. Each child took home their painted “small things collectors” (egg cartons) and collected for a week. When they came back to art class seven days later, they had so many stories to tell! One child collected leaves and flowers from her garden with her grandmother. She…
Process Art
Easy Shapes Collage
Today I am over on the wonderful kid’s learning blog Nurturestore, writing about this simple tissue paper collage idea. I am so very honored to be part of Cathy’s ABCs and 123s series which runs the whole month of March. This series will feature some of the best play and education bloggers around who will…
Children Draw With Their Feet and Mouths
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support! A few months ago, on a particularly dreary and rainy Autumn day, I decided to move the table out of our art area and tape some big paper to the wall. I knew I was having a small class, so this would be a perfect…
Bleeding Crepe Paper Art
For many years, I have lugged around a box of leftover crepe paper from that time I made a hundred flowers for a Spanish Fiesta at my daughter’s preschool. She is 16 now. The box has moved to three different houses, and probably 30 different spots. Did you know crepe paper is heavy? So many times I’ve thought that…
Art Educator Interview: Samara Caughey from Purple Twig
I have wanted to start a new series on the blog for ages. About two years ago, I decided that I needed to become an art teacher. It just felt like the right next step in my creative journey. Having no background in teaching, other than a few classes on early childhood education in college, I relied on…
Homemade No-Sew Puppet Theatre
This might be one of my all-time favorite collaborations my campers have ever done. I just love this puppet theatre – how gorgeous is that fabric? I know I’m not supposed to say that art is beautiful, and I don’t say that around my students, but to you I can say this. I mean, they…
A Painted Cake
Last week my daughter turned thirteen. It was a pretty huge deal, as it should be. We had a massive party for her with obstacle courses, shaving cream fights, a dunk tank, and of course some arts and crafts. (With me as her mom this is unavoidable.) My favorite artsy idea of the whole party was…
Bird Finder Binoculars
I love a simple craft that is completely child-led. These bird binoculars were such a hit with the kids during our “BIRDS & BUGS” week at art camp. They loved being able to pick out their own color combinations, wrap yarn and cut tape (two skills that take lots of concentration and make little ones feel…
Milk Carton Bird Houses
Milk cartons have so many possibilities for crafting. Just their shape alone is a work of art! I love that they already looks like a house, with a little chimney and everything. We use milk cartons a lot in art class (I haven’t written about them yet because sometimes I’m just a lazy blogger, mmm hmm),…
Bubble Wrap Roller Printing
In my art class there are many days where I plan a collaborative art experience. I actually love these projects more than anything else. Since I teach mostly four and five-yr olds, collaboration is a natural way to promote creativity and exploration because at that age every experience is so rooted in socialization. They love to…
