Free Printable Halloween Agamographs

Ever heard of agamographs? It's optical illusion art that changes depending on how you look at it. I saw this idea first on STEAM powered family. With Halloween coming around, I thought I'd make a coloring sheet agamograph that kids of all ages could try. This would be a perfect after-school activity! No cutting or gluing involved. Just print out the free coloring sheet below, color it in, accordian fold it, and voila! A cool piece of op art!

Free Printable Halloween Agamographs

Invitation to Draw Book (And Free Printables!)

Did you know that Jean from The Artful Parent has a new drawing prompt book coming out this June? She sent me a copy of Invitation to Draw to try out with the kids and my youngest and I went to town doodling away. Scroll down below for some samples of our artwork as well as some free sneak-peak printable samples of the book!

Invitation to Draw Book! (And some Free Printables!)

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Easy Styrofoam and Marker Printmaking with Kids

Do you have styrofoam and markers? Looking for an easy and affordable way to create a “wow” art experience for the kids? Have you tried styrofoam and marker printmaking? We love doing printing activities together and ever since I saw Shelly's IG post sharing how to make prints without printing ink, I was excited to try the activity with my kids too. 

Here’s how we made prints with everyday items around the house.

How to Make Styrofoam and Marker Prints with Kids at Home

Easy and Lovely Paper Strip Birds

Lately, I've been thinking of that Emily Dickinson quote, "Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all." 

These past weeks, I've felt moments of sadness, cabin fever, fear, joy, frustration, and also hope. (Oftentimes, all in the same day!) One of the good things about staying home is that the boys and I get a chance to craft and play more. It's nice having more relaxed schedules.  

Inspired by Emily Dickinson and Embossing Bird's gorgeous IG feed, the kids and I took some strips of paper and folded them into a lovely flock of colorful birds. Here's how we made these cute crafts!

How to Make Super Easy Paper Strip Birds

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Giant Magnetic Garage Murals

Hi friends! I just wanted to stop by quickly and share this really easy art activity that got the boys and me out of the house.

We're really trying to keep our spirits uplifted here and one of the ways that we do that (and remain sane during these difficult times) is to go outside. I saw this really neat IG post showing a family decorating their garage door with magnetic toys and it was like a lightning bolt hit me right in the head and heart.

Bright colors? Removable decorations? Process art? Outdoor time? Yes. Yes. Yes. And YES! So I'm sharing this really easy activity with you today.

Giant Magnetic Garage Mural!

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Tape Resist Chalk Hearts

Hi friends! I'm currently writing to you from... my home! We've only been socially isolating for about a week and I've been scrambling to find easy and fun art and craft ideas for the kids. Well, I saw all these lovely tape resist driveway art projects on IG, I had to try it out with my boys too. The results were so pretty and the process was so therapeutic.

Tape Resist Chalk Hearts

Invitation to Create: Watercolor Rats

Hi everyone! Just stopping in to share another super easy kids Chinese New Year Art and Craft Activity! Last week we made these adorable Rat Paper Cuttings. Today we're going to celebrate the Lunar New Year with these easy Watercolor rats!

Inviting Kids to Create: Watercolor Rats

Christmas Pin Prick Angel Art

Christmas is just around the corner and if you're looking for a different and unique Christmas Art and Craft Project to try out with the kids, I highly recommend this Pin Prick Art. It's simple and super engrossing for young artists!

How to Make Pin Prick Art with Kids

Op-Art Christmas Ornaments

Last week we made some Optical Illusion Christmas ornaments for the tree. The results were so groovy that I had to share them here!

Making Op-Art Ornaments with Kids

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Halloween Skull and Ghost Soap Carvings

Looking for a super unique Halloween or Dia de los Muertos craft?  A couple of weeks ago, we tried our hand at designing, carving, and floating Ivory Soap Boats. It was so fun and easy. Ivory soap is the perfect medium for beginning carvers because it is airy and soft. (It's also relatively inexpensive! Bonus!)

Today's sugar skulls and ghosts are a bit more detailed than boats, but the results are so cute. I definitely recommend trying out this soap carving activity with kids of all ages. They are sure to have fun.

How to Carve Skulls and Ghosts from soap!

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Quick Borax Crystal Pipe Cleaner Sculptures

Ever try your hand at growing crystals... on pipe cleaners? Here's a super easy to grow your own crystals overnight. All you need are Borax, pipe cleaners, and some hot water to create your own sparkly sculptures!

Quick Crystal Sculptures

This post contains affiliate links.  This means I make a small bit of money for any purchases made through the links at no additional cost to you.  Thank you for your support.  For my full disclosure policy, click here.

How to Make Corn Husk Flowers

A couple of weeks ago I took a fun corn husk flower making class at La Calenda, a cute nearby store that sells beautiful, handmaid items from Mexico. I loved the resulting corn husk flowers so much that I promptly dyed my own at home and held a fun crafternoon with some moms and kiddos. The results from both crafting sessions were so lovely that I'm sharing the how-to's behind making these flowers with you today!

How To Make Corn Husk Flowers

(A Super easy and beautiful craft for kids and adults!)

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Double-Doodle Drawing + The Artful Parent book!

Hi everyone! How is your summer going?  Feel like your days are just go-go-going by? That's how I've been feeling with traveling, weddings, summer camps, swim lessons... etc.  According to my eldest, so far, this summer is "almost as fun as school." (Should I take that as a good thing???) Anyway, amidst all of the hustle and bustle, this lady has been feeling burned out. (And it's only July! Oof.)

Today I just wanted to share this easy art activity that my eldest and I recently did while my youngest "napped." (Notice the quotation marks.  You can probably guess why I put those there...)

It's an activity called Double-Doodle Drawing and it's from the new  The Artful Parent book, written by Jean from The Artful Parent blog.

Double-Doodle Drawing with Kids

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"Thank you for helping me to grow" folding surprise cards

It's the end of the school year and if you're like me, you're scrambling to find cute ways to tell your kids' teachers just how much you appreciated them.  (Any fellow room parents out there?  You know what I'm talking about!)

Well, have you ever tried making your own folding surprise card?  This flower card is one crafty way to thank teachers for helping your kids to grow!

"Thanks for helping me to grow" Folding Surprise Cards

How to Host a Bob Ross Party (With Adults or Kids!)

Looking for a creative and unique art activity to try with kids and adults?  Well, have you ever thought about doing a Bob Ross themed party?  Here's everything you need to know to paint Bob Ross with artists of all ages!  And bonus: expensive, fancy-shmancy materials definitely AREN'T required!

Everything You Need to Know to Throw a Bob Ross Party

(with adults and kids!)

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3D Optical illusion Peeps for Easter

Today I'm sharing a super quick Easter activity that's perfect for kids.  Love Peeps?  Love doodling?  Ever try doodling a 3D optical illusion Peep?

3D Optical Illusion Peeps

Is it just me? Or does this peep look like it's popping out?

Can you draw a face just using one line?

I'm not sure about your family, but sometimes nighttimes with little kids can be pretty trying.  Everyone is grumpy. Everyone is tired. Emotions tend to run high. Patience is worn thin.

Well, we've had a couple of tough nights these past weeks.  Recently I've found that simple drawing activities can put the kids (and me) in better moods.  Here's one easy art activity that we recently tried and enjoyed.  Can you draw a face using just one line?

One Line Face Drawing Challenge

DIY Homemade Spirograph

Ever play with a spirograph toy?  We LOVE them and the other day I got to wondering.... could we make a DIY version using materials around our home?  Well, the answer is... YES!  Today I'm sharing this artsy- science craft.  It got a big two-thumbs up from my eldest. He really loved trying it out with me.

Let's Make a DIY Homemade Spirograph Toy!

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Painting on an Icy Snowman

Looking for a fun, winter-themed kid activity? Try painting an ice snowman.  This is a perfect activity for kids who are stuck inside and looking for something creative to do!

How To Make an Ice Snowman (and Paint It Too!)

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"Dreaming of you" 3D Heart Art Project for Valentine's Day

It's January... which means it's time to start sharing Valentine's Day Craft Ideas! Last year I posted an easy way to draw 3D optical illusion hearts.  They were such a hit.  So this year I'm sharing this cute "Dreaming of You" 3D heart drawing.  Like the previous art project, it uses curved and straight lines to create the illusion of a three-dimensional drawing.  But this time I added some fun Sharpie details and a sweet sleepy heart face (because let's be real- who doesn't love a kawaii face?)

Here's how to draw these sleepy three-dimensional heart drawings with your kids.

Step-by-Step instructions for drawing adorable 3D optical illusion hearts

A great Sharpie and Colored Pencil art project for kids!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  This means I make a small portion off of any purchases made through the links at no additional cost to you.  Thank you for the grocery money!  For my full disclosure policy, click here.