My First Blog Award!!

Thank you to Hannah at Art. Paper. Scissors. for the Versatile Blogger Award nomination! I couldn't find who started this award, or what it was really for, but none the less, I was honored to received it, and excited about all the new visitors I've had to my blog because of it. Once I started the "awardee process" to nominate others for this award, I felt kind of guilty because it has taken me sooooo long to complete this post--so please don't feel obligated to "pass it on" if you don't have time. I did, however, have a lot of new blogs I've been reading over the past few months so I wanted to regcognize them. Hope you enjoy learning about some great new blogs that I've discovered!

Awardee Steps:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link them back to your post.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

3. Pass the award fifteen recently discovered bloggers. (Most of mine are recently discovered, but very well deserving!)

4. Contact these bloggers and let them know they've received their award.

Here's my 7 "Very Random" Facts About Me:

1. I have been married 16 years.

2. I have three children, one cat and two dogs.

3. I love, love, love fresh flowers-especially tulips, peonies and gerber daisies.

4. My life verse from the Bible is Hebrews 12:2

5. I love decorating (on a budget) and looking at decor magazines/blogs.

6. I'm a huge harmonizer and avoid conflict.

7. I'm great at starting new projects constantly, but can never seem to finish them.

15 Bloggers also deserving of the Versatile Blogger Award:

Flying Years

My Heart's Desire

The Yellow Daisy

Red Ted's Art Blog

Absolutely Beautiful Things

Daily Paintings By Elizabeth Blaylock

Smile Monsters

Boots McBlog

European Paint Finishes

June Pfaff Daley

My Work At Home Mom Blog

A Brush of Whimsey

KPInk

A La Mode

Lines, Dots and Doodles

Fun with Watercolor

Here's a fun way to mix things up with watercolor paints while having some fun learning color mixing and warm/cool colors. I did this project with 12 kindergarten students and it took approximately 1, 45 minute session, and 1, 20-30 minute session.

Supplies needed:

2 large pieces of white construction paper

Scissors

Watercolor paints (primary colors-I used liquid)

Watercolor brushes

Cray-Pals/Oil pastels

Table salt

1/2 water-1/2 rubbing alcohol mix in spray bottle

School Glue

On one sheet of paper instruct the students to draw an ocean floor landscape with bright oil pastels-coral, seaweed, sand, shells, etc.

On the other sheet of white paper, instruct the students on how to draw an octopus.

Now have fun mixing up some warm colors to paint your octopus. While the paint is still wet, spritz with alcohol mixture. This should produce a spotted effect. After this paper dries, instruct students to cut out their octopus.

Next, let students mix up cool colors. Before painting, wet the landscape background and then apply paint. This will cause colors to run and blend together. Before paint dries, shake on an ample amount of table salt for a really cool effect. After this paper dries, have students glue their octopus to their background.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Happy Spring!!!

Happy Lent and Spring!!!

Please check out my new post HERE.

See you back in May!

Clay Crosses

I get requests from parents to do this project again because they turn out so cute. I use Crayola air dry clay, clay stamps, metallic acrylic paint and 8 x 10 hardboard canvas board. First we knead the clay to soften, then roll out onto a flat surface to about 1/2 inch thickness. I have the kids draw out their design before hand on paper so they have a general idea of the shape of their cross. I then show the students how to use a toothpick to lightly sketch out their design onto the clay. Then using a clay knife (plastic), I show them how to cut in small sections to get a clean edge. The scrap clay can be used to add the designs on top, but students need to make sure they use the proper technique to attach their decorations. After the clay dries for over 48 hours, we paint and use gorilla glue to attach the cross to our painted canvas board. Tip: I score the backs of the cross to help the glue adhere better to the canvas. Looks great displayed on a stand, or in a frame with the glass removed. This one also makes such a nice gift to give.

Teaching Private Art Lessons

Teaching Private Art Lessons

One of my favorite things to do is teach a student to paint with acrylics one on one.

It's so nice to be able to explain each step without interruptions or feeling rushed.

I have the student pick their subject beforehand and bring the size canvas they want. They bring a picture or a drawing. Usually we can complete a painting in two hours (16 x 20 or smaller). I charge by the hour, and the price includes all supplies except for the canvas. I'm always amazed at the results when you can instruct one on one! The steps I follow are: applying the wash to background, and while that is drying we sketch out what we want to paint and talk about the challenges and color schemes. Next we sketch out our painting with a small brush and some watered down paint in a lighter color. I never let students use a pencil on canvas. Then we mix our palette, select proper brushes and get to work painting. Acrylics dry so fast that we usually just paint wet on wet. I just make sure they don't have any clumps of paint. I always have a piece of paper hand so I can demonstrate how to paint something if they are challenged and then let them try. I never paint on their painting unless it's to smooth out areas at the very end.

Art Journaling

What to do when you hear "I'm done!"

The ART of Journaling

I know I've seen a couple of posts lately on what to do with students when you hear, "I'm done," and you still have 15 minutes left in class. I've tried several different things, but I think by providing each student with an art journal you can not only "kill time", but teach them the invaluable skill of expressing themselves through art and experimenting with new mediums and styles of art.

Start at the Dollar Store-they have great hard back books for $1 each (Remember I teach a class of 6-7), but I'm sure if you have a big class you could find old books for free or really cheap at a garage sale, or even bring a old book from home.

Start by letting the students decorate the outside of their "journals" decoupage style and do an introductory lesson on Art Journaling. Explain to them that there will be a station set up each week for them to add to their "art journal" if they get finished early.

Set up a new station each week or let them try different techniques with leftover supplies from that day. We always have leftover paint, paper scraps, etc. Set out stamps, sponges, a variety of brushes, rollers.

Create art on small paper scraps and then glue into their journal. Cut out magazine pictures for inspiration and glue into journal.

Let them gesso some pages, or paint a wash over a page, paint a page black and then doodle on it later with gel pens or oil pastels. Divide a page into sections and try different techniques on the same subject.

The possibilities are endless! There are tons of sites out there with art journaling ideas-try Tammy's Daisy Yellow out for starters. I love her site!!! She has just about all the tips, recommended supplies, ideas, prompts, book lists, etc... you will need to learn about art journaling:

Check out here article on art journaling for teens and tweens here.

Personally, I'm using this book right now and it has really helped creatively. I also love Art Du Jour with Martha Lever-her journal entries are always inspiring! I'd love to hear some of the ways, posts, or tips you have on art journaling and how it works with kids.

Training your children to help those in need

"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise."

Psalm 8:2

Today is a very special day for God! And for me too! I have been so blessed over the past three years to be connected with a group of families that are constantly pursuing the call to help those in need and instill service into the hearts of their children. They do more than just "tell" their children to love their neighbor, they show them. Or I guess I should remember, GOD is teaching them, how to train their children to love their neighbor.He has been so faithful to do just that for me through Kidz RAP-KidzReaching All People.

Our family started serving with Kidz RAP three years ago when I home-schooled my girls, then ages 3, 6 and 9. One of my prayers for that year was that God would allow me to teach my children about helping those in need by being able to serve "with" them on a regular basis.

Frustration entered as I searched for a program that was "kid friendly" for our age range. To my dismay, I could not find one place in our city that had a place for us to all serve together. "But God"..... After many phone calls, someone told me about a new program called Kidz RAP. Kidz RAP was helping set up a home school group to serve monthly at one of our local food banks, and all ages were welcome. Even as we re-entered school the following year, we were blessed that Kidz RAP was establishing a monthly after school program there too. How amazing God is to answer our prayers when we are truly seeking His will!

So over the past three years, through Kidz RAP, God continues to grow a strong desire in my heart for helping those in need. Teaching this truth to my children is becoming one of my greatest passions. Now, my prayer is that others will know the JOY of serving Him in this way. I am blessed to join a group of families who have created www.kidzrap.com. Now, where ever you may be, you can have access to hands-on, kid-friendly projects, plus the support you need to implement a Kidz RAP program in your area!

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

3 John 1:4

JOY!- Seeing my 8 year old and her friend eagerly drying dishes, serving food and offering kind words to the homeless at one of our homeless shelters.

JOY! Watching my 5 year old, eagerly race back and forth between me and her dad to wash and dry dishes.

JOY! Listening to my twelve year old and her friends compassionately talk about the homeless children she met while we served at the shelter.

Please check out the new website and blog at www.kidzrap.com and share it with your friends!