Monthly Archives: April 2011

Basement Swing

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I stole a few precious moments this morning to curl up with a coffee and scroll through my Google Reader:)  It’s raining outside so the kids are happily building a fort in the basement.  I love listening to muffled giggles as they discuss who has the best fort design to use.  I also hear them talking about how to incorporated the swing into the design.  My husband installed some IKEA hand rings in their playroom.  The kids love them and are constantly creating new tricks.

They came up with this 3 person swing design the other day.  Kaleb is getting to be a master at knot tying, but I’m still not sure about this design!  So cute to see them problem solve though.  Sorry about the blurry photo, they were having so much fun I could not take a clear picture.  You can see the entrance to the fort just behind the kids.  Our basement has concrete walls, carpet tile flooring and really low ceilings.  Perfect for kids to play in and just be kids!  I recently picked up a large green wrestling mat that sits below the “swing”.  The kiddos spend hours down there playing and being creative.  I love having a space that is just theirs.

Anyways, back to my quiet moment reading.  I am inspired by all the creative projects you guys come up with.  I just wish there was more time to try all of them out!  A few blogs in, and I am confused as to why a picture of myself was staring back at me.  It takes me a bit to realize that my blog is being featured on Blue Cricket Design!  Seriously, how fun is that!  I love Becca’s blog, she has amazingly creative ideas, and I am honored that she would choose to feature my coffee sack art.  If you have not already paid Becca’s blog a visit you need to!

Tape Measure Age Predictor

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Today I found my husband and the kids all huddled on the floor looking at a tape measure.  Wondering what they were up to, I joined the circle.  The kids quickly explained that Dad was teaching them a magic trick with the tape measure and that they could tell me how old I was.  OK I’m game!

Here is how the trick works.  Pull out the tape measure and fold in half so that the metal end of the tape measure is lined up to the current year.  Your tape measure should be doubled back on itself.  Since it is 2011, you need to line up the end of the tape with 111.

Next, find the year you were born.  The corresponding number on the opposite side of the tape measure is how old you will be on your birthday this year. For example if you were born in 1992 you will be 19 this year.

It is a bit confusing for the kids born in 2000 or later.  For example, Kaleb was born in 2002, so this year he will be 9.  The tape reads that it is 102, the only numbers that you will be using is the “02” not the 1.

I’m glad I stumbled upon this sweet teaching moment between Chuck and the kiddos.  It is something that I often take for granted, since Chuck is so good with the kids.  There is just something about a Dad on the floor playing and teaching kids that is really special.  Love it!  This trick was something that Chuck learned as a little boy, and he was excited to pass it on to our kids.  I’m sure all our unsuspecting friends will love sharing their age with our kids;)

 

Georgia O’Keeffe Flowers

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Georgia O’Keeffe Flowers ~ simple art for kids

Georgia O’Keeffe is an amazing artist and perfect for kids to learn from. While in art school, we did a quick study of Georgia O’Keeffe Flowers. They are large, often extending off the page, colorful and slightly abstract.

Georgia O'Keeffe Flowers ~ simple art for kids

Before we started I showed the kids a few of her paintings on line, then set out the oil pastels and watercolors. I love this combination of mediums. Oil pastels are easy for kids to color with and the watercolor wash makes everything pop.

Georgia O'Keeffe Flowers ~ simple art for kids

The kids out lined their flowers with a black oil pastel before adding watercolor.  They look super cute at this point. Georgia O'Keeffe Flowers ~ simple art for kids

Next the kids painted with watercolors to fill in the white spaces.  The oil pastels will resist the watercolor.

Georgia O'Keeffe Flowers ~ simple art for kids

These cheerful flowers were a gift to the kids grandparents.  They have 3 large frames in their kitchen that are set aside just for their grand kids art work.  So special.  The kids thought that since their flowers were to hang together, they should look similar.  Funny!  I did convince them that different color backgrounds would make them stand out.  I love how kids minds work and they do look great hanging altogether. We have been doing a lot of art with oil pastels and watercolor lately, time to try some new techniques:)

Looking for more Flower Art inspiration?  Check out our:

Spring Tree

Blossoming Cherry Tree

Giant Paper Poppies

Colorful Light Ray Cross

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Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel

We love creating all kinds of fun Easter crafts for kids.  This simple Easter Cross is a beautiful reminder of what Easter really means amongst all the egg hunting, bunnies and easter baskets.

Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel Kids Art

Materials Needed:

  • White Card Stock
  • Blue Painters Tape
  • Oil Pastels
  • Water colors

Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel Kids Art

Cut a cross shape out of any regular weight paper from your recycling bin. It will be discarded so it does not have to be pretty.
Place the cross on a scrap piece of paper and have the kids color the edges with oil pastels. A thick line works the best. I also encouraged my kiddos to use a variety of colors on each side.

Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel Kids Art

Gently stick the cross to the card stock with a piece of painters tape. Using one finger rub the oil pastel off the cross onto the white card stock creating colorful rays. The smaller fingers in our preschool co-op had a bit of trouble with this step, but with encouragement and assistance they did a great job! Remove the cross to reveal a beautiful outline. So pretty!

Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel Kids Art

The hill with grass was done with the same technique only using green shades of oil pastels.  Tape the hill down first they the cross to create depth.

Apply a light wash of watercolor to the sky and hill.  The oil pastels will resist the watercolor creating a beautiful finished piece.  I love it!

Colorful Light Ray Cross ~ Easter Cross Oil Pastel Kids Art

For more Easter inspiration, check out our:

Borax Easter Crystals

Paper Plate Sheep

Egg Carton Cross

Funny Bunny Faces Game

Paper Chicks for cutting practice

Easter Decoration Revamp

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Easter Decoration Revamp

I am gearing up for this Saturday for my annual Easter party.  The kids are so excited.  In preparation for our fun filled morning, I have been busy revamping some of my easter decorations.  I thought I would give you a peek at what I have been working on.  Most of the projects are using things I already had, so very little money was spent which I love.

This sweet bunny went for hot pink to white and mossy.

I sprayed him white and then stuffed him full of moss.  SO much better!

Painted Plastic Easter Eggs

These plastic eggs were the target of my next transformation.

Easter Decoration Revamp ~ Transform your plastic eggs into something beautiful with this simple DIY tutorial.

 

I used gesso applied with a pallet knife to add texture.  Then I painted, glazed and speckled the eggs.  They are perfect nestled in a white wire basket with moss.  You would never know that they were once colorful plastic eggs.  If you are interested in how I painted the eggs, you can check out a similar tutorial I did for these eggs.

 

Easter Decoration Revamp ~ Transform your plastic eggs into something beautiful with this simple DIY tutorial.

 

 

Chalkboard Easter Egg:

 

I next attacked two over sized lime green eggs.  I found them at the thrift store for 80 cents.  When I bought these wonderful eggs, Annika (my 4 year old) questioned what we were going to do with them.  There always has to be a skeptic!  Ha!

Here it is one all covered in moss.  So much better.

And the last one I covered in chalkboard paint and made it into a cute topiary tree.  I love my chalkboard pens, they are so fun to work with.  Thanks Dad and Mom 🙂

Easter Tree:

I love easter trees.  This one has been around for a number of years, but it is always getting tipped over.  I went on a mission to make it stable. Sorry, I forgot to take a before picture.  I combined the tree with a metal container and some moss.  I love how it turned out.  I painted and glazed the container, added a piece of wood for height and covered the whole thing in moss.  Quick, easy and stable.  I’m so glad that I don’t have to crawl under any furniture this year looking for missing eggs!

Now I just have to get the rest of the house ready for the party.  I love crafting and get lost in it.  However, there comes a point when I have to put down my paint brush and glue gun and get cleaning.  There will be 17 kiddos running around gathering eggs and dying eggs on Saturday do you think they will notice if I don’t wash my floors 😉