Here is a tutorial to show how to tie dye a shirt, a classic Summer craft to try to with the kids! These tips for keeping the mess to a minimum are a great way to maximize the fun! These tie dyed shirts are the perfect Summer “uniform” for kids. My kids were so proud of how bright […]
Kid-Made Paint Skin Tiles
February 1, 2012 by
These paint skin tiles were lots of fun to make, and they are great for mosaics and collage work! I set up a tray with some parchment paper and spread some leftover acrylic paint on top. Then I invited Clara over to swirl the paint around using toothpicks and craft sticks! She thought this was […]
DIY Scratch Art Pages
November 1, 2011 by
Do you have a kid who loves scratch art?? Did you know you can make your own scratch art pages?? It’s true! Aaaaand it’s a lot cheaper (and more fun!) to make your own! To make your own scratch art pages, you will need: a kid who LOVES to color, a sheet of card stock […]
Colorful Spray Painted Fabric
July 25, 2011 by
Looking to a fun way to impress guests at your next dinner party? Need a colorful way to dress up meal time, and a fun project to keep the kiddos entertained? Then this project is for you!! Start with the cheapest (most boring) cloth napkins you can find, pre-wash and dry (no fabric softener)…. Fill […]
Potion Lab!
July 11, 2011 by
Early this morning, before it got too hot outside to play, the girls and I put on some play clothes and set up a little “potion lab” in the backyard for some messy pretend play FUN!! They seriously loved this!!! We reused the same clear plastic bottles from our driveway painting and filled them with […]
Cheap Thrills — Driveway Painting
June 28, 2011 by
For a fun time, gather up some empty dish soap bottles. Make up a batch of sidewalk chalk paint with 4 Tbsp. cornstarch, 4 Tbsp. water & 5-10 drops food coloring. Pour into a bottle and fill the rest with water. Repeat for each color. Put on play clothes or bathing suits, and invite some […]
Why Messy Art is Worth It
June 23, 2011 by
A few years ago, I invited Emily to splatter paint the driveway with sidewalk chalk paint and she has not stopped talking about it ever since!! It was around that time when I realized the more messy the art project, the more memorable (and FUN) the experience becomes. So when the girls were feeling particularly […]
Outdoor Mud Pie Kitchen
May 10, 2011 by
This outdoor mud pie kitchen set was simple and easy to set up. It made my almost 3 year old SO happy to create her own mud pie creations over and over again! Here are a few ideas to make an outdoor mud pie kitchen set of your own: I loved making mud pies as […]
Marbled Paper Journals
April 25, 2011 by
After our amazing encounter with the peacocks at the zoo, we were inspired to make some art!! Lots of marbled paper was made using this technique with beautiful peacock hues of tropical blue, cobalt blue, and apple green — so much fun!! What I love about this project is that each print is so unique — no […]
Falling Leaves Wrapping Paper
September 14, 2010 by
September marks the beginning of the birthday season for many members of our family, so Clara and I made some fun autumn wrapping paper this afternoon! This is a super-simple project that even the little ones can do with great success. All you need to make your own are some toilet paper rolls, paint, and […]
Painting…with Feet!
August 31, 2010 by
This afternoon was spent in the backyard where I set out a large piece of cardboard, some washable paints, and let the girls have LOTS of fun painting with their feet!! I put down the paint on the cardboard, and the girls spread it out all over with their feet! We started with the lightest […]
Mother’s Day Gifts Kids Can Make — Ceramic Trivets
April 19, 2010 by
Another post in our fun series of Mother’s Day Gifts Kids Can Make — if you haven’t already done so, send your husband over here, and maybe he’ll take a hint. (wink, wink!) Most of these projects will feature very inexpensive items you can find at any hardware store, so manly men don’t need to […]
Cheap Thrills — Mud Pie Edition
April 7, 2010 by
For a fun time, go outside and set up some sand or dirt on a table with some old baking tins. Add a pitcher of water, and some spoons. Make mud pies!! I can remember spending entire afternoons making mud pies when I was a kid. I think mine were decorated with sticks for birthday […]
Flower Prints from Soda Bottles
March 23, 2010 by
Another rainy day here, and the girls were starting to go through a bit of “messy art withdrawl”. We made flower prints using empty soda bottles! In our case, they were empty seltzer water bottles, but you get the idea. Clara really got into the painting today! She could hardly contain her excitement! To make […]
Handmade Holidays — Festive Wrapping Paper
December 4, 2009 by
The girls and I made some wrapping paper this afternoon. It was so much fun, and a real team effort! We used ordinary brown grocery bags, and cut them to lay flat on the table. First, Clara got to work making “snowflakes” with her finger dipped in white washable paint. She loved it!Next, the paper […]
Stunning Winter Tree Silhouette
November 3, 2009 by
We noticed many of our trees have lost almost all of their leaves, so we were inspired to create something special. With very little help from me, Emily was able to paint this silhouette with beautiful results! To make your own, all you will need is a little masking tape, paper, and some watercolor paint! […]
Marbled Sunset Painting
September 1, 2009 by
While the sun was setting behind us, I thought Emily would like to paint a picture of a sunset. I wanted to use a technique that would be easy for her, but give great results. This one was a hit! To make your own marbled sunset painting, you will need: shaving cream (very inexpensive, make […]
Finger Painting Fun in the Sun, Sun, Sun
August 31, 2009 by
Just a quick reminder, today is the last day to sign up for our free online sewing workshop Sewing in Baby Steps. Today, we celebrated one of the last few days of Summer by finger painting Sun pictures! This was a particularly messy project, but a really fun one that both my girls really enjoyed! […]
