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Hello Mommas! If you haven't been told yet today, YOU ROCK! It takes a very strong person to enter into parenthood and to endure all of the daily challenges that we face. No one knows what you do better than other parents. Especially other moms.
I am Anna, a Stay-at-Home Mom to three wild boys. I am thrilled to be a part of the Moms Beyond community and to share some helpful tips and ideas with you!
I hope you're enjoying the first few days of Spring! It's been chilly here, but soon we will be enjoying the warm sunshine. The grass will grow soft, lush, and green. All of the flowers will gradually bloom and our world will be filled with color again!
One thing that comes to mind when thinking of Spring, is watercolor art. The organic, colorful images mimics the spring nature; asymmetrical and layers of color. A watercolor masterpiece can turn a blank wall into a conversation piece or be sent in the mail to make a friend's day bright.
Here's an art project for you and your little one to try while waiting to come out of winter hibernation (or any time of year, really). If your kids are like my boys, the busier you keep them, the more well-behaved they are. So I'm always looking for a small project to keep them busy. It's so fun to watch kids' creativity come alive!
This project only takes about 5 minutes of prep, 10 minutes of artistry, and a little patience for drying.
For younger kids, I suggest tracing you trace a toy or lightly draw an illustration for them. For kids who know how to draw, have them place an image or toy on the table and try creating a still life. Look for other inspiration around your home also. Would you try to recreate Eric Carle-style illustrations? Or try painting a picture of your pet?
More water will make your painting more translucent. More paint will make your painting more opaque. The nice thing about watercolor art is that it's done in layers. You let one layer dry, and add more layers on until you think it's complete.
There are actual watercolor paint tubes and watercolor brushes, but you can always go for the Crayola or Prang set. The difference between the two is the watercolor tube colors are more vivid and can easily be mixed. If you buy these, all you need is red, blue, and yellow.
Also, make sure you always have extra paper available because the painting part usually goes fast!
Your painting will take more time if your child used too much water (like mine did). You can pat it dry with a paper towel, but know the paint will start to come off. The best way to dry the art is naturally on your kitchen counter over a few hours. The drying and waiting patiently is the hardest part of this process.
If you feel that your art is too transparent, first paint another layer or two before adding pen or markers, especially. Remember, use the watercolor paint with less water to make your colors more opaque. You may add in lines or texture this way.
When the painting is completely dry, you or your child may move onto this step. Draw around the image with a black gel pen to define the shape a bit more. You may also use other types of writing utensils.
Add a little bit of fresh color to your life or to someone you love. These make great birthday cards too
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Anna Havens and her husband are parents to three young boys, ages six and under. Anna is currently a stay-at-home Mom in order eliminate the burdens of day care costs, while preparing their boys for preschool. Being a stay-at-home mom can be very demanding and tiring, so Anna decided to start Momma Bird Blog. She wanted to reach out to other Moms who need a little motivation and encouragement. Momma Bird Blog focuses on parenting lifestyle; from letters of encouragement (to moms) to recipes and essential oil topics. Parenting is a tough job, but moms can be great supporters of other moms!
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