rock monsters

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNtOf3ChqOoW9JIWDVnYryef5mWtukApgm6L63DjJiKstBA2zmIKsK5bwLdSW9LTnERblHoiBtC2t9If6eLMHrP-tUz-fQCMIr_LQVHpf6a010gNamsm5Er9BhqIABl4kqsg35aqO5g0/s1600/rock3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNtOf3ChqOoW9JIWDVnYryef5mWtukApgm6L63DjJiKstBA2zmIKsK5bwLdSW9LTnERblHoiBtC2t9If6eLMHrP-tUz-fQCMIr_LQVHpf6a010gNamsm5Er9BhqIABl4kqsg35aqO5g0/s1600/rock3.jpg" /></a></div><br />Friday I decided to make <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=rock%20monsters" target="_blank">Rock Monsters</a> with Oscar. The project filled the better part of the day and became <i>slightly </i>addictive.<a href="http://instagram.com/p/jAeYlUQsq3/" target="_blank"> Oscar's rocks can be seen here </a>- They weren't available for the photograph above above as Oscar had since hidden the rocks throughout our house. (I found one in my closet this morning)<br /><br />I took Oscar to Lowes and we picked up some paint sample pots ($5.00) in colours we wanted*. You can use more child friendly paint - but I wanted the coverage that the wall paint would give.  We were using it in such small amounts that for this project it worked for us. I really don't think you need any instructions other than the encouragement to do it. It's fun - has a lot of different steps makes it a day long project with your little one (going to find rocks, washing them, painting them, picking how many eyes and teeth they should have) Plus - they end up being <i>ridiculously </i>cute.<br /><br /><a href="http://instagram.com/p/i9RT_0wsiL/" target="_blank">*Have you seen these Pantone paint chips? They are gorgeous!</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M-8jw7iHMIKIIbjVl2zzwbl5NAPelDiQGeN2K_Zc5KqCEk9y3ZUKa0uUMXYQh7ORxCDx1ZQXGUlo2PF-oNSdTFcjtTyS9e1aFabHKCbKohphYUGZWBh57iHVlSBGCaO02uF6om5t1-Q/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_M-8jw7iHMIKIIbjVl2zzwbl5NAPelDiQGeN2K_Zc5KqCEk9y3ZUKa0uUMXYQh7ORxCDx1ZQXGUlo2PF-oNSdTFcjtTyS9e1aFabHKCbKohphYUGZWBh57iHVlSBGCaO02uF6om5t1-Q/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a></div><b>Body</b>: Paint 1 colour, let it dry (maybe an hour) and then paint a second colour should you wish<br /><b>Eyes</b>: I used a black sharpie for the eyes.  <a href="http://instagram.com/p/jAeYlUQsq3/" target="_blank">Oscar used googly eyes. </a><br /><b>Mouth</b>: Black Paint<br /><b>Teeth</b>: Once the mouth has dried, I used white paint for the teeth<br /><b>Inspiration</b>: <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=rock%20monsters" target="_blank">Pinterest</a><br /><br /><br />

rock monsters

Friday I decided to make  Rock Monsters with Oscar. The project filled the better part of the day and became slightly addictive. Oscar...

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Abstract Art with Kids

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0M8wDgQYcbMlApuLP0he-vE3VXcrIa0fyca8o_HNXNqkYoIX67p4wI3MN_7bopvoYWDqbhV6RQLFO6zmbAUZOVwLZg-BXVR97Z_g3q3wlO4WPdmuDFIkJ1SZCyVi_d9P0ooX1GY4DY6U/s1600/IMG_4596b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0M8wDgQYcbMlApuLP0he-vE3VXcrIa0fyca8o_HNXNqkYoIX67p4wI3MN_7bopvoYWDqbhV6RQLFO6zmbAUZOVwLZg-BXVR97Z_g3q3wlO4WPdmuDFIkJ1SZCyVi_d9P0ooX1GY4DY6U/s1600/IMG_4596b.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWUO7NJGclnLnUij1ueLGaOc1JhQdQub_6AcIsfGnYjwlTP1OfZh1laLNw39nOp_EDXdbKArjZ-sWAjH-aeM5mr63ynq7pVPrtBkSEHZtO3vpq4y4j-uHEjrOJqZZWFdHNyVev6bRgfs/s1600/IMG_4597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWUO7NJGclnLnUij1ueLGaOc1JhQdQub_6AcIsfGnYjwlTP1OfZh1laLNw39nOp_EDXdbKArjZ-sWAjH-aeM5mr63ynq7pVPrtBkSEHZtO3vpq4y4j-uHEjrOJqZZWFdHNyVev6bRgfs/s1600/IMG_4597.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9DY6QSx2m5ZnXoMpEXY2tMeHzv2yB7TgZ1gvNabu5pL7UZDLwSK3sazC6Sp80_5GyJmiEUPl9JdiX7Fe3ewBJt3t8Qxsfn7QIuCahhXHfT4MnG-fxXkrUz0LQ3wMS7No19R-5oefHoQ/s1600/IMG_4670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9DY6QSx2m5ZnXoMpEXY2tMeHzv2yB7TgZ1gvNabu5pL7UZDLwSK3sazC6Sp80_5GyJmiEUPl9JdiX7Fe3ewBJt3t8Qxsfn7QIuCahhXHfT4MnG-fxXkrUz0LQ3wMS7No19R-5oefHoQ/s1600/IMG_4670.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i>Your comments on my last post are so supportive. It never ceases to surprise me every single time when an outpouring of support comes in on certain posts, how much it really affects me and makes me feel better. Thank you.<br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExD_zZcA3oqX08RTwR5njhOVSbTipQ0qNJXP8UQ9KGbax6OcHA-ZFDTN9RaVD8LdtnM0iFMHVYuMmvS48PQ4RwuR11wZtGF4fhY3kPhuUUDNqaMAXTXT2zsfTSwHDN861-R_RIbmtkCU/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExD_zZcA3oqX08RTwR5njhOVSbTipQ0qNJXP8UQ9KGbax6OcHA-ZFDTN9RaVD8LdtnM0iFMHVYuMmvS48PQ4RwuR11wZtGF4fhY3kPhuUUDNqaMAXTXT2zsfTSwHDN861-R_RIbmtkCU/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />One other project I attempted to do with Oscar last week was some abstract painting. Selfishly I wanted some art for the house, and I love the look of black and white art - but wanted to do it with Oscar as I though it would be fun, but I also thought having a child beside me would make me loosen up my brush strokes. Kids are awesome at not caring what a final piece looks like, so Oscar was my support in "loosening up". ;) The results were ridiculously awesome in my opinion and I want to frame them all through my house.<br /><br /><b>Here is what we used to do it: </b><br />1. <a href="http://www.deserres.ca/en-ca/search/strathmore-watercolour-pad/SSAQUA/">Watercolour Paper</a> (It's expensive for a kids project but the thickness of the paper is beautiful)<br />2. <a href="http://www.deserres.ca/en-ca/products/fine-arts/paint/basics-acrylics/50/LBE/">Black acrylic paint</a><br />3. Old Bowl / Tin (See top photo)<br />4. Big Paint Brushes (Dollar Store)<br /><br /><b>Getting the paint right:</b><br />All I did was watered down the black acrylic paint with some water to make it slightly more of a watercolour vs. acrylic paint - I knew we'd get some more variation in colour that way. I originally thought I'd buy black watercolour paint but a small tube was <i>ridiculously </i>expensive. So I opted for the acrylic. Kids art paint seemed to thin, and I worried it wouldn't dry nicely. So I opted for acrylic that sits on the middle in terms of cost.<br /><br />The watercolour paper is really beautiful - and I thought is we were to frame a piece, having a nice paper would be beautiful. Plus, the watered down paint sits beautifully on watercolour paper. So that's something I think is integral in the success of this.<br /><br />I did one piece to show Oscar he could do whatever he wanted and talked about abstract paintings. But he didn't really care. So then it was just the two of us splashing paint on paper. Oscar painted a piece of the paper ALL black which at first I tried to stop but then was like, whatever, because that's what painting is all about. We got some awesome pieces out of the event and one ended up framed in our living room (that I'm still updating...sloooowly)<br /><br />Anyhow, I thought I'd post it as it was a ridiculously easy project to do, but the tricks of the watercolour paper and the acrylic paint I thought were worthwhile highlighting.<br /><br />xo Linds<br /><br />

Abstract Art with Kids

Your comments on my last post are so supportive. It never ceases to surprise me every single time when an outpouring of support comes in on ...

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