DIY/Kids & Creativity: Window Clings

by Andrea Mulder-Slater

Lately we've had a lot of birds flying into our windows and although none have perished, we have had a number of stunned little ones who end up laying on our porch (or flying around in the studio!).

And so, we decided to do something about it by creating some window clings.

This is a great activity for kids (and adults) of all ages. All you need is some plastic (we used paper protectors that you would put into a binder) and some fabric paint. (It's important that you use fabric paint and not regular paint.)

It's a good idea to add a drop or two of dishwashing liquid to the fabric paint before you start using it, although I have to admit, we skipped that step :)

Here's how our window clings came together...

You can find full instructions as well - as the flower printables that we used to make our window clings - by visiting here: http://kinderart.com/crafts/windowclings.shtml

The art of the bookcase

by Andrea Mulder-Slater

We own a LOT of books. And when I say a lot, I mean if we wanted to, we could open up a used book store... this afternoon.

Through the years we've tested out different ways of arranging our books on our two giant bookcases and five medium sized shelves. We've tried placing our tomes by size, by subject, by author... but in the end, the books always ended up piled on top of one another, looking rather messy - making it impossible to find anything.

However, the other day, I spotted a photograph on Pinterest which made me look twice. No, three times.

The photo showed a bookcase with books organized by color.

Of course! By color!

Simple. Elegant. Creative.

So -- last week, instead of catching up on commissions, we took a break from art and arranged our textbooks, novels and cookbooks by hue. And the funny part is, it is actually easier to find titles now, than ever before. Who knew?

 

Try it yourself!

DIY/Kids & Creativity: Line, shape and color

by Andrea Mulder-Slater

 

It's been said that creativity is the key to happiness and that by doing something creative every day, we can boost our moods (and productivity) tremendously. When you are fully immersed in a creative activity, your focus shifts away from day to day worries and stresses as you instead put all your attention on the immediate task at hand.

Some people like to write in a journal while others enjoy baking cookies. Still others express their artistry by arranging fresh cut flowers in a vase...

If you are looking for a simple, non-intimidating way to be creative today, have a peek at the following tutorial. It's perfect for all ages and uses items you will already have in your home :)

All you need is a piece of paper, a straight edge, some circular objects (a cup, a bowl, a yo-yo, etc.) a permanent pen or marker and watercolor paints (or crayons, or pencil crayons, or markers).

Start by drawing between 12 and 16 straight lines across the paper. They can go in any direction, just as long as they travel from one edge of the paper to the other.

Next, place your circular objects on the page and start tracing them. Add as many or as few circles as you like and let them overlap in some areas.

Now comes the fun part. Grab your watercolor paints - or crayons, pencil crayons, markers, etc. -- whatever you have on hand. I used watercolors.

Begin filling in every other space with color. Take your time and don't panic if you "mess up" just continue on and "go with the flow".

Before you know it, time will have flown by and in the end, you'll feel relaxed, recharged and... you might even have a funky work of art you'll be proud to hang on your wall.

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Got kids? Looking for more creative art ideas? Visit our art education website - KinderArt.com - where you will find 1000s of art lessons and activity ideas for kids of all ages. And, it's FREE! 

www.KinderArt.com

DIY Tutorial: A pretty place for paintbrushes

by Andrea Mulder-Slater

As artists, we've amassed a large collection of paintbrushes and - in my case - palette knives, and all of those tools need a place to live. Typically we use old coffee mugs, glass jars and whatever else we can get our hands on. The result is a bit of a mismatched mess!

A while ago, I found some terrific unfinished wood vases at a yard sale. I bought them not knowing at the time exactly what I would use them for. Then, I had the idea to paint them and use them as mini storage containers.

For this project, I used our paint of choice - Stevenson - a Canadian made acrylic paint which is extremely durable and colorfast. It is the same paint we use to paint all of our murals.

I've always liked the combination of chocolate brown and  pink and chocolate brown and turquoise. For my containers, I used Burnt Umber (for the chocolate), Phthlao Turquoise (for the turquoise) and a combination of Titanium White and Quin Red (for the pink).

(Tip: If you don't have turquoise paint, you can easily mix it up by adding a teeny tiny touch of red to blue & yellow. As always, lighten your colors with white.)

I painted the inside of my wooden cylinders with brown. Then, I did a base coat of pink on one and turquoise on the other.

Once dry, I painted chocolate brown rings on the containers freehand. They are not perfect, but that adds to the charm. To complete the design, I dipped the end of my brush into white paint and made little dots around the inner and outer edges of the rings.

A quick coat of water-based sealer completed the project.

Next I will be tackling our empty coffee cans!

Kids & Creativity: Painting what you see (by the sea)

by Andrea Mulder-Slater

I was painting in my sketchbook the other morning while the littlest one was sitting with Jan, discussing how the birds were flying overhead. She was particularly struck by the fact that sometimes, birds don't need to flap their wings in order to move through the air.

"What are you painting?" she asked.

"I'm painting what I see." I responded.

My girl looked at my sketchbook and then at the view in front of us. And with that, she hopped up on a chair and began painting on a sheet of watercolour paper I had placed there for her. Just in case.

When she was through, I asked her to tell me about her work -- a black outline with dabs of orange and blue.

"It's a bird, flying without flapping his wings."

Had I not asked her to explain, I never would have known that she too, was painting what she saw that morning:  A bird, soaring through the sky.

When creating with children, you don't always need an elaborate plan or fancy materials. All you need is some inexpensive paint, some paper and the patience to let things happen as they happen -- without direction...