Tag: drawing

Categories
Creative

Create Autumn & Winter Pictures

This creative activity was first posted on Kiddipedia – https://kiddipedia.com.au/creative-activities-for-kids/

The weather is colder and the leaves are falling from the trees, some leaves are so pretty and colourful it is a shame to just have them fall on the ground.

If you are wondering what to do with the kids then this craft activity is for you.

 

This task is super easy and fun and one that will occupy all age groups.

So what do you need?

  • Paper
  • Paint
  • Crayons/Pencils/Textas
  • Autumn Leaves
  • Coloured craft paper
  • Glue Stick
  • Clear contact paper if you wish to do a see-through option to stick on a window

Method

Collect your colourful leaves and anything else you wish to stick to your picture. Draw or paint the branches and other items if you like. Now with the glue stick add glue to the areas you want to add the leaves and create your autumn/winter picture.

I know it is now winter but when I did this it was officially still autumn.

If you don’t want to do it on paper as we did simply add craft paper for the branches for the trees and then add the leaves, making sure to stick them all on clear contact paper. Once your picture is complete add a final top layer of see-through contact paper and then you can put on your window. Attaching this creation to your window will allow light to come in and shine on the colours in the picture.

This isn’t an expensive task and one that will be fun for everyone, and you will be the proud owner of new artwork for your walls and windows.

Enjoy and make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel 

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First published June 20, 2020

Categories
Creative

DIY Blackboard

DIY Blackboard in 3 Easy Steps
DIY Blackboard in 3 Easy Steps

What you will need

  • Blackboard/chalkboard paint from Dulux
    Blackboard/chalkboard paint from Dulux

    Paint to paint the wall any colour to fix it before you apply the blackboard paint

  • Plaster to fix any holes or uneven surfaces
  • Sandpaper to make sure all smooth if you have plastered
  • Chalkboard paint
  • Plastic sheets to ensure you have paint everywhere
  • Painter tape (you will be thankful you got it, trust me!)
  • Paint brushes
  • Chalk to use on the chalkboard
  • Kids who are keen to be artists and try out their new blackboard! I am sure you will be able to find this easily.

 

Step 1 – Prepare your wall

Make sure your surface is smooth and clean. My wall had to be patched up as it had some uneven parts. Once we re-plastered those, dried them and sanded them back the wall was painted all over with a white colour. The white colour got two coats and had to dry to make sure it was ready for the blackboard paint.

Wall plastered and sanded. Now ready for the cream paint.
Wall plastered and sanded. Now ready for the white paint.
Painting the wall white, before you add the blackboard paint.
Painting the wall white, before you add the blackboard paint.

Step 2 – Add the blackboard paint

Once all the wall is dry from the other paint you are now ready to add the blackboard paint. Make sure to place painter’s tape to mark the area where you would like to have the blackboard. This tape is a wonderful thing, it allows you to have great shapes that are neat and great lines and the tape just comes off after the paint is dry. It also helps you not go outside the lines. You don’t want to have black paint on the lovely white wall area. We did two layers for the blackboard paint and let it dry for a few days before we used it. Make sure to read the instructions on the tin.

Adding the blackboard paint
Adding the blackboard paint
The blackboard is ready. Looking good! Can we use it now mummy?
The blackboard is ready. Looking good! Can we use it now mummy?

Step 3 – Test out your new blackboard. Have fun!

Julia very pleased with her new blackboard.
Julia very pleased with her new blackboard.

The girls are getting so good at writing and the first thing they both wanted to do was to write their names. As a proud mummy, I had to take pictures of how clever they were, and also due to the blackboard being a new addition to our house.

Lillian happy with her new blackboard.

The art did not just remain with names or cute pictures it did get very wild and abstract. I was pleased and glad that the kids had fun. I like the idea that the blackboard is a place for the twins to express themselves and be creative.

Happy drawing away.
Happy drawing away.
The first art that graced the new blackboard, aside from the girls names.
The first art that graced the new blackboard, aside from the girls names.
The creative art from the artists, Julia and Lillian.
The creative art from the artists, Julia and Lillian.

Have you created a blackboard for the kids or yourself? Where did you put it? We made ours on the back wall of the house. This area is undercover and allows the kids to use the blackboard even if it is raining.

Now you see you can have a blackboard in 3 easy steps, why not give it a go? It is a great weekend project. Enjoy and have fun.

 

Originally published June 9, 2014

Categories
3 years and beyond Katoomba and Weather Pre-School

Wet weather options

It was a big day for us girls on Wednesday. Off to an indoor play centre and then in the evening to a board meeting, at the girls past child care centre. The decision to go to an indoor play centre was made easy by torrential rain that would not ease, and of course kids that wanted to run wild. However mummy just wanted to go back to bed. This relaxing in bed was never going to happen, so why not take them somewhere to exhaust the little monkeys.

Before we even got out the door, the girls had already done many pages of collage; drawing and I had painted their faces with face paint, a gift from grandma. I must say that face painters are safe as my skills are terrible in this area, but the girls were happy with the results, so glad that they did not know any better.

Isn’t it always the way, when you want to leave the house, or get out of the car, it rains heavier than before and seems to get worse and worse. We stayed in the car for a bit to see if it would get better, but no luck. Then I realised we could not stay in the car for a long, due to the girls eventually saying, “I need to go to the toilet mummy.” With this thought, I decided we just needed to run for it.  All three of us made it, although soaked and now a bit colder than we were before.

The girls were very pleased to be at the play area, and I packed a lunch so it makes it easy (and cheaper). While we are there, they can eat and then have a rest when we get home. Julia and Lillian spotted a friend from pre-school and all of them were excited. Great, they have a friend to play with. So from then on they were running and playing with their girlfriend. This means mummy can just have a cuppa tea without having to entertain kids; yippee!

The only problem arises at this place is when you have to leave. When you announce to your child/children that you have to go/to pack up/put shoes on, they run away and cannot be found. You end up giving extra time, and then eventually resorting to evil mummy tactics. Grabbing one child and then getting them organised and holding them until you get the other, if it fails. I let them know that if they behave badly, we will never come back. This usually results in, “Oh, oaky mummy” and “oaky” and mean looks at me.

Upon exiting the indoor play area, the rain was still as heavy as when we came in. If anything it seems like it had gotten heavier and worse. A kind lady on the counter minded the girls, while I went to get the car. This helped as it would have been difficult with two kids in the rain.

We went home to rest before our next outing, which was to the girls ex child care centre. They used to go there for two years, but now they go to pre-school. I am still on the board at the centre and went for the regular meeting. The girls get minded by some ladies who work at the centre, and the kids love it, as they get to see their old teachers/carers/friends that go to the centre. They get fed so all I have to do is give them some milk and it is off to bed. Upon leaving it was still pouring with rain, we finally made it home tired and wet.

What do you do when it is pouring with rain, and it does not stop? Do your kids run amok, or do they like being inside doing puzzles, drawing or other tasks? Mine love to go outside and seem to feel couped up if the rain lasts for too long. Not a good thing in a small house with bad weather. Send in your comments.

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Categories
3 years and beyond Family

More sunny adventures

Yes another sunny wonderful day today, I am very proud of myself that I managed to do 2 loads of laundry before we left the house and nearly all was dry when we got home.

As it was sunny, we thought that we would take off to Australia Walkabout Park, we had a Cudo voucher that was going to expire. I bought it thinking that it would be great for the girls to see all different animals in their habitat. I am so glad that the weather was good and we were able to use the voucher before it expired. We raced around, got ready and packed our bag.

Julia was out of sorts all day, and we think it was due to the heat, she was moody, wanting cuddles and everything was an issue. Lillian seemed fine.  My car has no air conditioning and we think it needs to be re gassed, it has to wait currently so we aired the car with the windows down. Not great, but it works, the only annoying part is when you have to stop it gets very hot.

We finally arrived to the wildlife park at about 1pm and all had some lunch. The girls saw an emu or two walking around the eating area, and they were amazed at them. Behind the cafe is the koala enclosure and the girls could not see them moving, as they were fast asleep. After lunch we all went to the talk about the diamond python, who is called Neil, (Neil Diamond, someone at this park has a sense of humour). The girls were not interested in touching the snake, petting it, or have it pretend you were a tree and lounge on you. I was not into it and was happy to look also. There were some brave kids and adults that allowed their body to be a tree for Neil the snake. I just could not do it. This idea got met with “NO, YUCK!” by both the girls. So I take it they feel the way I do and so does daddy about this. Happy to watch.

After this we all went off for a bit of a bush walk and ended up at the Tasmanian Devil talk. These creatures definitely should not be messed with, they have heaps of teeth that seriously could do you some damage. Since the weather was very hot, they were not that keen in coming out from their cool log. There was a brief moment when one came out with the coaxing from the ranger with meat and holding the devil in a position that was not cruel but would not allow the animal to eat the ranger either.

We saw koalas being fed, emus, the girls saw kangaroo’s eating and they patted them and were very taken with them. We made sure that they were safe and was around just in case. All in all it was a good day; it was long and a tiring day, the girls saw and animals and had a great experience. So glad it was hot, a taste of what summer should have been. I wonder if we will get more weather like this.

I have only now checked the weather for the week ahead. What a sad state of affairs, the follow is the predication for the week ahead (weather taken from Sydney Morning Herald Weather):

Monday
Late shower
Min: 15°C Max: 24°C
UV: Extreme

Tuesday
Possible shower
Min: 12°C Max: 18°C
UV: Extreme

Wednesday
Possible shower
Min: 12°C Max: 17°C
UV: Extreme

Thursday
Possible shower
Min: 12°C Max: 16°C
UV: Extreme

Friday
Showers
Min: 10°C Max: 16°C
UV: Extreme

Saturday
Showers
Min: 10°C Max: 16°C
UV:

Sunday
Possible shower
Min: 10°C Max: 17°C
UV: –

How disappointing that the weekend is probably the only sunny warm weather that we might have in a while. Let’s hope that the weather people have got it wrong.

When we came home from the wildlife park, I changed the sheets on our bed and the girls beds. Now the only washing I have to do is the sheets and some clothes from today. So that is good news. Aside from sorting, ironing and putting away.

There are 3 more days until the girls go to pre-school orientation; I am so excited that you would think it is me going to school. I hope it is a fun time at the school, not sure what will be discussed and shown for future students, but keen to find out. Now need to get my finger out and start the sewing project for their pants.

I hope you all had good adventures this weekend and that the weather was good. I hope that the weather is going to be sunny and warm tomorrow, I will hope for it. What did you all get up to this weekend? We managed to find some A3 paper from Officeworks this weekend for the kid’s art, so maybe tomorrow we will paint or draw. What have you got organised?