Kids' Art Activity: Craft Felt Painted Collage Landscape

What kind of kids’ art activity are your little ones making today? If you’re not sure, this summer landscape idea combines fabric collage with painting – in a totally creative way (your kids’ creativity that is).

Your child looks out the window, and what does she see? Go ahead, ask her. She’ll probably give you an answer that sounds something like, “Trees, plants, grass, sky and clouds.” Now ask her what colors she sees. Chances are she’ll say, “Green grass, a blue sky, a yellow sun, a green and brown tree.” Right?

This art idea doesn’t necessarily follow what your child actually sees. Instead, she can take what’s in front of her and change it – using her own imagination.

If the weather feels like cooperating, take your child outside. Have a seat under a shady tree in the backyard or get ready for a park-side art activity. If going outdoors isn’t an option, take a look out of the window.

Now, ask your child to draw what she sees using colored pencils, crayons or markers. She can create a realistic landscape, with the colors of nature.

After she’s done with the real-life drawing, it’s time to make another landscape. But, this time she’ll create a colorful version that is more imaginative than ‘natural’.

 

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        Card stock paper (thicker paper holds the collage and paint better than construction or drawing paper)

·        Scissors

·        Clear-drying school glue

·        Craft felt – in vibrant colors such as bright pink, red and aqua blue

·        Tempera paints

·        A paintbrush

Here’s What to Do:

1. Cut the felt into shapes. This lets you add in a math lesson to this kids’ art activity. Have your child name the shapes as you show them to her.

2. Create a landscape, using the shapes. Your child can collage the felt onto the paper using the glue. This is like putting together a puzzle. For example, a tree is three rectangles in a line with a circle on top.

3. Let the glue dry.

4. Pour quarter-sized pools of paint onto a palette or a piece of wax paper (it works as an inexpensive barrier that keeps the work surface clean – or at least, cleanish).

5. Paint the felt. Your child can add details or change the color of the felt. Mix the hues, making new ones too!

6. Paint the paper. Your child can add extra colors to the paper as well.

 

Compare the two pictures – the realistic drawing and the painted collage. Ask your child to tell you what the differences are and why she choose the colors and shapes that she did!

 

10 Kids' Ice Art and Science Activities

It’s summer. It’s hot. And, there’s a major heat wave. It’s 90 + degrees outside, and the kids are (understandably) complaining, “Mommmmmmmmy, it’s hot in here!” This is where kids’ ice art and science activities come into play.

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Yes, heading to the pool is totally ideal on one of these sweltering days. The mercury is up and cooling off in a big vat of chlorinated water with a few hundred other completely uncomfortable kids is on the agenda. Or, is it? You’d rather not spend an hour packing the pool bag, getting swim diapers on, slathering on the sunscreen, putting on new swim diapers, putting on more sunscreen and driving to the pool (only to find that the closest parking space is a good 15 minute walk – in the extreme heat – away). But, you still want to do something fun.

Okay. So, get out the ice. Actually, it’s technically not as simple as that. You’ll want to do some prep work beforehand. So, when you hear the weather person on the local news trying to freak just about everyone out about the upcoming dome of high heat that will ultimately blanket your part of the country, start making the ice!

These kids’ ice art and science activities all involve colorful and/or glittery cubes. All you need to do is drip a drop or two of food coloring into an ice cubes tray, add water and freeze. In some cases, you’ll also need to add a sprinkle of glitter or another ingredient (it’s all in the activity list). You can make the ice the night before or really anytime ahead of the activity day. As long as you have room in your freezer, you can stash the cubes for future use.

 

Just in case you forget to freeze a tray of colorful water (and when would any of us ever forget anything? – said with heavy sarcasm), you can take a short cut. Toss a few regular clear ice cubes (if you didn’t make them ahead, you can buy a bag of ice at the grocery store or convenience store) in a bowl, add a few drops of food coloring and stir. Don’t use a bowl that you absolutely love. Chances are the food coloring will stain it. Make a few batches, with different colors.

But, if you did happen to pre-freeze your cubes, here are a few fun options to keep cool during a heat wave:

Water and oil ice: Explore what freezes and what doesn’t. When the kiddos are done with the science part, use these to make abstract art prints.

 

Abstract art: Want to do some more abstract painting? This icy experiment gives the kids just that.

 

Frozen glitter cubes: They’re cold, they’re blue and they’re filled with sparkles. Paint with them, watch them melt or add some glue to catch the glitter.

 

Red, white and blue chalk cubes: This one goes beyond the basic food coloring and water recipe. Add some crushed chalk for a totally different experience.

 

Chalk ice: Another sidewalk chalk plus water plus a freezer art and science activity.

 

Rainbow race: Make a rainbow of colorful cubes, and then race them on a super-hot day.

Primary color mix: Take the ice outside, add some colorful water and mix the colors.

 

Glowing ice: Yes, really. It glows in the dark.

 

Striped icy science: Create stripes and layers of colors in ice. How? Read on to find out!

 

Building blocks: Take these melty blocks outside to build a massive chilly tower (or whatever else your child wants).

 

 

 

Fun Fourth of July Kids' Crafts

The Fourth of July is quickly coming up! That means fireworks, a backyard BBQ and red, white and blue patriotic kids’ crafts.

What’s on your art activity list for the Fourth? You can go simple (which is perfect during a family reunion or party) and put out crayons in American flag colors, add a few star stickers and let the kids get artsy with very little mess.

If you’re looking for something that sparkles, break out the glitter. This glitter flag craft is easy enough for your preschooler to try, but still fun for older kids.

Chalk doesn't always equal sidewalk art (although, sidewalk drawing is a fabulously fun art activity for kids). You can grind it up, add some water and create your own red, white and blue cubes for a patriotic painting.

Following the freezing fun of frozen chalk are cubes of another sort. Get out the food coloring, toss in some sparkles and create your own glittering cubes. Make red, blue and silver (or opal) for a Fourth theme.

Do you have a few extra berries hanging around (especially after you’ve whipped up a few 4^th of July-themed treats)? Let the kiddos put them to use, making their own paints. These natural paints are taste-safe, meaning they’re perfect for little kids who just might be into exploring everything with their mouths.

 

Jackson Pollock anyone? Mix a famous artist activity and a fun Fourth painting exploration! Paint splatter the day away.

Tissue paper prints are a favorite of mine. Just remember – never use color-fast or non-bleeding tissue. Like the names say, these papers hold their colors. This means that they won’t work for prints.

While we’re at it, why stop at Fourth of July kids’ crafts? That holiday cookout means that you need some snack-y options for the kids. Summertime grilling season means one thing to me (okay, aside from the requisite hamburgers and hotdogs): S’mores!

We were a big s’mores family. After my son’s Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis last spring we’ve had to forego the ooey gooey *and super sugary) treat. But, someone should eat those tasty marshmallow stackers. So, here are a few of my favorites that are also perfect for your Independence Day party!

Pink princess. Sparkly, pink and filled with strawberry taste.

Cupcake s’mores. This one requires baking. But, it’s oh-so-good.

Cherry red coconut. Add in a few blueberries for a red, white and blue dessert.

Melting snowman. If you have a Frozen fan, these are for you.

Animal cookie ice cream sundae. Sugar-packed? Yes. A cool treat on a hot day? Yes!!!

 

With your artsy activities and tasty treats, you’ve got plenty for the kids to do (and eat) on the Fourth of July. What's your favorite Independence Day kids' craft? Share it on the Mini Monets and Mommies Facebook page!

Three Ingredient DIY Weed Spray that Really Works

I’m usually all about kids’ art activities, but sometimes I stray. This time I’m talking DIY weed killers. I know, I know – it’s a far stretch from tempera print-making, fizzing water colors and Model Magic sculptures. But, if you’re here chances are that you’ve got kids. And, if you’ve got kids, you may just want something to handle the mess in your yard that isn’t filled with toxic chemicals.

 

We spend a lot of time outside in the summer. Every year it seems like pulling the weeds turns into even more of a totally unwanted task. I sometimes joke that I want to spray the whole yard down and then cover up everything green with concrete. Sounds bad, right?

Last year I gave up. The thistle had taken over and I just couldn’t keep up. Maybe if I had a few hours every day to devote to my yard I could do it. Or, maybe if I hired a lawn service it would all look pristine. But, neither of those are possibilities. So, when my husband suggested that I try this DIY weed killer recipe I figured that it couldn’t hurt.

I would love to say that it’s 100 percent all-natural, but it isn’t. I did use blue Dawn dish soap (which obviously isn’t a naturally occurring substance). I kind of figured that if it’s safe enough to put on the dishes (that my family eats from), then it’s not in the same toxic category as plant poisons are. Even though you can’t (and definitely should not) eat this DIY blend, it isn’t as harmful as the chemical sprays available.

Here’s What You Need:

 

·        ½ cup Dawn dish soap (the blue kind)

·        1 cup salt

·        1 gallon jug distilled white vinegar

·        A spray bottle

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Empty half of the vinegar into a large mixing bowl.

2.     Add the dish soap.

3.     Stir in the salt.

4.     Pour the mix into the spray bottle.

5.     Spray the weeds thoroughly, drenching them all the way down to the ground.

So, what happened when I sprayed on this magical stuff? First, let me say – don’t spray plants or grass that you want to keep. Don’t even spray near them. You will most likely kill these greens as well. Second, this spray really works! I was kind of surprised myself at how well it worked.

Here’s what my driveway weeds looking out pre-spray:

 

Later that day:

 

The next day:

My husband took the weed spray to the backyard and hit the thistle with it. This is what happened by the next day:

Do you have a favorite DIY or natural solution to gardening or cleaning woes? Add your favorite idea in the comment section below!

Rainbow Ice Art Race

It’s an ice race! If the kids are spending the sweltering summer days complaining that they’re hot, bored and need something to do, try this science-art combo! When your kids get crafty with this easy art activity the result is educational entertainment (shhh, don’t tell them that they’re actually learning!).

Use ice to explore color mixing and states of matter. If you’re wondering how your child can use an ice cube to create colors – it’s simple. The ice isn’t the regular run-of-the-mill clear cube. Instead, your child will help you to make a batch of rainbow-hued ice to use for this summer activity. As your child goes through this project, help her to explore the process she’s engaging in. Ask questions, encourage her to ask her own questions and remind her that there’s no ‘right’ result. In the end her craft may look fairly abstract (chances are almost 100 percent that it will). And, that’s perfectly ok!

Here’s What You Need:

·        1 ice cube tray

·        Food coloring

·        Water

·        Thick white paper – Use something matte, such as card stock. Avoid shiny poster board paper (the color will run too quickly on a slick surface).

·        Optional: Salt

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Squeeze a drop or two food coloring into each compartment of the ice cube tray. Try making each section a different color. Add another layer to this step and mix the primaries (red, blue and yellow) into the secondaries (purple, green and orange).

2.     Add water to each compartment. Putting the tray under a running faucet may cause the colors to splash everywhere. Reuse an old water bottle, filling it up and gently adding the liquid to each color.

3.     Freeze the ice cubes.

4.     Place the paper on a table or another work surface (and outdoor patio is an easy-to-clean option). Ask your child to predict what she thinks will happen when she puts the colorful cubes on the paper. Also ask what will happen when two different colors of cubes meet up.

5.     Pop the frozen color cubes out. Let each rest in its tray compartment (if you toss them into one big bowl or put them on a plate the colors will start mixing before your child is ready).

6.     Line the cubes up at the top of the paper. Get ready, set and go!
 

7.     Push the cubes down the length of the paper, making streams of rainbow lines. Your child can also try lifting one end of the paper to make the cubes slide. Watch as they melt and the colors begin to mix together during the race.
 

8.     Optional: Sprinkle salt on a cube or two to see what happens. Question your child before, asking her if she thinks it will make the ice melt slower or faster.

Your child can repeat the ice art activity until it’s all melted. Try other configurations of cubes or stack them into a pyramid (and see what happens as they melt away). If the ice isn’t exactly melting, your child can chip and flake it onto the paper with the end of a spoon.

Are you looking for more summer at? Follow my Pinterest board for activity ideas!

 

 

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Colorful Ice Building Blocks for Kids

Building blocks made from ice? Why not? I love using ice. You can add color, sparkles, toys to be excavated or even chalk to it! Now the kids can explore the intricacies of architecture (or, at least the basics) through it.

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After making a batch of color-infused ice cubes to paint with, I thought, “Why not do something different with them?” Sure, letting the cubes melt into flowing water colors is artsy fun, but it isn’t the only thing the kids can do with cubes. Stacking them into towers or making mini forts combines art with science and math.  Your child is the engineer, figuring out what patterns and structures allow the icy building to stand. At the same time he needs to predict what the ice will do (in terms of changing states of matter – i.e., melting). As the ice begins to melt, the structure will change. This means your child needs to make a few adjustments.

When he’s all done building he can move the cubes to find the colorful prints left behind or just use them to create his own masterpiece!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        Ice cube tray

·        Food coloring

·        Water

·        Paper or cardboard

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Drip a few drops of food coloring into each compartment of the ice cube tray.

2.     Carefully mix water in. Pour it slowly or use a dropper so that the colors don’t spill.

3.     Freeze the cubes.

4.     Pop the ice out.

5.     Place a piece of thick paper or cardboard on a sturdy surface, such as a table.

6.     Start stacking! Your child can create any type of stack that he wants with his building blocks made from ice. Make a single tower, a pyramid or a more elaborate piece of architecture. You can also freeze different sizes or shapes of cubes (we used larger square cubes and standard-sized ones).

Before the ice melts try out a few different building techniques. Alternate colors or size of ice.

Are you looking for more icy art? Follow my science and art Pinterest board for ideas!

 

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Kids' Math Activity: Beach Ball Felt Fractions

I never liked math. There, I said it. It was boring. There were worksheets, tests and enough equations to give me little hands major cramps. So, why should I create a math activity for kids that’s just as ho-hum as I remember from way back when?

Getting hands-on and letting kids create is an easy solution to the math blahs. It’s summertime (or you’re reading this in December, wishing it was the summer), so I thought I’d go with a beach ball theme. This kids’ craft really couldn’t be much easier. It’s a super simple fraction activity – and a beach ball felt ‘board’ (technically, it’s more of a circle than an actual board). You can also use this as a math game with younger kids to build counting skills and color recognition!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        2 8x10-inch pieces of craft felt in different colors

·        Scissors

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Fold one piece of felt in half.

2.     Cut half a circle out.

3.     Open the circle.

4.     Fold the other piece of felt inside of the circle.

5.     Cut a second circle, using the first one as a template.

6.     Cut one of the circles into four equal pieces.

7.     Place all of the pieces onto the circle to make a whole.

8.     Remove one piece. Have your child to count how many are left. Ask what the fraction is (3/4 or three out of four).

9.     Take away another piece to make ½, and then another to make ¼.

10.   Add pieces, making fractions that build up to a whole. Your child can vary the positions, exploring how she creates the same amounts even though the beach ball looks different.
 

Are you looking for more kids’ crafts? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

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