Mini Me's

Mini Dolls is fun at all ages.
1) You will need clothes pins.  Try to pick out the ones that resemble a human form.
2) Use pipe-cleaners for the arms.  Below is an example on how to wrap the pipe-cleaners to make them look like arms.
3) Use fabric swatches for the clothes.
4) For the face I just drew it on with markers.
5) Use yarn for the hair.
6) Create your Mini Me!

Name That Herb!

This is a fun exercise to do!  It's simple and fun.  Let's wake up the Olfaction!

1) Have a variety of fresh herbs.

2) Place a leaf of one herb in the person's hand.

3) Have them smell and guess what herb it is.

4) Do this with all the herbs you have.

That's it! 

Sand Vessels

I find this project to be very meditative.
1. You will need an empty glass vessel with a lid.
2. For the sand you have two choices:
A. You can buy sand that already has color in it.
B. You can make your own colored sand by buying white sand (if you live by a beach or sand
dune you can collect free sand) and use colored chalk to color the sand.
           1. On a large sheet of paper poor a small mound of the white sand on the paper.
           2. Then take one color of chalk and begin rubbing the sand with the chalk.  Make sure you are holding the chalk horizontally to cover more of the sand. Keep rubbing the chalk into the sand until all the sand is colored.
3. Take one color of sand (ex. red sand) and poor some into the glass vessel.  It's always best to poor about 1/2 inch because the more layers the better.  But it is your jar so poor as much as you like.
4. If you are making your own colored sand repeat step (B) to make your next color.  Take a second color and poor in another layer of colored sand into the jar.  Keep repeating this process until your jar is full with different layers of colored sand.
5. Get a piece of thin gauged wire, such as, a wire coat hanger.  Make sure the piece of wire is the length of the vessel, this way you will be able to reach the bottom.
6. With the wire piece poke the inside sides of the glass vessel to begin making the design.  Make sure you slide the wire down the sides of the glass as best you can to create a design.  Keep doing this around the entire jar until you are satisfied with the sand design you achieved.
7. Once you have finished poking the sand put the lid on the glass vessel.  If you have any space between the sand and the lid make sure you fill it with more sand.  There should be no air between the lid and the sand, we want it as tight as possible.  This way if the jar ever fell the sand won't get all mixed up.

Marble Splatters

 Great for all ages

1. Get a shallow box, like the top and bottom of a shoe box.  2. *Place a blank piece of paper on the bottom of the box.

3. Place globs of your favorite color of paint onto the paper in the box.

4. Drop two marbles in the box and begin tilting the box back and forth to create a painting using the marbles.

* We used a blank envelope and card stock to create matching cards and envelopes.

Collage Scenery

Great for all ages.
Prep by cutting out images of people from magazines.  Make sure you have an abundant amount from various cultural ethnicities.
1. Pick an image from the pre-cut pile that stands out to you the most.
2. Paste down the image on to a sheet of paper.
3. Create a landscape for the image you picked.

Water Color Resist

This exercise is great for all age groups.
1. Can be done on any size of paper.  Thick paper is the best.
2. Use a white oil or wax pastel and create a drawing on the paper.  Stencils or freehand.
3. Add water colors to your image.
4. Go back with a Q-tip or paper towel and gently wipe down the water that is sitting on top of the oil/wax.
5. Let dry and now you have a beautiful Water Color Resist piece of art!

Squish & Pass

What do you see in this image?

This is one of my favorite Art Exercises for groups of all ages.  It can also be done with individuals as well.
1. Each group member has a thick piece of paper.  Any size will do but the bigger the better.
2. Have each group member pick out a bottle of paint.  Best if everyone has a different color.
3. Every one squirts a bit of their paint on the paper in any quick design.
4. Fold the paper in one half and squish the paint in good.
5. Open up the paper and pass it to the right.
6. Repeat the process until your art piece has come back around to you.
7. Have each member lift up their collaborative piece and have everyone give feedback on what  
images they see.