Toddler Classes

Toddler Classes, a set on Flickr.

Toddler Classes for children ages 12 months to 6yrs with caregiver. Offered at kiddywampus in St Louis Park. Visit kiddywampus.com for details!

Building a new site!

Artfulu.com is coming soon!... to bring you the latest news about up and coming classes for you and your little ones...or not so little:)

Student Work

Student Work, a set on Flickr.

Halloween Fun

Paper Plate Web w/ Bead Bugs

You and your child can have weaving fun creating spiderwebs using sturdy paper plates and colorful yarn. Add a bit of whimsy by offering large beads to string on the yarn as they weave.
Turn the beads into little spiders or whacky bugs by adding bits of chenille stems as legs. Top the beads off with googly eyes and really bring the bugs to life!

The Web:

• Start by cutting half inch slits all the way around the edge of a paper plate, spaced about two inches apart. Next cut a manageable piece of yarn for your child to use for threading across and around the plate.
• Put a knot in one end of the yarn.
• Slide the knotted end into one of the slits and have your child stretch the yarn across the plate to any of the other slits creating a line.
• Slide the yarn into the slit and again have your child stretch the yarn across the opposite side of the plate to any of the other slits. You will be flipping the plate back and forth creating a two sided web.
• Now let your child have fun with it! They can tangle the yarn as much as they want, wrapping it around other sections of yarn as they stretch it from one slit to another.
• When the thread runs out, tie a knot and have them begin again with a new length of yarn. You can trim off the extra yarn or let it dangle.
• String beads as you go to embellish as bead bugs.
• To make use of the dangling yarn add a bead to the end.

The Bugs:

• Its as simple as sliding sections of chenille stems through the hole of the bead so that there is an even length on either side. 
• Hook the chenille stem around the yarn to secure it to the web (these hooks could look like feet). 
• Bend the chenille stem to look like bends in the legs.
• Add the googly eyes for a finishing touch.

Materials:
Sturdy paper plate
Yarn
Scissors
Tape
Pony Beads
Large beads
Chenille stems
Googly eyes (Optional)

If your child is having trouble stringing the yarn through the beads, try wrapping the end of the yarn with a piece of tape.

There are a million and one ways to create little critters and webs with these simple supplies. This is just one idea. Encourage ingenuity and creativity in your child. Offer suggestions and allow them to explore the materials in their own unique way.

Water Play

Water Play

Get out with the kids and cool off with this easy but fun activity:

Sidewalk chalk is so much more fun when paired with a wet surface. Let that surface be anything...a tree trunk, a stone, a wall, stairs, fence, etc. First have the kids drop the chalk into the bucket of water, then have them wet down the sidewalk or any surface that is easily washable with a large paintbrush and water. Now they're ready to draw! Try having the kids mix the colors like paint with a brush. Blending and layering makes the chalk paintings/drawings even better. Or you can just let your child paint with water and watch what happens to each surface when it gets wet. Most importantly, let the kids experiment and explore their world in a new way.

Materials:

Water bucket

Large paint brushes

Sidewalk Chalk

Get Ready!

Art supplies for the home:

With this list of supplies you will be able to explore and create many wonderful projects with your child. Be prepared for a little mess. The kitchen floor is a great place to work. Any art activity with young children requires supervision at all times. Do not leave your child alone with these materials. The reward is well worth the mess!

Some of the supplies you will use can already be found in and around the home such as:

Old T-shirt
Cooking utensils
Cookie cutters
Rolling pins
String
Wood shapes/scraps
Toilet paper rolls
Plastic water bottles
Old CDs
Fabric scraps
Bubble wrap
sponges
Sand paper
Misc. buttons, beads, and decorative objects
Egg cartons
Foam trays (sanitized meat trays)
Card board ( cut into small shapes, med. rectangles, and long strips)
Masking tape
Small boxes
Large household paint brushes
Bucket or pail
There are many recipes online for homemade paint, paste, chalk, and play-dough!

Remember to let your child explore freely and at their own pace. You may be surprised at the inventiveness and unique perspective of their creations. There is no right or wrong, just safe, open ended exploration of the materials.

Optional supplies for purchase:

Art smock

Finger paint- red, yellow, and blue (other colors if desired)

Jumbo crayons

Water Soluble crayons

Non-toxic Water Soluble markers

Sidewalk chalk

Feathers (fun feathers come in a rainbow of colors)

Chenille stems

Play dough (air dry Super Dough is great too)

Crayola chubby brushes or similar

Jumbo Stamps

Jumbo water based stamp pads

Assortment of paper (include varied textures and colors)

Large white drawing paper 11x17 or larger

Stickers (the kids love the foamie shape stickers)

Elmers and Tacky glue

Glue stick

Colored tape

For inspiration on how to use these supplies join our classes at the unique kiddywampus toy store in Saint Louis Park, MN

Tips for Art With Tots (ages 2 and up): Recycled Tile Art

Recycled Tile Art

Drawing and painting is made even more interesting when you experiment with different surfaces. Tiles are excellent for just that. They typically have a porous surface on one side and a smooth sealed surface on the other. I suggest using pastels, oil pastels, and watercolor paint, but you can experiment with any non-toxic child friendly medium. 

The children will see the two surfaces react very differently to the pastels and watercolors. Let the child try both sides and see which one they prefer. Begin by offering the oil pastels. The oil pastel will act as a resist to the watercolor. Use light colored oil pastels first, and paint dark colored watercolor on top, to see the most dramatic effect. Soft pastels will blend with the watercolors when wet. Don't ignore the uneven surfaces of the tile. Its a great surface for rubbing the pastels on their sides to see the texture highlighted by the color.

When completed, the tiles can be mounted on mat board, cardboard, or foam core to be hung with ribbon. Other uses for the finished art can include: coaster, garden art, and/or paperweight. You can seal the tiles with a clear coat spray or acrylic gel medium to preserve the artwork for years to come. If the child choses to use the sealed side of the tile for their finished art, I don't recommend using them for any purpose other than wall art. 

Materials:

Old tiles

Oil pastels

Watercolors

Soft pastels

Any other non-toxic child friendly medium

Acrylic spray or gel medium

Mat board, foam core, or cardboard (for mounting tiles)

Ribbon (for hanging mounted tiles)

Hot glue gun (to glue tile to board)