The Artful Parent

Beaded Garden Ornaments

We were on a roll with our beads and pipecleaners the other day when we made our beaded bubble wands, so we just kept stringing beads to make these garden ornaments. This is a project that has been in the back of my mind for a few years now, ever since I saw similar beaded garden ornaments for sale through the Gardener's Supply Company catalog (although they don't seem to be available anymore).

Flower Stained Glass

We brought a bit of the garden inside a few days ago, making another flower stained glass window—this time for the kitchen door. As before we used flower petals and contact paper. Super easy! And flowery beautiful, of course.

Sometimes we like our bouquets two dimensional.

I also like how it provides a level of privacy yet lets in more light than a curtain to our otherwise windowless kitchen.

I had this set up as a simple after school project to do with Maia and Daphne.

Washi Tape Suncatchers: Experimenting with Different Ideas

Okay, so I meant to post about these suncatchers before Easter since some of them are sort of Easter-y, but I guess it's still relevant since it's mostly about how to use washi tape for suncatchers.

Washi tape (at least the kind from Discount School Supply; can someone confirm if regular Japanese washi tape is the same?) is very thin and somewhat transparent and so works well for suncatchers in theory since it looks beautiful with the sun shining through.

Valentine Suncatcher Craft with Colored Notebook Dividers

Do you remember how impressed I was with the Kiwi Crate we received last December—especially the suncatcher activity in it? I've been meaning to buy some colored film ever since, but haven't, partly because I don't know where to find it (anyone?) and partly out of sheer laziness. However! When I came across this post about learning with light at Still Parenting (via Pinterest of course), I was thrilled at the colored shapes she made for her light table from cheap notebook dividers. Thrilled because one of these days I will surely make us our own light table (I've only been saying that for the last three years). And thrilled because the solution to my colored film search was presented to me on a platter.

Colorful, yet sheer, notebook dividers!

Guest Post: Recycled Water Bottle Snowflakes

I am happy to share a series of guest posts with you by other Artful Parents and teachers while I step back from the blog a bit this month! I hope you enjoy the new perspectives, different ideas, and fresh energy that each brings to this space. And I encourage you to leave a comment after the post to continue the discussion, add your own viewpoint, or simply say thanks!

Guest Post by Melissa Jordan

I’m so excited to blogging here at The Artful Parent! Jean’s blog was the first Artsy Mama blog that I started following back in 2009.  She has definitely been an inspiration to begin my own blog: The Chocolate Muffin Tree. This post is about making snowflake sun catchers from recycled water bottles, tissue paper, glue/water, and glitter! This idea is very similar to my Recycled Water Bottle Flowers post.

Lacy Punched Salt Dough Ornaments. Beaded Ones, Too!

I had some salt dough left over (wrapped and refrigerated) from our stamped salt dough extravaganza and on a whim invited a friend over for some salt dough fun yesterday. She wanted to try stamping the dough, while I tried a couple of new ideas I've had in mind. Our toddlers wove in and out of the action with playing, snacking, fighting over toys, and working with the salt dough themselves.

Rainbow-lighted cardboard dollhouse and Artterro art kit giveaway

I've seen a lot of great cardboard dollhouses around the web lately, and when a friend's birthday came up, we decided to create our own version as a gift. This sweet "rainbow" dollhouse was created from a cardboard box, an Artterro "creativity kit," and some rainbow Christmas lights. Maia had so much fun creating it and so fell in love with the finished product that we are already planning another that she can keep.

Here's how to make the dollhouse:

A doily stained glass window (and some links)

Take a look at the new faux stained glass window on our front door! I used doilies this time. Doilies and contact paper. Isn't it pretty and wintery and perfect for Christmas? We're a little slower than usual in getting our decorations up and this was my attempt at a Christmas-y front door. I made it while Maia was at school yesterday and she was so bummed that I had made something without her! I had to promise we'd decorate another window this way soon...

Here's how I did this (in case you'd like to try it yourself for some quick Christmas decorating):

Kiwi Crate: children's art kit 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 art project is on our list. So when a PR company offered to send me a Kiwi Crate kit, I was skeptical but curious. I am skeptical no more. Seriously good fun was had (and is still being had) by both kids.

Take a look at all that was packed into this box:

Autumn Leaves Stained Glass

We made a new "stained glass" window for our front door using Autumn leaves and contact paper. Pretty, eh? These leaves are from a parking lot tree. I'm such a sucker for colorful fall leaves that I've gotten to the point where I stop to gather some when I'm running errands.