Creativity Can

We recently went to the Mastermind Toys opening day in Coquitlam and they were handing out goody bags to the children. The packs contained some fabulous items including the Creativity Can. The Creativity Can contains all the items you need to make something out of a glue, paper, pipe cleaners and more. It really gets the kids imaginations going. My kids were starting to ask me, "What can I make mum?" but I refused to give them any ideas, they need to learn to think for themselves, all I said was, "Create what you want, use your imagination, it is not right or wrong, just play." Within seconds both my girls were creating. 

Here are some of the things they made. It may not make any sense to us but being creative doesn't have to make sense.

In the pack was a Playmobil game that hasn't been played yet.

A can that is about to be opened.

Reindeer's and butterflies.

Two wheel monster.

Being creative is fun.

Pumpkin Painting for Halloween.

This is so easy for little ones and big ones. I got my inspiration from some paintings I saw in a local gallery and I went out and bought some acrylic paint from Michaels. The store has a sale on so these paints came to 50cents each, Squeeze the paint over the pumpkins, these are mini hand sized pumpkins, great for kids to take to school for show and share. Let them loose with all the paints and away they go. 

They loved seeing the paints blend, drip and form shapes. I found it so much fun that I was inspired to create a personalised card using the same dribbling method. Acrylics take very little time to dry but I left these out to dry, undercover, overnight. It is a quick and easy project. They will look awesome for Halloween decorations and Thanks Giving table decorations. 

Pro-D Days

During professional days (pro d days) when the school is closed I sometimes book my kids into the local art center Port Moody Art Center. They are super organised, friendly, experienced and they are very reasonably priced and the kids love it. The kids can choose from creating puppets and a theatre, painting or clay. They make the most amazing pieces. Here are some of the boxes they made recently. 

Birthday Party - Creating Plates

My kids went to a birthday party at the local arts centre and this is what them came home with.  How cool is that! What better way to spend a celebration and all the kids get to bring something home that they made all by themselves.

Valentines for Kids

Valentines in North America is very different to the UK. In North America it is encouraged that children love each other; it is all about friendship which I think is fantastic. However in the UK it is very focused on getting a date and how many cards you receive, very much a popularity contests; it is awful.

We are embracing Valentines by adding to a tree all the people who we love and are special in our lives. For my little lovelies I have picked up this five foot poster with heart shaped paper, you can add names to the paper and stick onto the tree. I can't wait to see what the kids put on it. I have already added to it to get them started.

New Year clean-up

I am trying my hardest to teach the kids to keep their belongings tidy and place them in a spot where they can find them. It is a battle.

However, here is one of my ideas, I would like to call it a solution but it will probably be a temporary solution, kids are notorious for being untidy and have time to play but not for clean-up. Besides, kids should be kids and not have to worry about these things too much but a little nudging helps. But when my girls do tidy their room they are spotless, I love it.

They have a an art desk with draws but instead of placing the art materials in a orderly fashion it is all displaced and spread over several draws. So now we have a paper draw, a pen draw and paint draw and materials draw and these lovely little pots are for easy access for everyday needs, $1.25 each.

Pro D Day - Puppet and Theatre Making

Pro D day was spent at Port Moody Art Center, creating a lovely puppet theatre and puppets. The centre is lovely and has some very experienced staff. They have courses for everyone but I love the sessions for the kids. They really know how to get them creating and experimenting.

These are the characters for their stage. 

Arts and Crafts

The local art center, Place Des Arts, had a free lantern making open day for kids. They made lanterns and paper flowers and clay owls. It was a great afternoon spent creating.

Paper flower

 Lantern. Made with a bottle.

 Paper Lantern

Paper Latern

How to Make a Dancing Puppet

A dancing puppet

 Supplies: Glue, dole/rod, pipe cleaners, eyes, glitter glue, polystyrene ball, cotton wool or pom pom balls, wired ribbon. 

 Wired ribbon.

• With a pencil pierce a hole into the polystyrene ball. Insert the dole into the hole and securely place, you may need glue for added security.
• With the pom, pom balls glue to each side of the polystyrene ball to make the ears, or create hair, whatever works for you. Be creative.
• Add the eyes to the ball. Use a pen or glitter glue to add facial features.
• The piping can be used to create the arms, wrap it around the dole and tie at the back and glue to secure. 
• The wired ribbon acts as the clothing, cut a nice length of the ribbon and wrap around the body (dole rod), glue to secure.  

Share you dancing puppets :)

4Cats Art Studio for Kids

During the summer my kids went to 4Cats. It is a fantastic place for kids to paint, create, play with clay and learn about artists. They painted the pirate ships as per the image and they made a small cup and an owl with clay, plus a paper mache animal. They are now on full display on a shelf. They are amazing pieces of work any artist would be proud of.

Wish I had a kids art studio to go to as a kid.

xxx

Fairy paintings

Happy New Year 2013!

Time has flown and I have been busy creating and organising and getting through some challenging times but I am feeling up-beat for this year and have been creating with the kids.

Latest WIP, fairy paintings with sequins for a bit of glam.

First stage:



Second stage:


MM 6 yrs, Mum, VM 4 years.

Christmas Decorations

I know, I know, but Christmas is in the air and the chill is setting in and today was a day for us all to have hot chocolate and making decorations in preparation.

There was glue, paint, cardboard cereal box and lots and lots and lots of GLITTER! Girls love glitter and I am sure little boys do too and it is perfect for making Christmas inspired decorations. I cut out the shapes from the cereal box, any shape it does not matter because it will be covered in glitter and sparkle, besides at my kids age being perfect and pristine is not what it is all about, it is about fun, getting glue and glitter everywhere and learning to be creative. Before the glitter I added glue to red paint, (choose your paint colour all personal preference) then add as much glitter as one can take. Hey presto!

I am having problems with my camera so I will post the decorations when I get it working but for now, imagine, create and have fun.

Camera is working, kind of but here is what I have got...