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The Artful Parent Best of 2011

As we near the end of the year, I thought I'd do the obligatory blog "best of" list (for the first time, I believe). These are the top posts of 2011 based on number of readers: Flower petal stained glass door 10 simple art activities to set up for after school How to make a […]

Make a Rainbow Lighted Cardboard Dollhouse

I’ve seen a lot of great DIY dollhouses around the web lately, and when a friend’s birthday came up, we decided to create our own version of a cardboard dollhouse as a gift. This sweet rainbow house was created from a cardboard box, an Artterro “creativity kit,” and some rainbow Christmas lights. Maia had so much […]

Create a Canvas Print from a Childs Masterpiece

I finally hung something up in our not-so-newly painted bedroom! I’ve been enjoying the spare walls, but also wanted to only put artwork and decorations back up that were really special. I now have something seriously special and hung it up over the weekend. It’s Maia’s sun painting transfered from the poster board it was […]

Kiwi Crate :: Kids Activity Kits By Mail

This little green crate holds so much art fun inside, and I have to admit I would never have guessed it. I’ve always been a total do-it-yourselfer and if I saw an art kit in one aisle, I’d go down the next and seek out all the individual items that I might need for whatever […]

Experimenting with How to Draw Books

I finally gave in and brought home a how to draw book from the library. I just knew Maia would love it and many of you were encouraging about the idea when I asked, even though I was (and still am) ambivalent. Here’s one comment from Karen that especially hit home for me: …When your […]

Mary Ann Athens on Art in Education

Mary Ann Athens is an amazing Asheville-area elementary art teacher and the mother of two. I first starting hearing about her, her summer camps, and her after-school art programs a few years ago and am excited to finally interview her on The Artful Parent! Here she quotes Einstein and talks about the challenges and importance […]

Painting with pine branches: process-oriented art in action

As process-oriented art goes, painting with pine boughs and other evergreen branches is up there with fingerpainting and squeezing playdough. It’s all about the process, all about the sensory experience (prickly needles, fresh pine smell), and all about exploring what it’s like to paint with this novel tool and how it can transfer paint to […]

Willow :: A childrens picture book about art and imagination

We have a fun new childrens picture book about art and creativity! Willow, written by Denise Brennan-Nelson and Rosemarie Brennan, and illustrated by Cyd Moore. While this book is new to us (I bought it for Maia’s birthday), it is not new to the world (It was published in 2008). It’s about an imaginative and […]

Quiet-Time Art Game for Children

My friend Rachel has been playing a simple quiet-time art game with her middle child, Nathan, who is four. I really like the idea and wanted to share it with you (and try it myself). They each sit at opposite ends of the sofa with a piece of paper and a pencil and take turns […]

Mirror-image string prints with the Toddler Art Group

We made some mirror-image string prints with the toddler art group yesterday. It’s actually a variation of making ink blots or blottos, but using paint-covered string instead. The process is fun and the result is pretty cool! Mirror Image String Prints MATERIALS String or yarn Paint Paper INSTRUCTIONS To make these string prints, fold a sheet of […]