Wall of Art
February 20, 2012 at 8:24 am | Posted in Children's Decor | 2 CommentsTags: children's art
Jenna’s room received a mini makeover this weekend. She’s become quite the prolific little artist, and I decided to update the framed art in her room to incorporate some of her (and Jason’s) latest work. I was able to complete the entire project for about $50, since we already had 2 frames and I was able to pick up 6 additional frames for about $35 at Michaels (on sale for $5 each). I also purchased a large batch of 3M picture hanging strips.
Jenna helped me pick out and frame her favorites pictures. Next, I tried a couple of layouts on the floor in front of the wall. The wall has 2 small dressers at different heights, so I wanted something that would fit the space of the uneven levels.
Then Jason and Daddy got to work, measuring, leveling and, the best part, shooting lasers across the room – definitely something Jason was eager to help out with.
And, finally, Jenna has a new wall of art:
Mixed Media Wreath DIY
December 5, 2011 at 6:30 am | Posted in Children's Activities, Holiday Ideas | 7 CommentsTags: children's art, christmas
This weekend we had a friend’s daughter over for the afternoon and I decided to organize a holiday craft activity to keep everyone entertained. This one took a bit of prep work, but it was definitely worth it. Our friend’s daughter was incredibly creative, the “most creative person in her family,” as she explained to me, and I think I got a peek into the future of what it will be like to work on arts and crafts with Jenna when she gets just a few years older. We had a great afternoon and I have to admit, I was more than a little psyched when she asked what I did “for work” and whether we did stuff like this at our house all the time.
Jenna and I started by cutting wreath shapes out of boxes and painting them apple green.
I prepped and assembled the wreath decorations: felt and fabric leaves, pom poms, pipe cleaners, ribbon (we also had a stash of green paper). You can pretty much use anything you have on hand – buttons, beads, yarn, etc.
We glued the decorations to the wreaths.
Once they were sufficiently covered, we let them dry. (We used A LOT of glue).
Jenna and I hung our wreaths on the office doors, and our new friend was very happy to take home hers home.
Inspired By …
November 29, 2011 at 6:15 am | Posted in Children's Activities, Design | 1 CommentTags: children's art
Sources: Josef Albers, Jeff Depner
I’ve been loving all of the geometric patterns surfacing in art/fashion/jewelry lately, so when I came across a series of geometric coloring books I immediately decided to buy one for Jenna, who is rarely without a crayon in her hand (or a paintbrush, or both as seen above). I’ve long been a fan of artists such as Josef Albers, Ellsworth Kelly and Frank Stella, so I guess my love of abstract patterns is nothing new. Jenna and I are having fun making our own abstract art these days. Wish one of us could parlay our coloring skills into a gorgeous painting like the Depner above. Maybe they make giant geometric coloring books?
Weekend Top 5: Adventures in Art
November 6, 2011 at 6:45 pm | Posted in Children's Activities, Daily Life, DFW | Leave a commentTags: children's art
Jenna and I ventured into the big city this weekend to visit the Mark Bradford exhibit at the DMA and take part in a Bradford-inspired art-making activity at Bows and Arrows. It was a big day of new places and new people, and despite a few moments of shyness, Jenna told me later that she had “a great day.” We kept the art theme going most of the weekend, making a leaf garland, some jewelry and a painting or two.
Oh, and Jason played lightsabers with daddy … and, there may have been a visit to Legoland.
Jenna making her collage at Bows and Arrows
Collage supplies for the kids at Bows and Arrows
Even more painting at home
Taking a break from our leaf-gathering expedition. More on that tomorrow …
Jenna admires the necklace she made
Printmaking with Preschoolers
September 18, 2010 at 11:37 am | Posted in Children's Activities | Leave a commentTags: children's art, recycled art
I have a new post on Blissfully Domestic. Check it out to learn about simple printmaking materials and techniques for preschoolers.
Daily Art: Watercolor Butterflies
September 10, 2010 at 12:20 pm | Posted in Children's Activities, Daily Art | 3 CommentsTags: children's art, children's crafts
Today’s art is a two-step project that we started yesterday. First we dipped the coffee filters into water dyed with watercolors and then we used brushes to add some dots. Today, we took the dried filters and made butterflies.
Daily Art: Green Apples, Greener Hands
August 25, 2010 at 1:25 pm | Posted in Children's Activities, Daily Art | Leave a commentTags: children's art, green
We started out making apple prints, but we ended up making extra messy hands.
Daily Art: S is for Endless Sun
August 17, 2010 at 12:36 pm | Posted in Children's Activities, Daily Art | Leave a commentTags: children's art, collage
We’re on our 10th or 20th day (I lost count) of consecutive 100 degree temperatures this summer. Today’s spinning sun art project celebrates the sun … in the comfort of our air conditioned kitchen.
Displaying Children’s Art
July 21, 2010 at 2:25 pm | Posted in Children's Decor | Leave a commentTags: children's art, displaying art
3M has nailed the technology of sticking something to a wall and making it stay there. We’ve used the mini hooks with adhesive strips to hang our Christmas stockings for two years now, and no one could accuse Santa of dropping a hefty stocking on his way out.
What they haven’t nailed, however, is the design of displaying something on a wall. I’m not sure why I haven’t been embarrassed by the plastic hooks I allow to hang on my mantle for four weeks out of the year, but when it came to displaying art in my daughter’s room, I knew a more aesthetic option was needed.
Here’s one solution that I’ve come up with so far. It doesn’t require any tools (that makes my husband happy) and I can change the pictures on a whim. I used two flower buttons, some thin wire, 3M sticky strips and metal clips to attach the picture.
There are lots of great examples of displaying children’s art, some more complicated than others:
- The largest collection of ideas I’ve found so far is posted on The Boo and the Boy.
- Ohdeedoh uses a curtain rod to achieve a look similar to that above.
- Here is a gorgeous collage approach from Creature Comforts.
Robot & Space Art for Kids
July 6, 2010 at 8:18 am | Posted in Children's Decor | Leave a commentTags: art, artwork, children's art, robot
Maybe it’s the disparate array of toys piled on the floor or the Shabby Chic quilt draped over the loft bed to form a tent, but something about my son’s room defies any theme, color palette or sense of togetherness I try to imbue. So this summer, I’m taking on the challenge of decorating my son’s room. I’ve already come across some great space and robot themed art, some of which will work well with the planet mobile from Pottery Barn Kids and orange rocket painting currently in his room.
If I succeed, I’ll post pictures here, but in the meantime, I thought I’d share some of the artwork that I’ve found:
From left to right:
- A Song of Wires by John W Golden is one of my favorite finds so far.
- Darryl, inspired by vintage robot toys, by ModernPop.
- Le System Solaire by French illustrator Marion Billet.
- Scoot by illustrator Heather Warriner.
- Alphabet inspired robot screenprint by boldandnoble.
- Rocket growth chart from Land of Nod.
- Reggie is part of the same robot series as Scoot.
- Flying saucer from John W Golden’s Lunestrella Series, currently a front runner in the selection of art for Jason’s room.
- Original ink drawing by benben.
- Anything orange is sure to be a hit in our house, including this orange flashlight robot by Richard Wilkinson.
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