Art Idea For Kids: Zentangle

The other day, I came across this art idea of Zentagle and thought it would be perfect for my kids. It is kinda like doodling and they say it helps people relax. Also for kids, they say it increases their focus and concentration.

Here are some drawn by my kids and me.

It is actually quite fun to do. I especially like how the drawings turn out. It looks stunning and all it takes is simple strokes. So simple even your children can do it.

To get the kids excited, I bought a special notebook for us to draw in and also 2 special pens.

Here's a video to get your started on the idea. In the video, you can pick up the different kinds of patterns you can do. There is no right or wrong. You just draw whatever your heart feels like. Great way to nurture the creativity in your kids.



Recommended Books

#3450 Zentangle Basics


Design Originals-Zentangle For Kidz


I hope you have fun tangling!


p.s. The Zentangle® Method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and is copyrighted. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com

Candy Bouquet For Teacher's Day Or Any Occasion

This is my candy bouquet for Teacher's Day.

Teacher's Day rolled by and I figured I wanted to give something nice to my son's kindy teachers coz' they're really nice. They are dedicated teachers and I like how they are always smiling. That's a tough thing to do when you have to deal with so many young cheeky kids. Plus my son loves going to school there and it is because of the warm environment they've created that makes it conducive for them to learn.

Anyway, I decided to do this candy bouquet last minute. So I scrounged around for stuff and I had what I needed: satay sticks, colored tape (ideally it should be green but I only had yellow), colored tissue paper, glass paper and ribbon. I remembered how some people put 2 Hershey Kisses together to make a rose bud, so I decided to go with that.

Around the rosebud, I wrapped the colored tissue paper. I cut the top so it looked frilly, like petals. Added some curly ribbons to make it look nicer. Used green paper to cut out the leaves and had my son write "Happy Teacher's Day" on them. The kindy only has 4 teachers so I figured I'd give 2 flowers to every teacher.

My son loved the idea and the teachers were ecstatic to receive a unique, homemade gift.

These flowers actually turned out better than the Mother's Day candy bouquet I made. You could make these for any occasion: Valentines' Day, birthday, anniversary etc....



You could also put it into a vase to make a centerpiece for your table.

If you want to learn how to make candy bouquets (you could even start a business doing this), check out this book by Lana Glass. She has tons of ideas and she teaches you step-by-step: How To Make Candy Bouquets For Fun & Profit

Make Your Own Pinwheel

I remember as a little girl, I loved to play with pinwheels. Once in a while my mom would buy one for me and it would have candy at the bottom of the handle. Good memories. So when I saw that MyMemories was giving this freebie to make pinwheels, I was all game. I've already downloaded it for myself.

If you have a bored toddler or want to inject some fun into your children's party, why not make some colorful pinwheels. Here are the freebies to help you. Only free until 21st April 2013. Grab it before they put the price back on.

Here are the links to the different digital kits

FREEBIE 1

FREEBIE 2

FREEBIE 3

To claim the free gift, you will need to create an account at the MyMemories website. Then you just click "add to cart" and you'll be able to download from your "my downloads" page.

The easiest way is to have the MyMemories Suite Scrapbooking software. If you do, you can easily install it directly to the software. If you don't have the software, you can still use the free digital kit. Just choose the download option for general use. It is suitable for software applications such as Adobe Photoshop & Photoshop Elements, Paint Shop Pro, etc....

Crochet Project: Bottle Covers

My mom has been making these for my kids: Bottle covers.

My daughter came home and told me that her friends liked it very much. They asked where they could buy it. When she told them her grandmother made it, they asked if one could be made for them and they would pay for it :)

The pattern is very simple. Not complicated at all. Sorry, don't ask me for instructions. If you know how to do some crocheting, this will be a very simple project. Just do a base to fit the bottom of the bottle, and then a simple chain of five for the sides. Change the color of the yarn to make it look nicer. Do a string to tie the top and add pom-poms.

Crayon Art

Last Saturday I sat down with my kids to do some art work. Instead of me teaching them, I let my eldest daughter take the lead. She shared an art project she did at school.

Basically, you take some paper and cut out any shape you want. Then you take a crayon and color the sides of the shape. Next, you place the cut out paper onto your art block paper and smear the crayon with your finger.

Okay, I know I'm not very good at explaining this, so why don't I just show you. Watch the video.

I also found out that it works best if you use oil pastel crayons. Don't use wax crayons. You won't be able to rub anything off.

It was interesting how the 4 of us (my 3 kids and me) each did our crayon art differently. My eldest daughter decided she wanted to do a scenery. D1 was cutting out shapes of dragons and other creatures. D2 stuck to basic shapes and just randomly put them wherever on the page. Me, I did circles and tried to arrange them in a geometric manner. Well, here's how our art turned out. Hope this gives you an idea on your next art project.

Keeping Busy With Art

How do you keep your kids busy during the school holidays?

One thing I've learned as a parent is that if you don't have anything for your kids to do, they will either spend endless hours on the computer, veg out in front of the television, end up quarreling with one another or do something that drives you up the wall.

I'm pretty lucky that my older 2 kids do not object to doing art work. Unfortunately they have a mother who is pretty hopeless when it comes to art. That's why I'm thankful for this site: Art Projects For Kids.

So, these are some of the art projects that my kids chose to do.

Abstract tree

Hot Air Balloons 

 Recycled Rooster

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

Scratching your head trying to think up of a Mother's Day Gift? Here's a personal gift that will definitely put a smile on any mother's face. It's a craft that your children can easily do too. Quickly download this as it is not going to be available forever.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

This kit includes 2 digital papers, 2 page elements and 2 quick pages

You can get it by clicking this link:

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

This kit is MyMemories Suite compatible. So if you have that scrapbook software, you can load straight into it. No hassle. If you don't have the software, you can still use it. Just make sure you select the option that says "General Zip" when you download.

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING
Use this discount code to reduce the price by $10 (and also get a $10 gift voucher):  STMMMS86598

Photobox Tutorial

• Download template file and install it into your software
• Using MyMemories Suite, choose Create Album From Designer Template and find your project
• Now you can add pictures, print and enjoy the provided template, or customize it with your own papers and embellishments.

TIP:
You can right-click on the white guide and lock it in place to keep it from moving while you are working. Make sure this is the top layer of your project before printing.

Instead of adding the paper as a background paper, you can add it as an embellishment so that you can move the paper around. This is especially useful when using papers with stripes or circles, so you can decide which part of the paper you want to use.

Once it is added as an embellishment, you can now select the paper and move it into the position you want it.


Just SAVE and PRINT on cardstock!

Terrific Thursday Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

Need a craft to do this week? How about a gift bag? Just print this scrapbook kit and do a little folding. Use it for to package party favors or even wedding party favors. Only available this week. So download it now.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

You can get it by clicking this link:

 This kit includes 2 digital papers, 4 page elements and 2 quick pages.

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

Here is how you do it:

• Open MyMemories Suite software and choose your album size (chose 8.5 x 11 for a printable project). 
• Add the papers and elements you wish to use to create your own printable project
• When you are finished, click: SHARE ALBUM ====> EXPORT PAGES and save as a .jpg!  The new .jpg papers you created are now usable as stand alone printable projects to use and reuse anytime! 

Take a look at how it is done:

The Freebies enclosed are just samples of the printable projects you can make!  Just print, cut, score, fold and use!  You can add a little ribbon handle, and voila!!  What a great way to give a gift!!  It's inexpensive, available at any time, and easy to personalize!! So many great uses - so easy and fun!

You can do so many interesting and beautiful projects with MyMemories Suite. If you don't have the  software yet, don't wait! Get it today! Use this discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING


Hope to hear from you soon and happy scrapping!

Scrapbook Freebie: Freebie: MyMemories Scrapbook Kit

Did you know you can use MyMemories Suite to create gift bags? Yeah, next time you need to package a gift, you could just print this scrapbook kit to make it.  I'll give you another gift bag kit next week, so do come back.

Here's the preview to this week's scrapbook kit:

You can get it by clicking this link:

 This kit includes 2 digital papers and 2 quick pages.

I WANT THIS DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK KIT

Here is how you do it:

• Open MyMemories Suite software and choose your album size (chose 8.5 x 11 for a printable project). 
• Add the papers and elements you wish to use to create your own printable project
• When you are finished, click: SHARE ALBUM ====> EXPORT PAGES and save as a .jpg!  The new .jpg papers you created are now usable as stand alone printable projects to use and reuse anytime! 

What it looks like:

The Freebies enclosed are just samples of the printable projects you can make!  Just print, cut, score, fold and use!  You can add a little ribbon handle, and voila!!  What a great way to give a gift!!  It's inexpensive, available at any time, and easy to personalize!!  What about making these for your child's birthday party favors?  Wedding Party Favors?  So many great uses - so easy and fun!

If you don't have the MyMemories Suite software yet, don't wait! Get it today!
You don't have to pay full price when use this discount code that will slash $10 off the price. Plus, you get another $10 gift certificate to buy stuff at their online store. Just copy and paste this code:
STMMMS86598

Here's where you can get the software:
MY MEMORIES SUITE: SOFTWARE FOR SCRAPBOOKING


Hope to hear from you soon and happy scrapping!

She Did Her First Cross Stitch

This is my daughter's first cross stitch project. I bought the kit from an online store. I gave her basic directions on what to do and then left it to her to complete it.

She enjoyed doing it and felt proud she got it done. Yes, she made mistakes that needed to be undone. It was a lesson in perseverance.

I tried cross stitch when I was 15 year old. Sadly, I didn't finish the project. I completed about 85%. I made a mistake doing the outline and then didn't bother after that. Maybe I should have started with something smaller.

MAMAS PARENTING TIP
If you are getting your child's first cross stitch project, start with something simple and small.

Art Ideas For Kids

Last week the kids had a 1 week holiday. I didn't want them to be on the computer or TV the whole time and so, had to think of something to keep them busy. Thank goodness I found this website called Art Projects for Kids. The owner of the blog is Kathy Barbro and she's an art teacher. She shares her art projects that she does with her students.

Many of them are simple enough for my kids to do. I like how the projects teach the kids art concepts too (and she tells you what it is). You can follow what she does or use it to spark an idea. It is a wonderful website if you need art project ideas for your kids.

Got the idea from Contour Fall Leaves.I had the kids pick leaves from the garden, trace it and then draw the contours. Gave them options of coloring the contours of each leaf in different tones of the same color or choose 2 contrasting colors.

This idea borrowed from Kathy's Warm Hands project. Learned a bit about warm and cool colors.

Introducing Van Gogh with Sunflowers, Up Close & Personal. Learning how to draw sunflowers and pictures that go off the paper. You can learn how to draw sunflowers from this guy: draw sunflower video.

My kids seem to like doing it. Of course I had to sit with them and supervise. With my 4 year old son, I sometimes had to help him do the coloring. He also needed lots of encouragement to keep him going. I believe doing art helps to develop patience and focus. Not forgetting it helps little kids to develop their fine motor skills too.

We are looking forward to many more art projects. Here's another website that we are looking at: Mrs. Picasso's Art Room. I really appreciate her tutorial on how to paint a tree in her Sparkly Tree's project.


MAMAS PARENTING TIP

• To encourage kids to do art, create a mini art center for them in the house. Stock it up with crayons, color pencils, paint, paint brushes of different sizes, glue, etc....
• Teach kids how to clean up after they are done, or else you'll be a grouch every time they ask to do art.
• Display their completed art projects proudly.
• Do it together with them. This is one of the biggest motivator.
• Mistakes will happen. 
• Their art doesn't have to look perfect. It's a time for learning.
• Many things can be done to get our kids away from the computer and TV. First, mom must learn to get off the computer herself :)

Simple Pumpkin Painting

Image by Steve Snodgrass via Flickr

With each annual visit to the pumpkin patch, teachers, room mothers, scout troop leaders and parents alike often wonder how to make the most of the prize pumpkin that was chosen by a child. Forget the messy and dangerous ideas of carving. Pumpkin Painting is the perfect solution to a creative dilemma!

Painting silly, goofy or scary faces or other designs can be a fun, yet relatively simple activity for children and adults. Preschool age children can even participate in creating their own designs for their pumpkins. You certainly can't say that about carving pumpkins!

The easiest design to paint on a pumpkin is a traditional jack-o-lantern face. But here are some other ideas for festive designs:

• silly or goofy faces
• favorite cartoon characters 
• fall leaves 
• scarecrow
• witch
• princess
• turkey
• spider 
• ghosts
• cats 
• goblin 

Painting pumpkins is a very economical craft as most supplies are readily available (you probably already have some of these in your home):

• washable markers
• acrylic craft paints
• newspaper
• spray sealer 
• accessories such as raffia, jewelry, hats, etc.

 Before beginning, decide what design you are going to paint and trace that design onto a clean pumpkin. You can freehand the design or select one of the many designs in the ultimate e-guide for pumpkin painting, Easy Pumpkin Painting. Once you or your child has painted their first pumpkin, chances are you’ll want to paint an entire pumpkin family to proudly display at your home.

Pumpkin Painting is an annual family tradition at our house. We hope it will be at yours as well. Easy Pumpkin Painting is a guide that contains step-by-step instructions and color photographs of exactly how to paint the cutest Halloween pumpkins. It also contains templates that you can use to paint your first pumpkin in about an hour! Easy Pumpkin Painting makes painting pumpkins, well, Easy!

By: Easy Crafts Network

* Post contains affiliate links.

Crochet A Headband With Flower

My mom bought some yarn and crochet needles for my girl to learn. We found on YouTube a simple project for her to do - a 3 strand headband. She did okay crocheting the basic chain but got frustrated doing the slip stitch. This girl of mine gives up easily. So, I made it into a "duet" project: She did all the basic chain and I did all the rest.

She was very happy when it was completed. I also was very happy coz' I learned something new too. I can now crochet a flower. Woohoo!

I was just thinking to myself, how lucky we are these days with the internet. Before, I would have to go to the yarn shop to look for somebody to teach me. Now, all I have to do is turn on my computer.

Anyway, if you are looking for a simple crochet project, you can try this first. Here are the 2 videos to show you how:
Part 1 http://youtu.be/L3ctJeez3tk
Part 2 http://youtu.be/Clq3zTgWHy8

Father's Day Project For Kids

Father's Day is next week. You can use thIS theme to get your kids busy on something.

If you're not sure what to do, download this Father's Day kit that I put together some time ago. It's a Father's Day booklet where your children can insert some of their drawings, art and craft and photographs to make it special for dad (or grandpa).

Click here to have a better idea of what is in the Father's Day kit and also the link to download it.
FATHER'S DAY IDEA KIT

P.S. If you want something really nice from Tiny Prints, you can get a free Father's Day card with this code: FREEFD. But you'll want to hurry coz' it expires 6/13/2011.

Get your free card thought my affiliate link:

FREE FATHER'S DAY CARD FROM TINY PRINTS

If you like this post, tweet it or share it on your Facebook. And don't forget to follow me so we can be friends.

What Easter Stuff Are Parents Doing With Their Children?

Image via WikipediaI was looking around the net and found so many fun Easter things parents were doing with their children. I decided to list them down here for your convenience:

• The Artful Parent shows you how you can decorate a blown egg with paper napkin decoupage. I like the idea of blown eggs as oppose to hard boil eggs so they last longer. She has a whole post on how to blow the egg too.
  
  
• Childhood 101 gives us some ideas on how to add literacy into an Easter egg hunt.
  
  
• Meet the Dubiens shares how we can make magical jellybeans grow into a lollipop. How fun!
  
  
• Playing by the Book gives directions on how to preparing and playing Egg Drop. If you don't mind the mess later on, you can try this.
  
  
• You can have fun in the kitchen doing these Easter cookies that look like baby chicks. Busy Mom on the Go shows you how.
  
  
• How about a frugal but super cute craft. Frugal Family Fun Blog demonstrates how to make a Teensy Tiny Easter Basket that you can fill with little chocolate eggs.

Hope you like the links and have a fun Easter everyone.

November's Craft Ideas For Kids

When my kids get rowdy and start doing all sorts of nonsense, it is usually because they don't have anything better to do. Idle minds are a dangerous thing. If you need some activities to keep your kids busy, crafts are usually a good idea. So, here are some links to craft ideas for this month. Have your kids take a break from jumping on the sofa or messing up the house. Offer them some creative down time.

• Raising Olives shares her recipe for salt dough. Give your child a chance to enjoy some molding, sculpting and painting.
  
• Make paper plate sunflowers to brighten up your home. Davinie shares how she does it with her girl.
• Cute turkeys made out of pinecones from FamilyFun. There's even a video to show you how to do it.
• Another turkey craft: A Thanksgiving turkey by Crafts-For-All-Seasons. This one will look great as a centrepiece for your Thanksgiving table. There are step-by-step instructions and pictures too.
• Little Gobbler by Woman's Day. It's decorating a paper cup to look like a turkey. But more than that, you can fill the cup later with treats like popcorn. Yummm... I'm sure the kids will like that.
• Okay, enough of turkeys? How about a fingerprint fall tree craft? Really, really easy to do. Have a look at All Kids Network.

Hope you liked the suggestions. If you have anymore, please share here.
Have fun crafting.

Candy Flowers

Mother's Day is next Sunday and the primary children at church usually hand out a gift to the women folk. Well, my primary president wanted to give out chocolates and I suggested making candy flowers to make it look more presentable. So, she got me the stuff and this is what I crafted.

I hope the ladies will like it. If you want to learn how to make this, I've got the instructions here: How To Make A Candy Flower Bouquet

Chinese New Year Decorations

My Chinese New Year decorations every year is very minimal. I usually take 3 angpows, clip them together then string them up. Well, this year I'm inspired by Mumsgather. She wrote a post about how she and the kids spent some time doing angpow crafts. So this year, I taught the kids how to make fish angpows. You can get the instructions here. Here they are hanging on my wall:

When they were done, my girl counted and proudly declared they had made 44. Mommy immediately said "choi, choi, not a good number, make some more." KokoD also made some. But in the end I had to "repair" a lot of his work. I also tried making an angpow lantern. Here is how it turned out:

Mamas Parenting Tip:
Fish angpows are very easy to do. I would say suitable for children 6 years and up. Must be able to handle scissors well and avoid stapling their own fingers :)