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…
collage
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…
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…
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…
Recycled Materials Art Wall
My young students constructed this art wall from recycled materials, and then they mixed all of their own colors and painted it!! Kids are so capable. It’s no wonder that everything my students design and create makes me want to open a children’s art museum. Can you imagine how cool that would be? Artists from…
Seashell Collage with Kids
Guess what we did last summer? My little campers made the most magical shell collages ever! I beach comb wherever I go, collecting shells and rocks and all sorts of treasures. Most of these shells are from different beaches around the world. (Ok, that makes me sound so much more like a world traveler than I…
Cardboard Rainbow Collage
I’ve been wanting to post this project for a year. This rainbow collage invitation was presented to my art camp kids one year ago today, which just happened to be the same day as the Pulse night club shooting in Orlando. My little kids obviously didn’t know anything about this, their happy faces a stark reminder that…
Marshmallow Painting
These photos are from two summers ago, if you can believe it. I was going to put this project in my book, but it ended up being one of the 22 art experiences on the cutting room floor. I am SO excited to finally share it with you now! This one was really fun, for obvious reasons. There was an…












