September 20, 2013

Creating Your Own Painted Placemats {TUTORIAL}





I wanted to have my kids create table mats that could last a long time and remind them of "Family Good Times." So I asked them to think of a favorite family activity or a favorite food that we all enjoy. Then when they looked at them while sitting and eating at the dinner table they could remember the good experiences we have as a family! I also wanted them to create something with tissue paper (not achooo paper) and paint. I am completely obsessed with tissue paper and acrylic paint because the paint comes out so bright and colorful! I loved how these turned out, and I'm going to have my kids paint mine and hubby's too! This simple art project will last a long time for wonderful memories at the dinner table. 

This art project was featured in my favorite issue of The Sandbucket Issue 5 magazine. Visit Sandi's amazing blog at thesandbucket.com.


There are so many possibilities, so let's get started.


{TUTORIAL}

Materials Needed:


  • pencil & eraser
  • blacker permanent marker
  • white tissue paper (gift paper)
  • acrylic paint & brushes
  • 11 x 17" hot seal laminate pouches (found at a copy & print store)
  • clear glue stick (optional)













Step 1:  Draw with pencil first on the tissue paper (tip: draw very lightly so the paper won't rip if you want to erase).



Step 2:  Trace your pencil drawings with black permanent marker.



Step 3:  Paint your drawings (tip 1: Paint lightly, so you can see the black outline. tip 2: Don't let your paint be so thick that it makes the paper rip. Make sure the tissue paper is not sticking underneath onto the surface as it is drying.)


Step 4:  Cut (adult help) out the paintings from the  tissue paper and arrange on inside the pouch. (tip 1: Dab a very little amount of glue stick to the back side of each object so they won't move. tip 2: You can cut along the black lines tight, or you can leave it as a sheet of tissue paper like we did for our 2 1/2 year-old. tip 3: Touch up artwork with permanent marker.)


Arrange your creation however you like. I took ours back to the store where we bought them to be hot sealed because it was included in the price (I kept my receipt).



As you can see, just about any age can paint their own. She has a lot of fun using her fingers and hands to paint!


Ages 2, 7, and 10 years old







Bon Appetit - Eat up! 


September 13, 2013

"En Plein Air" Kid Painting- a.k.a. Free Paint Time!

"En Plein Air" is French, meaning to "paint outdoors", but to me in my world, it is to create art "without rules" or any "preconceptions." I always have a project in mind when I give my kids or students art materials. My own kids sometimes just ask "Mom, can we just make an art project without having you tell us what the theme is?" Oh yeah, that would be nice right? Why didn't I think of that? 


So... one "to do" we wrote for our 
Family Summer BUCKET LIST:

  • Buy blank white canvas!
  • Paint whatever you want!
  • No Rules!


I didn't exactly make time in the Summer for this type of painting. Turns out it is a great idea for when the older kids are in school! I loved watching the facial expressions of my 3 1/2 year-old -choosing colors, brushes and paint and whatever entertained her cute little mind...

A therapeutic painting exercise for all ages... even adults.












FISH JUMPING OVER THE RAINBOW WATER... AND A BIG SHARK... AND A BIG RED WHALE 


Didn't ya know?





September 12, 2013

What is hiding in our Starry Night? Take a closer look...


Take a closer look! Inspired from The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. Definitely not what you think... 
What do you see in the painting? How many are there? Do you feel like we're playing "I SPY?" Yeah, I totally set you up! 

I wanted to create a collaborative, but individual, art project for the 4th-graders to incorporate their own hands- designing them with various lines and shapes, just using black and white permanent markers on cards stock. Excellent art exercise for shape, line design, and hand tracing for any age. 



I've always liked The Starry Night painting since I was a youngling, so I thought this would be a good introduction for other kids to become familiar with famous artwork. 


  • The kids used 3 different tip sizes of permanent markers...  







  • I painted a simple version of Starry Night and then adhered each hand with Mod Podge (using plastic wrap and a book on top to help dry flat).



  • I painted a light wash (water added) of acrylic paint of a similar color on top of the hands so each blended into the painting. You can see below there are some hands painted and some not yet. (Yep, the bold black hand really doesn't blend in because the wash of paint mostly shows up on white paper)...










This is one of our favorites "hands" down! 

As you can see this hand project could be made into any painting you like. 

Be creative. Paint. No boundaries. Have fun.

September 06, 2013

Life Changes...And the colors around us

It's almost humorous to look at my blog for the first time in a while and realize that it really has been this long (4 mos! yikes) since I have posted! Well, I'm back and I'm excited to share a few projects that I have worked on over this Summer. If you've read any of my recent posts, you may remember that I "recently" had a baby in March. Yes, it has been 6 months since then and we have enjoyed having a little one in our home-but it has been challenging (4 kids)! 

Like... for example I have been soooooooooooooooooooooooo soooooooooooooooooooooooo soooooooooooooooooooooo 
TIRED! 
To make a long story short: I felt like my body recuperated quickly from the birth, but then went downhill... I have had trouble with my energy level, my body felt so heavy and slow, I was cold when it was hot outside, my balance was off, I started gaining weight when I was eating healthy and exercising, and it was exhausting to talk and chew (those are very important functions Yo! Right?)... Anyway, finally figured out that I have a malfunctioning thyroid and I am excited for modern medicine to kick in! I feel like I will get my life back again! 

Anyway, we still have managed to have a wonderful Summer and I will be sharing our 
SUMMER BUCKET LIST
in the upcoming posts!



Bye Summer...



There is beauty all around...