Kwik Stix paint sticks

Artsy Play Wednesday

I have been super busy due to the Holidays, so I have barely had time to snap a good pic or two, even when I wanted to. So I thought I would share one of my older favorite artsy play posts! I hope you enjoy viewing it!! Click on the link to view!!

Our Abstract Mess

Highlights in collage & Artsy play wednesday

This week I decided to do something fun and highlight the last few days in collages!!

Please check out the caption under each collage to find out about it!!

Playing with basketballs and seeing Santa at a local park playground!

stickers on number papers from Confessions of a homeschooler

using clothespins to pick up feathers, sort by color and transfer them to small bowls

we read the gingerbread man and decorated gingerbread man cookies... and ate them! yum!

decided to be cool guys and wear sunglasses to sort bears by color, lace shapes from Lauri peg and stacker set. They used the lacing strings from another lacing set we have. 

made some cool designs with wedgits on the mirror table...which has a new set of lights on it!

used clothespins to pick up and sort pom poms by color into small bowls

had a lot of fun with an early Christmas gift, a rocker board! (purchased from Bella Luna toys)

sorted Christmas themed acrylic circles into tiny acrylic jars and used light table letters to spell words from picture/word cards. Their friend Garland enjoyed it too!

DIY sparkly flying dragonfly toy

This morning we made flying dragonflies!! 

We used sparkly craft pom poms, popsicle/craft sticks, glue, feathers, googly eyes, and string. We also made some snowflake ornaments using glue, popscicle/craft sticks, and beads. Read the captions under each photo to find out how to make them!!

Start by gluing craft sticks in a formation like this.

then add some glue on the top of ethe long straight stick and add pom poms

We used hot glue but you can use regular Elmer's school glue if you want

I wanted to use this as good practice with using the hot glue gun. (under my supervision of course)

on the shorter criss crossed side sticks, add glue and then one feather for each stick

when all of that is done, add eyes

then grab some string or twice, do a few criss-crosses(jump jump) and then secure them. I ended up adding a foam craft sticker over the bottom where you see that exposed string. It keeps it from tangling later.

bring the string up top, straighten out and knot it once against the base of the craft stick in between pom poms, but make sure it is even so the dragonfly is even and not front or back heavy. Just adjust it between a different set of pom poms if it is uneven and is front or back heavy. You want it to be nice and even.

all done!

We made snowflakes with craft sticks too! Basically the same as the dragonflies but shape the sticks in a snowflake formation, add glue and any beads you want.  Then you can add string to hang on your Christmas tree!

also check out our seed trees on canvas!!!  HERE

Seed trees & water color on canvas

Last week I dyed some pumpkin seeds with food coloring and rubbing alcohol. I got the seeds out today for a little art project! Graham and Parker had a lot of fun with this project. It was challenging for them though. I made one for example and then they made theirs. Basically we put clear glue down on the canvas in the shape of a tree, added the seeds, a little more glue on top the seeds, and then liquid water colors! I gave them paint brushes to move the water colors around and create a pretty background blend. We used turquoise, purple, and magenta liquid water colors. I let them dry outside until dark, them moved them inside t finish drying. I will be hanging them up tomorrow!

Mine is on the left, Parker's in the middle, and Graham's is on the right. I think they turned out really nicely!

Parker, adding some water color

Graham, contemplating his next move

Parker's tree

Graham's tree

I did a little changing up of some things in their room. I swapped out the smaller table that the light panels were on for a larger table. The table we had the light panels on was too small. I had to place the panels on them vertically. I hated them being on their vertically because they couldn't use all of the space on the light panels. With the bigger table, the light panels can be placed horizontally, and all of the space can be utilized. The tables I am using are the lifetime adjustable tables. They are used for preschools as well as for any other use you would need a table for.  I really liked this table because it is adjustable and it is a fraction of the cost of traditional school tables. I wanted a nice large table that they could do any of our learning activities, art projects, playdough, as well as building with their blocks and such. These tables are awesome. They are very sturdy and so nice! I use duct tape to tape the panels and mirrors  securely to the table and voila! It works perfectly!  I have an IKEA pocket organized fastened to the front of the table, filled with some of their small light table accessories. The rest are on the shelving to the left. You can see the tables HERE.

I switched the block play area with the book nook, they love it!! It is working out really well!!

Add your links to Artsy Play Wednesday!!!