Before I started spending time on Pinterest or blogs, I don’t think I ever realized what an intense world of crafting was out there. The projects I remember from my childhood, like decoupage or ironing crayon shavings, have nothing on the elaborate DIY crafts of today. I’ve attempted a few “simple” projects I found online, just to find myself spending way too much money at Michael’s to frustrating, messy results. I know that enjoying the creative process is part of the fun in theory, but when I start a project with my kids, my impatient, type-A personality comes alive and it’s no fun for any of us. The more complicated the steps, the more I’m bossing them around, directing their actions and freaking out about the paint spilling on the floor, the glitter coating my furniture…everything. It’s a bad scene.
So when I found the book Let’s Make Some Great Art at Solo, an amazing boutique in Solana Beach, I knew I had finally discovered the “Bible” for us less-crafty moms. Perfect for kids 5-10 (with a few projects for the even littler ones), this hefty book is like Art 101 for children. The book is full of mini bios of artists with simple projects based on their styles, color studies, and technique demonstrations (shadow, light, perspective, 3D). There are also comic book strips to complete, mobius strips, drawing with erasers, fingerprint art, masks and so much more! It’s a great way for parents like me to give kids a starting point to spark their creativity without needing huge quantities of supplies or complicated steps to follow. This has become my go-to birthday gift for Norah’s friends, packaged with these gorgeous crayon disks.
Here are a few other art projects I’ve found that are manageable for a DIY novice and use basic items you probably have on hand:
* Summer Sun Art (those great blue sunprints!) and DIY T-Shirts (using freezer paper)- both from Jen’s terrific site, a wealth of creative goodness
* Watercolor (or Crayon) Shavings Art and Faux Stained Glass (made with Sharpies and foil)
* Painted Rocks (it doesn’t get much simpler than this but the results are so lovely!)
* Place-Setting Stones (with teeny initials) made with Sculpey clay
And for this little masterpiece, you can follow these steps:
Tear up strips of colored tissue paper and lay them on a white piece of craft paper. Mist completely with a spray bottle of water until damp and then lay outside to set in the sun. Once it has dried, remove the strips and voila!
Do you craft with your kids? Where do you find your inspiration?
Great ideas! And perfect timing. The hubby is traveling later this week and weekend and a new art project was on our agenda! Loving the tissue paper and t-shirt!
Those are great ideas. I too am guilty of the A type personality and crafting. I give WAY to many instructions and get frustrated when the color palette isn’t right. Totally ridiculous way to teach a 2 year old to love art. All she really wants is some paint and a piece of paper. What is crafting going to be like when they are our age? One 2 year old to another in 2030-”Hey, I got the sewing maching, you get the sautering gun-let’s craft!”
I love crafting with my kids! (A big reason why I started my own blog). I’ve found a lot of inspiration through other blogs… there’s a ton of stuff out there that’s not elaborate or difficult. My girls love nothing better than a piece of paper and paint… give them some scissors and they’re in bliss! One of our favorite things to make are paper plate masks. I cut the eyeholes and give them some paint. We’ve made all sorts of fun masks that way!!