tutorial - chalkboard frames!

I'm always looking for cute arts and crafts to make with kids, now that I'm an after school teacher, and aspiring full time teacher...so when I came across this idea, it seemed just the thing that my kids could handle, and would really enjoy!

they always love to paint, and what better then to make their own chalkboard!? 

another awesome idea, courtesy of Real Simple:

What you need:
Frame
Chalkboard Paint 
Chalk
Newspaper

1. Place frame on newspaper in a well-ventilated area. Paint frame and let it dry.
2. Pop in a favorite photo. Using the chalk, write your special message.

this of course was featured around Valentine's day, but doesn't have to be limited to that...you can find many colors of paint, and customize to any holiday!  also, you can just paint other wooden surfaces, to make your own mini chalkboards!  kids can practice their letters and numbers, erase and start again!!

a Valentine's tutorial

I'm always looking for cute (and very important- simple) arts and crafts projects to make with my Kindergarten class, and I think this week we'll try this on for size...

cute Valentine's day garlands!  I have plenty of spare paper lying around the house, so all I need is a hole punch and some string...

we can decorate our room, and then the kids can take them home to decorate their houses :)

here are the directions:

What you need:
Assorted Paper
Needle and Thread
2” Scalloped Shaped Hole Punch

1. Fold 3” to 6” paper squares in half and cut a half heart from the fold.
2. Thread needle and string hearts together through the top center of the folded paper hearts.
3. Using scalloped hole punch, make shapes from paper. Thread needle and string through the opposite sides of each scalloped paper.
4. Add as many hearts and scallops as it takes to raech your desired length.

tutorial from Real Simple

my talented students

getting into the swing of things and teaching an art program to the older kids at school each week has me working on more 'fine art' projects then just crafty ones...although the crafts are fun too :p  so this week, we studied (and yes, I use that word loosely) pointillism, and had the kids make cute valentines cards using the technique...and here are some of my favorites...

 

I know one of them is not covered in cute little dots, but I loved the way it turned out!  the kids love to paint, so I'm trying to work more projects in like this one...of course the potential mess in a classroom that isn't mine is definitely a terrifying thought!  but at least they're having a good time :)

art project idea

now that I'm in my fifth month working at the after school program, I've done a few cute art projects with the kids that I'm pretty proud of...this one in particular turned out really great...

snow paintings (of course, with glitter) have been one of the kids favorite crafts so far!  we all drew pictures, and then added white paint for snow, and some glitter for sparkle and shine...

here are a few of the finished products

and the kids who created them :)