Watercolor resist is a technique that artists use to create interesting effects in their paintings. 

The basic idea is that wax or oil will resist water-based paints; the paint won't stick to it.  You can use this technique to create beautiful paintings of ocean life or anything else your imagination can dream up.

One of the craziest things we ever did... (also one of the best things we ever did!) was to purchase 2 sets of down pillows from Hilton Hotels.

Yep, they're the same pillows they use in their hotels... plush, and huge, and over-stuffed. Ahhhh!

Here's how it all happened...

Spring is finally here and that means one very important thing to me.  Flowers! 

They're everywhere right now and I can't get enough of them. Pink ones, purple ones, yellow ones, and white ones... there's just something about the fresh colors of spring flowers.

While you're out enjoying the weather, collect some of those beautiful spring flowers to use in your arts and crafts projects. 

For pressing flowers, look for more flat flowers like violets, pansies, and daisies.  Thicker flowers will work, but they take longer to dry.  Don't forget that green is good, too. So, collect interesting leaves from flowers, trees, ferns - wherever you find them.  These will make your crafts even more interesting and natural looking!

You may remember making a God's Eye weave in scouts or at camp as a child.  The Ojo de Dios, or Eye of God, is a Native American craft of the Huichol Indians of northwestern Mexico. 

The Eye of God is a symbol of the power of seeing and understanding the unknown.  They are made for children when they are born and a new eye is added for each year until they are five.

These are easy and fun to make and are a great craft to share with your children.  Because they require few materials and are very simple (but time-consuming) to make, they make a great rainy day activity! 

I have done this activity with children from 1st through 8th grades and it is always a hit -- it works particularly well for very energetic kids or those with ADHD.

As you know, I am a huge fan of true stories, non-fiction books, reality TV shows, and documentaries.

One that I've recently added to my list of favorites is the movie called "My Kid Could Paint That".

The filming took place over the course of 3 years, with the bulk of the movie being filmed in 2005. It was released in theaters in October of 2007, and the movie recently came out on DVD in March of 2008.

(...before you read on, please know that there are some movie spoilers mentioned below.)

Doing arts and crafts with kids can be a fun and rewarding experience. Often, these are the moments that your children will remember and cherish years from now.  When you take the time to help your child make a craft, not only are you creating a keepsake, you are creating a memory.
   
Beginning to do crafts with your child can seem daunting at first, but it doesn’t have to be difficult, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Start out with simple projects that you feel comfortable with. Then, as your skills grow, you can tackle more complicated projects. 

You can find lots of materials around your house that can be re-used or recycled to become part of your art projects. 

Carving out the time can be a challenge too, but when you remember that the time spent with your children could be the most important appointment you keep this week, you may find you have more time than you thought. Schedule it in and hold yourself to it.  You will be glad you did.

Here's a fun idea for one of your first projects together: Make a craft box for all of your art supplies!

Oh my goodness...

This online game looks like so much fun, but I'm having a hard time getting past Level 1!