diy: toddler painting masterpiece

i found a tutorial for a diy toddler painting while browsing youtube and thought that it seemed simple enough to give it a try.....plus, there was this large, vacant wall space in the dining room that was *begging* for a piece of custom artwork. after the success of the first painting we ended up making another, smaller version for my mother for her birthday. both were unique and amazing. 

this is the first piece that hangs in our dining room currently. 

it measures 3 feet x 5 feet.

i used this video that i found on youtube as inspiration and followed most of their color suggestions for the first piece of art.


here is the second piece of artwork that we made for my mom:

this canvas measures 30 x 24

supplies:
A LARGE stretched canvas (you could also use a piece of masonite, plywood, etc.) (mine was from michael's and was 50% off with a coupon).


gesso (michael's has this too. you don't need to do this step if using a canvas, but it does add a ton of texture)


paint brushes (larger is better since the canvas is so big. and spend your money on paint not brushes, as the brushes will likely get destroyed).


paint (i used acrylic, but the colors are up to you. you will need a base color and 3-4 of one shade, plus one other contrasting color).

drop cloth or newspapers (majorly important)


smock (a must have----or an apron that you don't care about being ruined)


squeegee (i didn't use this but they suggest it in the youtube video).


directions:
start by preparing the area by covering with newspaper or a drop cloth; you don't want to have to worry about a mess, so make it easy to clean up.


put your canvas in a place that is most accessible for little kids. (i used the dining room table.) start by applying the gesso liberally. the thicker it is, the more noticeable texture you'll get. cover the whole canvas, adding texture with the brush as you go. let this dry. (we left ours overnight.) thicker applications may take longer.


choose your base color. if your painting will mostly be done in cool colors, choose a warm base, and vice versa. we used a warm yellow for our painting (with both canvases). squirt some paint onto the canvas and then use your squeegee or brush to drag the paint across the surface, covering the whole canvas evenly.

once your base layer has dried, it's time for your little artist to get to work! because kids love to mix colors, i choose just a few variations of the same color. this way you can get interesting depth and texture, without the muddy color. i chose 4 shades of blue.

plan to give yourself a few days to complete this project. each step requires about 20 minutes of work, followed by a few hours of drying time. it's great for kids, as they can keep coming back to it throughout the day instead of having to have all of their focus for one long extended period of time.


let us know how yours turns out-----we would *love* to know.

diy painted flower pots

our friday fun finds about brightening your front porch inspired me. i love spring colors and the blooming flowers that can liven up my day. so, i decided to paint my own pots for the front porch. this is a super easy project you can do with the kiddos. so paint, plant and enjoy!

what you'll need:

• terra cotta pots in various sizes: i found these at hobby lobby, home depot, lowes, etc. just find the place where they are the cheapest. i found them priced from about a dollar to five dollars depending on the size.
• paint brushes
• stencils: i'm not good at free hand painting so these are helpful for me.
• painter's tape
• outdoor acrylic paint: these can be found for about a dollar at a craft store. look for the ones designed for the outside and that are water based for easy clean-up. please note: acrylic paint will not come out of clothes. if you get any on your clothing or your kids' clothing, wash it out immediately before it has a chance to dry.
• spray adhesive
• a stencil brush or sponge

1.  start by coating your pots in a solid paint color. i painted the insides as 

     well to make it a completely covered surface. this will help protect your 

     paint as well. terra cotta pots naturally absorb water so sealing the inside 

     will help keep your paint from bubbling or peeling. this may take a few 

     coats of paint.

2.  after the paint has dried completely, use painter's tape to mark off   

      areas you want to add a contrasting color. paint on the contrasting 

     colors and wait for it to dry completely before removing the tape.

3.  attach the stencils with the spray adhesive. 

4.  stencil in a contrasting color. again, this may take a few coats to make it 

    visible over darker colors. remove the stencils and replace, painting again 

    until your pot is covered in design. 

5.   wait for the pot to dry. this can take some time to make sure it has dried    

    completely.

6.  finally, seal the pot with a clear indoor/outdoor sealer. i like the ones  

     that come in a spray form like krylon sealers. wait for this to dry    

     completely before adding plants.

diy art project: little hands and feet paintings

interested in a fun and easy art project that makes a *fabulous* gift and preserves the memory of your little ones tiny feet and hands too? i just made these for my hubby's birthday and they turned out sooooooo cute!

supplies:


4 canvas' 10x10 (i bought two of these packs of 6 and am saving the remaining 4 for another project...or maybe the same one for grandma & grandpa.)

2 colors of acrylic paints (nothing fancy, just go find colors you like at michaels).

lots of patience :-)

directions:

take your two colors of contrasting paints and paint a solid coat (or two) onto your canvases. paint two of the canvases one color and the other two the remaining color. (this step can be done days before adding the hand & feet prints).

once dry, here comes the fun part......i figured out that the best way to complete this part of the project was with the kiddos in the bathtub and ready to be scrubbed down as soon as we were finished. (this part will also be easier if you have another adult there to assist you). simply squirt out a bunch of each color of paints onto separate paper plates. with a paint brush (i used one of the foam ones), paint one of your child's hands and press it onto 2 different canvases of the same color. (you can also take this opportunity to paint each hand separately and make one print onto each canvas, it is up to you.) from experience, i have learned that using the paintbrush to apply paint to the hands and feet makes a much cleaner print than simply dipping the hand or foot into the paint.

once you have the hand prints done, switch colors and paint the feet making one single footprint onto one of the canvases and multiple walking feet on the other canvas.

after the handprints were done, i painted my own hands and printed them near my little ones. :-)

you may want to test the contrast of the colors before you add the hands and feet prints. although the grey and green (see below) looked like a strong enough contrast when wet, you can see that it is harder to see than the tan and chocolate brown.

be sure to write the name of your child and the date on the back.

here are the finished products:

the finished product hanging in our playroom! (ignore the one on the far left that is hanging too low.....i need to fix it!)

i am happy with the results. what do you think?

let us know if you make these on your own and send us a photo of the finished products!

enjoy!

friday fun finds: woooooo else loves owls?

okay, i know what you are saying to yourself.....another bird? yes, i realize that it was a peacock obsession just a few weeks ago in "friday fun finds".........how can you resist owls?! so stinkin' cute! 

enjoy!

owl pillow--$30

love on the dance floor-8 x 8 original painting on canvas--$35

felt owl clippie--$3.25

owl bookplate rubber stamp--$12

curious owl necklace--$28

owl hat--$24.95