I can't believe it's already Wednesday, short weeks always seem to wreak havoc on my schedule. Plus today was C's last day of preschool (Aggh! He must stop growing. Right. This. Minute.) Anyway, no more school means it's time to start stocking up on ways to engage the kids over the summer. Kaley's gorgeous DIY play dough post was a good start and I'm at eHow this week posting on another kid art classic: bubble wrap print making. Did you ever try this when you were young? The results … [Read more...]
Don’t Forget Teacher Appreciation Week!
The title of this one is a little misleading. These pretty pencils aren't actually dip-dyed, they just mimic the look that's so popular right now. You see, ever since these cheerful spoons started popping up all over Pinterest, I knew I wanted to put my own spin on them. Pencils seemed like a great mini-project to try out the technique. Plus one of the biggest perks of being a teacher has to be having an excuse to collect pretty school supplies (that and the whole helping to shape … [Read more...]
A No-Mess Painting Technique
I'm at momtastic this week sharing my favorite new painting technique. S and I picked it up at toddler group and it was a big hit. Don't get me wrong, I'm still all for getting messy but it's nice to have some tamer creative activities to draw from. When I was plotting this project in my head I envisioned using paper cut into egg shapes to make some pretty Easter decor. When it actually came down to it, everything was so spur of the moment that I couldn't harness C's excitement long … [Read more...]
DIY Salt Dough Ornaments
I'm over at momtastic today sharing one of the best Christmas crafts ever. It takes only 3 ingredients which I can practically guarantee are already in your pantry (salt, flour, and water), it's appealing to kids of all ages, and it can be extended into an activity that lasts practically all day. Plus the end product is a perfect grandparent gift. Salt dough ornaments are essentially three favorite kid activities rolled into one. First there's cooking, the little ones get to … [Read more...]
Elsewhere: A New Art Technique to Try
I'm guest posting at Whip Up today with one of my favorite new art techniques: block printing with yarn. This one is truly appropriate for all ages. Our first go at it was a fascinating experience for C (he couldn't believe he was actually allowed to paint on a few of his blocks) and a successful attempt at DIY modern art for me. Head over to Whip Up for the full tutorial. P.S. Looking to simplify in 2013? Bonus: Use the code JANUARY for 10% off the PDF file through the end of … [Read more...]
Glue Paints & Other Boredom Busters
With all the fun we've been having over here, I've neglected to keep you informed about what I've been up to at my other gig. First over at momtastic, C and I tried out what may be the most brilliant art activity ever. He absolutely loves using these glue paints (asked for them three days in a row after we made them). They're the perfect antidote to those days when you just cannot face trying to clean up a feisty toddler yet again. Plus, with all the back to school sales going on, … [Read more...]
Counting Down with Kids Too Young for Calendars
This is an impromptu post inspired by C yesterday morning. As we were sitting at the table eating breakfast, he asked me, "How long 'till my birthday?". I told him the number of days but that didn't seem to satisfy him. Nor did my explanation that it's next month (he's entering into that wonderful phase where all he does is question, question, and question some more). Finally I decided to show him. Have you guys made this type of countdown chain with your kids? They're such a … [Read more...]
We Tried It! – DIY Edible Fingerpaints
I was recently lamenting on the facebook page that I find myself blogging about fun activities for the kids more often than we actually do them. I've told myself engaging in messy art projects with a toddler and a baby is just too difficult. And while that may have been true in the past, S is a year old now and the name of the blog is Modern Parents MESSY kids... it's time to put up or shut up. So today I'm introducing a new series, called "We Tried It!", in which I'll be trying … [Read more...]
Modern DIY Bracelets – Perfect for Summer Crafting with Girls
As a girl, I spent a lot of summer days lounging around making friendship bracelets of one form or another. It started simply with trios of embroidery thread and eventually evolved into more intricate creations involving beads and other such adornments. Lately, all sorts of inspiring DIY bracelet posts have cropped up around the web and it's made me nostalgic for those uncomplicated summers. So today I've rounded up a dozen wonderful bracelet crafts. Share them with a special … [Read more...]