If you are looking for a really simple, exploratory, physical, colorful, messy, highly engaging, and FUN creative experience for outdoors, this smash painting is it! It will make your kids so happy that they will squeal with joy. And when all is said and done, you’ll have a collection of really cool and unique little…
art for toddlers
Summer Art Camp Guides for At Home
I’m so excited to announce the launch of a new business, a new website, and THREE new summer camp guides!! First, the business. As you know, my friend and colleague, Shannon from Hatch, and I collaborated in the Spring on 7 (seven!) weeks of learning-at-home guides. We decided to turn it into a new business,…
Leaf Rubbings with Crayons and Watercolor
Do you want an easy peasy art activity for both grown-ups and kids alike? Let me introduce you (or re-introduce you since this is a classic idea) to leaf rubbings with crayons and watercolor! I did this myself with some glorious free time that I had last weekend. Miraculously, everyone was out of my house…
Contact Paper Collage
If you have never used sticky paper with your kids, let me tell you that it is a sure thing. This contact paper collage art invitation is a favorite that we go back to again and again. They never tire of these materials and this prompt because it’s completely open-ended which kicks their imaginations into…
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…
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…
Wooden Sculpture Prompt: Imaginary Playgrounds
One of my favorite process art experiences for my art students is setting out wooden pieces and letting them make sculptures. On this day, I gave them the prompt to make imaginary playgrounds. I love what they created so much! How cool would these be if they were life-sized? I think all playgrounds should be…
Pinecone Pom-pom Mobiles
It’s hard to believe that these pinecone pom-pom mobiles were made by children. They did everything, from painting the pinecones and beads, to making the pom-poms, to stringing it all together. (I just did the very last part tying them onto the ring.) Children are so capable. And these mobiles are just stunning! This post…
Kid Made: “ISH” Inspired Ornaments
I think we can all agree that kid-made is the best. Kids have a way of making everything seem so artsy and cool, and it’s because they don’t care about the end result. They are simply exploring and experimenting. Which is exactly what makes these “ISH” inspired ornaments so special! Let me explain more…. Today’s…
A Painted Branch // Collaborative Art with Kids
This week for art class I tried something new. Our neighbor cut down some branches and left them on our property. They’d been there a while, actually. We kept thinking they would clean them up. As I was staring at them from the kitchen window Monday morning I thought that I should really make a…
