Print It: You're the "Kool"-est Valentine

With Valentine's Day just a week away, I'm remembering the scramble to decorate boxes and bags and make sure that each kid had Valentines for all of their classmates. For a few years there, it was quite the undertaking!

Printable Kool-Aid Pouch Valentines

I thought I'd share an easy diy Valentine idea with you today, just in time for the weekend. Add Kool-Aid Jammer's drink pouches to your shopping list, print out my "You're the Kool-est" Valentines, and gather the kids for an assembly-line! (Prefer Capri-Sun drink pouches? Check out You Are My SunShine printable Valentines.

Friday Art Fun! da Vinci-Inspired Sketchbooks

Introduce your child to a famous artist of the Renaissance, while making a fun personalized journal. For the cover, we created crayon resist paintings using a technique that made them look a little like worn parchment. On the inside, we added a bookplate with "mirror-writing".

What You Need

Composition Notebook or (other blank journal)

White paper

Black crayon

Watercolor paints & brush

Glue

Mirror-Writing Bookplates (download here)

Books or Websites about Leonardo da Vinci

Make It: Hand-Stamped LOVE Pendant

I enjoyed making and wearing the Hand-Stamped JOY Pendant that I made for the holidays so much, that I thought I'd try to come up with a similar design for Valentine's Day. If you're new to metal-stamping this little washer pendant is a fun beginner's project.

Stamped Valentine's Pendant Tutorial

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This little pendant goes together very quickly. Once it's stamped, there's very little to it!

Make It! Kid's Art Portfolio

Hello. Today I am sharing an easy art portfolio made from your child's art, some poster board, and tape or clear contact paper. You might even like to make one for each year. Good times are at the start of a new school year or around your child's birthday. Pick a time that works for you.

Supplies Needed for Kid's Art Portfolio

• Artwork (for front of portfolio)
• Solid-color Poster Board (cut to match front)
• Colored Tape or Clear Contact Paper
• More Tape or Cloth Bias Tape (for handles)

This project works best with larger flat art pieces. (I recommend 12x18 or larger.) If you don't have one large piece, have your child create a painting or drawing directly on poster board already cut to size or collage several smaller pieces onto some poster board.

Friday Art Fun! Painting with Primary Colors

Hello! Hello! Welcome to Friday Art Fun! I am so glad you're joining me for this new series. For this week, we'll be talking about COLOR.

The primary colors are red, blue and yellow. Those colors can be combined to make the secondary colors. I often like to start an art lesson with a children's book or two on the topic. Two of my favorites about COLOR are White Rabbit's Color Book by Alan Baker and Mousepaint by Ellen Stoll Walsh. Both have delightful illustrations that engage children while teaching them about mixing colors. A sure hit with younger children.

After reading together, provide white paper and red, blue and yellow paint. (For very young children, you don't even need brushes. Choose child-safe finger-paint and finger-painting paper.)