The Artful Parent

Guest Post: Drawing to Music with Children

I am excited 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 to continue the discussion, add your own viewpoint, or simply say thanks!

Guest Post by Mary L. Christensen

As a faithful Artful Parent reader, I often hear a soundtrack of music running through my head as I read the blog. I can usually hear the folksy tunes of Elizabeth Mitchell or the energetic music of Dan Zanes as I scan the most recent posts for inspiration. At our house music plays a big role in our day-to-day life. Not playing it, although my husband does play the guitar and compose (usually sweet and silly) songs for our girls, but listening to it. Music helps us keep calm and carry on. It helps us focus and daydream, sleep and dance, and especially it helps us make art!

SouvenarteBooks Giveaway: Win a Book of Your Child's Art

Do you wonder what to do with all the art your child creates? You can store it, yes, but have you thought of preserving some in book format?

SouvenarteBooks, a design studio in New York City, will work with you to create a one-of-a-kind book of your child's artwork that you and your family will surely treasure for years to come. What a lovely way to save and honor children's creative work! And the artist in question will no doubt be proud to flip through the pages of his or her very own art book.

A Bare Books Giveaway: Inspire Creativity with Blank Books & Games

A friend introduced me to Bare Books and I have to say that I am in love. They sell all kinds of blank (or bare) items just waiting for a child's creative touch. Blank books, blank puzzles, blank calendars, and design-your-own game sets. While we've only tried the books so far, I can't wait to present my game-loving six-year-old with the game kit!

Would your kids enjoy making their own books, puzzles, or games?

Stubby Pencil Studio Giveaway

Stubby Pencil Studio is like a candy store for art lovers. With the tagline of "eco products for creative kids" you can imagine the fun goodies available—everything from crayon rocks and cute hedgehog erasers to a wide array of sketchbooks and pencils (colored and otherwise). I love to browse her shop "aisles" looking for something novel to try.

 

A few of our family's favorite art products come from Stubby Pencil Studio and include these SuperColor Jumbo Felt Pens by Alpino (bigger than you would expect, plus they come with a marker stand!), crayon rocks (always fun!), and Trimax Jumbo Colored Pencils (great quality and good for little fingers).

Valentine Crayon Giveaway: A Colorful Set of Earth Grown Heart Crayons

Need a Valentine's gift or just some playful crayons to inspire your young artists? Melissa from Earth Grown Crayons is offering this set of heart-shaped soy crayons as a giveaway to one lucky reader. And she has all kinds of other fun ones in her Etsy store, too—turtles, Chinese dragons, stars, frogs, and butterflies. I especially love these "woodland bunny" crayons and think I'll need to buy some for Easter baskets this year...

Guest Post: Beginning Art Journaling for Kids

I am excited 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 to continue the discussion, add your own viewpoint, or simply say thanks!

Guest Post by Melissa Taylor

Recently, I wanted to push my creatively, to find my inner visual artist, so I started an art journal—a journal where I could find both written and visual ways to express myself. (Normally, as a freelance writer and blogger, I'm all about words.) It didn't take long before I realized that art journals would be great for my two daughters, ages six and nine.

Think about it. Kids start expressing themselves visually from the moment they can hold a crayon. They use drawing and coloring to share their feelings with the world in the same way we use words. In fact, kids first understand letters as shapes, not as abstract concepts with meaning and sound. (Which is why we see beginning writers write backwards, reversed, or in mirror images.)

Kids Art Supplies to Buy from Discount School Supply (and an Amazing Art Supply Giveaway!)

As you know, I buy most of our art supplies through Discount School Supply. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: when it comes to art materials, they are tops for quality, price, and service. While teachers have known about them for a long time, I don't think parents are as aware of them as a kids art supply source. Many people have asked me in the past what to buy from them (their catalog is huge and somewhat overwhelming!), so here's my list. It can be yours, too.

In fact, at the end of this post you will have a chance to enter to win an incredible art supply package stocked with each of these items! (I asked Discount School Supply very, very nicely.) This is enough to fully stock your art cupboard and keep your family creating happily ever after. :)

Guest Post: A Jan Brett Inspired Winter Art Activity

I am excited 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 to continue the discussion, add your own viewpoint, or simply say thanks!

Guest Post by Kristina Buskirk

Hi I'm Kristina from Toddler Approved and I am excited to share one of our favorite book-themed winter art creations with you today. I love Jean's blog and her posts are constantly inspiring me to be a more creative mom. I find as winter begins and we all get a little stir-crazy indoors, I need a gazillion ideas to keep myself (and the kiddos) from getting too bored. I hope this ends up being a fun one you decide to try.

A Jude Stuecker Changepurse Giveaway

Today's giveaway is for two change purses made by Jude Stuecker, a friend, toddler art group mother, and professional textile artist.

Jude makes quilted wall hangings, clothing, and bags in her Asheville studio. Her quilts are one of a kind, made from fabrics that she dyes and paints herself. They are heavily stitched, often include text, and originate from stories or drawings from her life. Her popular clothing line also begins with her own designs and patterns and uses fabric that she dyes and silkscreens herself.

The changepurses Jude makes, like the two she offered for this giveaway, are made from commercial cotton fabrics. Each one is machine appliqued, fully lined, and has a nylon zipper closure. They measure about 4 x 5 inches and are large enough to carry credit cards, money, lipsticks, etc, but still small enough to fit in a pocket. She has over 50 changepurse designs available.

Blogiversary Thank Yous and an Awesome Kids Art Book Giveaway

Happy Birthday to this little blog of mine. The Artful Parent is four years old today! Just out of toddlerhood, really. But what a wonderful four years it's been!

I want to say a big thank you to all of you lovely folks who come by this space, read what I have to say, ask and answer questions, try out the arts and crafts projects that I write about, and inspire me with your own ideas and projects.

THANK YOU!