Let's Get Messy! Why Process Art Painting is Awesome for Kids

 Painting is a classic childhood activity, but have you heard of process art painting? It's all about the fun and exploration of creating, rather than focusing on a perfect picture. Here's why it's a fantastic way to unleash your child's creativity and development:

Focus on the Fun, Not the Finish Line

Unlike traditional art projects with specific instructions, process art encourages exploration. Kids can experiment with tools, textures, and colors, letting their imaginations run wild. This open-ended approach reduces stress and allows them to enjoy the act of creating itself.

A Sensory Bonanza

Process art often incorporates different materials and techniques, creating a multi-sensory experience. Squishing paint, feeling the texture of bubble wrap prints, or dipping objects in colorful dyes – it all engages a child's senses and helps them learn about the world around them.

Building Skills Through Exploration

Process art isn't just about fun – it helps kids develop important skills too! They'll work on fine motor skills as they manipulate paint and tools. Experimenting with colors and techniques encourages problem-solving and critical thinking. Most importantly, process art builds confidence as children see the results of their own creativity.

Embracing Happy Accidents

Process art teaches kids that mistakes are part of the creative process. A splattered paint drop might turn into a beautiful flower, or a smudge could become a furry monster. This encourages them to embrace the unexpected and see the possibilities in every "mistake."

Getting Started with Process Art Painting

Ready to get messy? Here are some easy process art painting ideas to get you started:

• Spin Art: Dip a cardboard cutout in paint and spin it on a paper plate for a mesmerizing design.
• Bubble Wrap Printing: Cover a canvas with bubble wrap, then dab paint on it and press down for a bubbly texture.
• Nature Collages: Use leaves, flowers, and other natural materials dipped in paint to create unique patterns.

Remember, the key is to provide a variety of materials and let your child lead the way. Embrace the mess, celebrate the process, and watch your child's creativity blossom with process art painting!

Find my favorite painting projects for kids here:

Bunches of grapes painting

Pineapple process art

Basket of fruit art

Cork and button apple trees

Hungry Caterpillar process art

Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids

Deck the Halls with Fun! Craft a Merry Christmas with Your Kids

There's something truly magical about Christmas. The twinkle lights, the delicious treats, and the joy of giving all come together to create a season unlike any other. But perhaps the most heartwarming part of the holidays is spending quality time with loved ones.

This year, why not make some of that quality time extra creative? Crafting with your kids is a fantastic way to embrace the festive spirit and build lasting memories together. Here are just a few reasons to get crafty this Christmas:

• Spark Creativity and Imagination: Crafting allows kids to explore their creativity and problem-solving skills. As they cut, glue, and assemble, their imaginations take flight!
• Boost Fine Motor Skills: Many Christmas crafts involve activities like tearing paper, threading beads, and using scissors. These motions help develop the small muscles in their hands and wrists, which are important for tasks like writing and dressing.
• Build Confidence: When kids complete a craft project, they get a huge sense of accomplishment. Seeing their creation come to life builds their confidence and self-esteem.
• Bonding Time: Crafting provides a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for parents and kids to connect. It's a chance to chat, laugh, and work together on a fun project.
• Personalized Decorations: There's nothing more special than a homemade Christmas decoration. These one-of-a-kind ornaments will be cherished for years to come, and become treasured keepsakes.

Here are some ideas for crafting with the kids. Click thru the links to view the full tutorials.

Pretzel Christmas Trees by Oh My Creative

Salt Dough Christmas Tree Ornaments by Messy Little Monster

3D Paper Trees by The Printables Fairy

Christmas Tree Lacing by Little Bins for Little Hands

Tissue Paper Trees by DIY and Fun

Sequin Trees by Sum of Their Stories

Pointillism Trees by Coffee and Carpool

Pasta Trees by Mimosas and Motherhood

Paper Bag Christmas Trees by Simple Everyday Mom

Cardboard Christmas Trees by Kids Activities Blog

Process Art Christmas Trees by Sweet Silly Sara

Paper Plate Christmas Trees by Red Ted Art

Christmas Tree Bookmarks by My Joy Filled Life

Christmas Tree Cones by Mom Brite

Edible Christmas Trees by Our Wabi Sabi Life 

Crafting for All Ages!

The beauty of Christmas crafts is that there's something for everyone. Here's a sneak peek at some fun ideas suitable for a variety of ages:

• For Toddlers: Little ones will love exploring textures and colors with handprint ornaments, play dough creations, or simple collages.
• For Preschoolers: Preschoolers can get creative with yarn wrapping, decorating pre-cut paper ornaments, or making their own construction paper Christmas trees.
• For School-Aged Kids: Older kids can tackle more intricate crafts like pipe cleaner snowflakes, Popsicle stick reindeer, or decorating their own miniature Christmas trees.

So gather your supplies, grab your little elves, and get ready to craft a Christmas season to remember!

In the upcoming posts of this blog series, we'll be sharing a variety of fun and festive Christmas crafts that you can make with your kids. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, here are some additional tips for a successful crafting session:

• Set Up a Crafting Station: Designate a space for crafting that's well-ventilated and easy to clean up.
• Gather Your Supplies: Make sure you have everything you need before you start, so your little ones don't get frustrated.
• Lay Down the Ground Rules: Set some basic expectations for handling materials and cleaning up.
• Embrace the Mess: Crafting can get a little messy, so relax and have fun!
• Most Importantly, Have Fun! This is a time to bond with your kids and create lasting memories. So crank up the Christmas tunes, sip on some hot cocoa, and get ready to craft a magical Christmas together!

Find some of our favorite Christmas crafts here:

Easy Craft Stick and Ribbon Tree Ornaments

Design Your Own Play Doh Ornaments

Mickey Mouse Bell Ornaments

Beginner's Guide: How to Carve Handmade Woodcarvings

 

Handmade wood carving crafts combine the beauty of nature's materials and the ingenuity of manual carving and are loved by many. With the development of wood carving, more and more people have become interested in exquisite wood carving crafts and are looking for ways to learn wood carving techniques. After all, it is a very pleasurable thing to carve a lovely little wood carving yourself. If you are also a beginner learning wood carving, then this guide is a good one to have.

Step 1: Prepare the required tools

1. Basic Engraving Tools: 

As a beginner, you do not need to buy advanced carving tools that are difficult to handle like the masters do, but just some basic engraving tools will suffice. For example, a flat knife, small saw, pencil sharpener chisel knife of different widths, as well as V-shaped knife and U-shaped knife for carving details.

2. Auxiliary tools

sandpaper, brushes, clamps, pencils, sketch paper.

3. optional tools: 

as a beginner who is not very good at using various shapes of carving knives, you can prepare an electric carving pen.

Step 2: Design Draft

To make a wood carving craft, beginners first need to design a draft. According to their own ideas, find similar works and copy, draw on the draft paper. Because wood carving has many different carving techniques, wood carving draft is mainly divided into hollow relief, three-dimensional round carving and plane carving. Each of these three forms has different design ideas. Openwork is the most difficult, so it is recommended that beginners choose either three-dimensional round carving or plane carving.

1.Three-dimensional round carving

First of all, we need to draw the plan of the wood carving according to our own ideas, and then deepen the details. Because the round carving is a three-dimensional shape, although we draw a plan, but we need to build a three-dimensional drawing in our mind, in the draft drawing to mark out which areas need to be reserved for how much size.

2. Plane engraving

Plane engraving is mainly in a fixed size plate, according to the drawing of the pattern for carving can be, is the most simple, the most suitable for beginners of the engraving process. So in the sketch only need to mark out the size of the plate and depict the pattern you want to carve can be.

Step 3: Selection of materials

1. Material:

 beginners choose softwood, such as basswood, pine, poplar and other wood easy to carve. Remember not to choose hardwood for the first time, the material is too hard for beginners to carry out carving is easy to appear hand injury accident.

2. Shape and size: 

according to the draft map marking the size of the wood to choose to meet the requirements. If it is a flat carving, find the right size can be: if it is a round wood carving, you can go to look for some unique shapes of wood, such as a long strip of wood with forked branches to carve a long ribbon fish.

3. Appearance: 

there should be no obvious cracks and scars on the wood, otherwise the wood carving may have irreparable flaws after completion.

Step 4: Base shape

Roughly remove the excess wood from the wood by chiseling and cutting. After removing most of the wood, use tools to sand the rough basic shape according to the draft. During the sanding process, the volume of each part of the wood should be left to allow some room for the rough carving later.

Step 5: Rough and fine carving

The basic shape of the wood carving work is completed, and then you need to take out the ready carving tools, in the wood carving was deliberately left on the margin area for processing. Fine carving requires beginners to work on the fine details of the work to modify and carve, according to their own ideas to optimize the carving of the details of the part. Rough carving requires the beginner to continue shaping the overall shape of the wood carving with a wider carving knife.

Step 6: Polishing

After the carving work is completed, the overall work will have angular carving marks. If you want to preserve the original carving marks and give the carving a more natural look, you can skip this step and go straight to coloring the wood carving wax. If you want the overall appearance of the piece to be smooth and have a flowing aesthetic, you will need to sand it. Use sandpaper to sand the edges and corners, and then use a brush to clean up the wood shavings after the sanding is completed, and the overall carving of the wood carving is finished.

Step 7: Post-treatment (waxing)

After cleaning up the wood carving and making sure there is no debris on its surface, you can start the final waxing work. If you like the original color of the wood carving, you can use wood dye to highlight the wood grain of the wood carving and show the natural original color. If you like colorful wood carvings with rich visual effects, you can use acrylic paints to color the wood carvings, which will have a good decorative effect. Finally, oil wax, varnish and other paints are applied to create a protective layer for the wood carving.

Conclusion

By following the steps in this guide, beginners can quickly learn how to carve a wood carving craft and know the details and safe practices to pay attention to in each step. Beginners, go to choose a few suitable carving tools and start carving your first wood carving crafts, which will be a very interesting and fulfilling thing for you.

Christmas Crafts for Kids

 

Crafting Cheer: Fun and Festive Activities for Kids this Holiday Season

The holidays are a time for joy, family, and creating lasting memories. And what better way to embrace the spirit of the season than with some fun and festive crafting with your kids? Crafting with little ones is a wonderful way to:

• Bond and Connect: Spending quality time together creating something special is a heartwarming experience for both parents and children.
• Boost Creativity: Crafts allow kids to explore their imaginations and develop their artistic skills.
• Make Memories: These homemade decorations and gifts will be cherished for years to come, bringing back fond memories of the holidays whenever they're seen.
• Spread Holiday Cheer: Handmade ornaments and cards can be used to decorate your home or gifted to loved ones, adding a personalized touch to the season.

Water Bottle Christmas Bowling Game by Sustain My Craft Habit

Accordion Folded Trees by A Little Pinch of Perfect

Clay Pot Reindeer by Julie Measures

Yarn Wrapped Trees by Made with Happy

Easy Rudolph Craft by Glue Sticks and Gumdrops

Clothespin Reindeer Ornaments by Fun Money Mom

Printable Christmas Puppets by The Printables Fairy

Paper Straw Christmas Tree Cards by Honey and Lime

Paper Plate Christmas Trees by Mama of Minis

Handprint Reindeer by Little Ladoo

Pasta Angel Ornaments by The Keel Deal

Air Dry Clay Ornaments by Mimosas and Motherhood

Santa S’more Ornaments by Whispered Inspirations

Play Doh Ornaments by Sweet Silly Sara

Paper Straw Christmas Tree Ornaments by Made in a Pinch

Crafting for All Ages:

The beauty of holiday crafts is that there's something for everyone, regardless of age or skill level. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• For the Littlest Crafters: Even toddlers can get in on the fun with simple activities like handprint ornaments, decorating pre-cut felt shapes, or sorting colorful pasta for ornaments.
• Preschool Powerhouses: Preschoolers will enjoy creating collages with construction paper and glitter, decorating cookies, or making pipe cleaner candy canes.
• School-Age Fun: School-aged children can tackle more intricate projects like decorating mugs with paint pens, crafting paper snowflakes, or constructing gingerbread houses.

Tips for a Successful Craft Session:

• Set the Mood: Put on some festive music, light some holiday candles, and wear Santa hats for some extra cheer!
• Gather Your Supplies: Make sure you have everything you need before you start to avoid any meltdowns.
• Embrace the Mess: Holidays are about making memories, not creating a Pinterest-perfect craft session. Lay down some newspaper or a tablecloth to protect surfaces and let the creativity flow!
• Keep it Age-Appropriate: Choose projects that are suited to your child's skill level to avoid frustration.
• Focus on Fun: The most important thing is to have fun and enjoy the time spent together creating something special.

Get Ready to Craft!

Stay tuned for our upcoming craft tutorials, where we'll provide step-by-step instructions for a variety of engaging and festive Christmas crafts that you and your kids can create together. From adorable ornaments to delightful decorations, we have something for everyone to make this holiday season merry and bright!

Find more favorite Christmas crafts here:

Christmas Gnome Ornaments

Rudolph Ornaments

Mickey Mouse Bell Ornaments

Mickey Mouse Gift Tag Ornaments

Tasty Homemade Donut Recipes

 

Donut Heaven: A Collection of Delicious Donut Recipes

Ah, donuts. Those fluffy, glazed rings of joy that bring smiles to faces all over the world. But who says you have to rely on store-bought donuts? Making donuts at home is easier than you think, and the results are infinitely more satisfying (and delicious!).

This blog post is your gateway to donut nirvana. We've compiled a collection of donut recipes, from classic glazed to fun and creative flavors, that will have you whipping up batches in no time.

For the Adventurous Donut Enthusiast:

Feeling a little more adventurous? We've got you covered! Try out our recipes for:

• Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Donuts: These donuts have a denser texture and a tangy flavor that's absolutely delightful.
• Baked Apple Cider Donuts: A lighter take on the donut, these baked donuts are bursting with fall flavors. Perfect for a cozy afternoon!
• Chocolate Frosted Donuts: Who can resist a rich chocolate frosting? This recipe takes classic donuts to a whole new level.

Beyond the Doughnut Hole:

Don't forget about the fun part of making donuts - decorating! We have a variety of frosting and glaze recipes to choose from, including vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and maple. You can even get creative with sprinkles, chopped nuts, and drizzles.

Pro-Tips for Donut Perfection:

• Freshness is Key: Donuts are best enjoyed fresh. Make a batch for a weekend brunch or afternoon treat.
• Oil Temperature Matters: Make sure your oil is at the right temperature (around 375°F) to ensure your donuts cook evenly and don't get greasy.
• Don't Skimp on the Glaze: A good glaze is the crowning glory of a donut. Be generous with your glaze and let those donuts take a good dunk!

So what are you waiting for? Grab your rolling pin, crank up the tunes, and get ready to bake a batch of donut deliciousness. With this collection of recipes and a little bit of love, you'll be a donut-making pro in no time!

Here are some of my favorite homemade donut recipes! Make sure you click thru some of the links to view the recipes.

Brioche Crumb Donuts by The Practical Kitchen

This brioche donut recipe has the most delectable crumb topping! These are going to remind you of an Entemann’s but they taste so much fresher!

Creme Brulee Donuts by Corrie Cooks

This recipe makes such elegant cream filled donuts at home. You are sure to appreciate how easy this recipe is to recreate if you love all things creme brulee.

Baked Double Chocolate Donuts by What the Fork

This baked donut recipe is so good! It has loads of chocolate flavor in a gluten free form that everyone can enjoy.

Strawberry Donuts by Fit and Full

These donuts have a sweet strawberry flavor that you will love. Bake them for a delicious start to your day or serve them as a snack  in the afternoon.

Oreo Donuts by Organically Addison

If you love cookies and cream flavor then these donuts are going to pique your interest! This decadent donut recipe is perfect for a treat to share with someone sweet.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Donuts by Bake It With Love

This donut recipe brings lots of peanut butter flavor to your breakfast routine. Sprinkle in plenty of chocolate chips for a dreamy combination.

Cinnamon Roll Donuts by Savor the Spoonful

Can’t decide between donuts and cinnamon rolls? Why not combine them into one tasty treat? You are sure to love the cinnamon burst these donuts offer.

Churro Donuts by I Heart Eating

If you love churros, then adding them to donuts is going to be a delicious idea that works for a dreamy breakfast or an epic dessert.

Confetti Baked Donuts by Life as a Strawberry

This donut recipe tastes like a party in every bite! You are sure to love the tender baked donut paired with the decadent chocolate glaze that is so fudgy!

Baked Chocolate Donuts by The Flour Handprint

These donuts are baked to perfection with so much chocolate flavor. Toss them in powdered sugar or dip them into chocolate glaze for a restaurant quality sweet treat.

Red Velvet Donuts by Lane and Grey Fare

This red velvet donut recipe is beautiful to look at, but wait until you taste these vegan donuts, you are going to LOVE them!

Banana Donuts with Chocolate Glaze by Homan at Home

These donuts have a soft sweet flavor that is perfect for anyone who loves bananas. Dip them in chocolate for a perfect start to the day.

Apple Cider Donuts by The Gunny Sack

This apple cider donut recipe has so much fall flavor! Make these to savor with a cup of hot apple cider for a seasonal sweet that you are sure to love.

Brioche Donuts by A Baking Journey

This decadent, rich donut recipe is perfect for a Sunday brunch. Enjoy them plain or stuff them with cream, fruit or custard for a super yummy homemade treat.

Raised Donuts by Platter Talk

This classic donut recipe is perfect! These are so good that they will take you back to grandma’s kitchen for a moment when you taste them.

Coquito Donuts by Sense and Edibility

This donut recipe takes your taste buds on a tropical vacation with so much coconut flavor!

Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts by The Simple Sweet Life

These pumpkin spice latte donuts are what you make when you have a craving for seasonal flavors. This donut makes for a delicious breakfast or snack that has so much pumpkin flavor.

Boston Cream Donuts by Sugar Pursuit

These cream filled donuts are the definition of decadence. Make them for dessert, but be prepared! Everyone will ask you to make these again!

Fruity Pebbles Donuts by The Savory Cipolla

This colorful donut recipe makes use of a favorite cereal! These are perfect for the kids, but you will want to grab a few for yourself too.

S’mores Donuts with Marshmallow Cream by Broken Oven Baking

This donut recipe is full of summer vibes! Graham cracker crumbs, chocolate glaze and marshmallow cream make for the best s’mores donut ever!

Sour Cream Donuts by Craving Some Creativity

This recipe makes for retro donuts that taste timelessly good! Sour cream gives these donuts a rich and moist flavor.

Jelly Donuts by An Edible Mosaic 

Stuff these donuts with your favorite jelly for a delicious treat you can have for breakfast or dessert.

Pistachio Cream Donuts by Addicted to Dates

This vegan donut recipe has the best cream filling! If you like pistachios, then you are going to want to grab a bite of this treat.

Mini Orange Donuts by 24 Bite

These mini donuts are made the easy way; with cake mix and a donut maker! You will love this fast and flavorful recipe for easy breakfasts.

Pennsylvania Dutch Donuts by Beyond the Butter

These cream filled donuts are full of Pennsylvania Dutch flavor! You are sure to love the fluffy texture these homemade donuts offer.

Sourdough Discard Donuts by Season and Thyme

Don’t toss that sourdough discard! Make the most flavorful donuts with it. These are simple and simply delicious!

Caramel Biscuit Donuts by Baba Ganosh

These tasty treats start with canned biscuits and end up as a goodie that rivals a bakery’s donuts! I know you will love these fast goodies.

Honey Doughnuts by Live to Sweet

This simple sweet donut recipe is perfect for breakfast or brunch. Dip them in a delicate vanilla honey glaze for the best flavor.

Instant Pot Donuts by Corrie Cooks

Did you know you can make donuts in your instant pot? These are so tasty and come together really fast!

Krispy Kreme Donuts by Seasonal Cravings

These taste just like krispie kreme, but are from your home kitchen! Make these for a really good snack that always hits the spot.

Find more favorite recipes here:

Donut Balls

D is for Donut Coloring page

Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts

Paper Plate Donuts