Warm Colors

The weather is changing and so are the leaves. This project is geared for children ages 2-5. This is part of the OKCMOA's new program called Tiny Tuesdays. This day we painted. I supplied the children with a warm color paint palette. We used red, yellow and orange. No rules, just fun!



Sometimes I like to give kids different items to paint with. This day we used feathers, brushes, sponges and q-tips.



With our sleeves rolled up and aprons on they were ready to use their tools and hands too!



I set up a glitter station for those that wanted to add some sparkle when they were finished. Happy, busy kids!





You will need:
-heavy paper. We used tagboard
-variety of brushes and tools: brushes, q-tips, sponges, feathers and more.
-paint. I use Crayola washable tempera
-glitter optional

Little Monsters

Happy Halloween! Monsters aren't just for Halloween, you can make these sweet guys anytime! A great group of children ages 15 months-3 years old joined me for a monster making class.



We read Goodnight Goon, talked about monsters and found spooky colors in the gallery. We found goon green, pumpkin orange and black cat.



I forgot to take pictures of the assembly line, but it was pretty much set up like this. I pre-cut monster eyes, noses, mouths and teeth. I cut silly teeth (rectangles) and sharp teeth (triangles). I also pre-cut hair which the kids could bend, crunch or curl. **Older children could cut all of their own pieces.



Everyone went through the line to pick their parts in a variety of colors. Monster bodies were from a piece of paper folded in half and artists and helpers were instructed to cut any shape, just not to cut the fold.

Monsters unfolded reveal a fun shape. Perfect!

This is glued to a heavy piece of black paper. We used tagboard. From here kids used a gluestick to make their monster! They turned out very silly, scary and quite fun!









You will need:
-cardstock
-scissors
-gluestick
-black tagboard

Creative Cars

This was a really fun class I did at the OKCMOA for kids ages 3-5. We read a book, talked about the parts on a car and used the Jonathan Hils exhibition, INTERSECTION as our inspiration. In the classroom we had so much fun! ***note: This is a LOT of prepwork and is not typical. This class was for 10 kids. I think this is a great project for a moms with a few kids and if you're crazy enough to do this for more than 10 kiddos I'm pretty sure you earn sainthood. :)



I prepped by painting banker boxes and cutting out an area on the bottom of the box leaving a 2 inch area around it to attach suspenders and to keep the box in it's shape. The kids chose a color and got to work. If you plan on painting allow this to be a two day project.





The material table included colored tape, paper, solo cups, paper plates and more to decorate our cars.









You can see we used paper plates and brads for wheels and solo cups attached with brads for headlights.











I cut 4 slots for ribbon on the boxes. We threaded ribbon to make suspenders for kids to wear their cars out of the classroom! Of course we had to have a car parade first!

You will need:
-a box (copy boxes are great. I bought a package of banker boxes at Walmart for 11 dollars)
-paint for car color (allow time to dry)
-paper plates
-brads
-solo cups
-glue sticks, school glue
-construction paper scraps
-tape
-scissors
-ribbon to make suspenders
-anything else you want to add!

Grouting Mosaics

Grout, grout, grout. I was so tired of grouting that I didn't take any good close up shots. Plus my husband took my boys and my good camera camping so I am left with a few cruddy iPhone pics.

I was working on a big scale so I laid out a tarp and got busy. In a coolwhip container I mixed up my SANDED tile grout. I used white but you can buy a variety of colors. Follow directions but usually I just add water a mix a batch at a time until it is like frosting. Let it sit for a few minutes to activate.



I wear GLOVES. It is a dirty business and if you are doing a lot it dries your hands terribly.



So, smoosh grout all over your piece. It will cover but that is okay. You want it to get in all the nooks and crannys.

I have a big bucket filled with water. You DO NOT want to do this in your sink!!! I get my sponge wet and squeeze most of the water out. I rub the top of the piece to remove excess grout and the majority of grout off the pieces. A white film will remain. You can keep wiping but it will remain until it is dry and cleaned off with windex. This bucket is a dump bucket. NEVER DUMP DOWN DRAIN! I have a nasty spot in my backyard I dump in. The big bits of dried grout get thrown away when it dries. All of your tools need to be cleaned in that same bucket.



When everything is wiped clean, set to dry for about 4 hours. Then you can lightly rub with an old tshirt to remove haze and use tools to remove any other unwanted grout. Now wait 24 hours! Then hit the tiles, beads etc with windex that is sprayed on paper towels to add shine. DO NOT spray your mosaic! These instructions are meant for small indoor pieces. If you want outdoor pieces that is another ballgame. Enjoy!