fall

Corn Syrup Paint Sunflowers

November 18, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you can probably tell that I like both sunflowers and corn syrup paint a lot. I regularly post sunflower activity ideas and frequently feature corn syrup paint art. These corn syrup paint sunflowers perfectly showcase the beauty and appeal of this shiny, glossy paint. Prepare to be wowed!

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

This shiny, corn syrup paint sunflower art project is easy-to-do and looks gorgeous displayed. A free sunflower template is available to download.

_______

Supplies To Collect

For this easy-to-do, pretty painting activity, gather the following supplies:

white corn syrup
blue, red, and yellow food coloring
sunflower seeds
baby food jars
paintbrushes
teaspoons
8 ½ x 11-inch white cardstock paper
green construction paper
scissors
glue stick
glue gun
pencil
sunflower template
plastic tablecloth

_______

Making The Corn Syrup Paint Sunflowers

There is always white corn syrup in my art supply collection, as I love using it in painting activities. But you can substitute light corn syrup instead.

Steps to make glorious, corn syrup paint sunflowers using a taste-safe, homemade, two-ingredient recipe. Download and use the free template for this art project.

_______

First, pour the corn syrup into three baby food jars, or paint containers you have handy. Add a few drops of red, yellow, and blue food coloring to one jar and mix it with a teaspoon to make a shade of brown. Add a few drops of yellow to another and stir. Mix red and yellow colors into a third container to make orange.

Note: The more food coloring drops you add, the darker each hue will be.

Next, trace and cut leaves and stems from green construction paper.

Afterward, cut cardstock sunflowers from a template. Feel free to download and use the sunflower template included in this post.

Download this sunflower template to make gorgeous corn syrup art.

_______

Sunflower PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

_______

Then set out the paper sunflowers, brown paint, and seeds on a table covered with a plastic tablecloth. Invite participants to paint the circular middle of their sunflower brown, and press in seeds.

Next, set out the yellow and orange paints and brushes. Ask everyone to paint the petals of their sunflower. They’ll love using this bright, slick, translucent paint.

Gorgeous, glossy sunflower art made with a taste-safe, two-ingredient homemade paint recipe. This art project looks stunning when displayed.

_______

As soon as the artists are finished, move each decorated sunflower onto an 8 ½ x 11-inch white cardstock background, or a cardstock color of choice. Adhere it with a glue gun. Then with a gluestick or glue gun, add a green paper stem and leaf.

The corn syrup paint is thick and sticky, and completed sunflower art projects should be left to dry for a few days.

_______

Displaying The Corn Syrup Sunflower Art

These syrupy sunflowers have a shiny, firm finish when dry, and look beautiful displayed. The art is somewhat transient, as the paint will melt and drip in hot, humid conditions. But I have had a piece on display for over a year and it is still looking fabulous.

This shiny, corn syrup paint art project is easy to do and looks gorgeous displayed. It's an all-ages art activity everyone will love to try.

_______

More Corn Syrup Paint Art

As mentioned earlier, I feature lots of corn syrup paint activities on this blog. You may be interested in:

Textured Octopus Craft

Sea Star Art

Sea Turtle Hatchling Art

Painted Turtle And Lizard

Spooky Hands Craft

Sunflower Heart Craft

All these art projects yield gorgeous results.

_______

[Read more…]

Gadget Printmaking Poppy Art

November 10, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

It started with a large dot print made with a pie pan, tempera paint, and a paintbrush. The intent was to make a simple red poppy print with a black round center. But afterward, I decided to add paint markings with gadgets to add more color and definition. The result is super striking gadget printmaking poppy art that’s easy and fun to do.

This poppy art is perfect for a Remembrance Day project. Red poppies are a symbol of lives lost to war since World War I. They especially serve as reminders of this each year on November 11, the Remembrance Day holiday in our country.

How to make stunning gadget printmaking poppy art.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Poppy Art Supplies

Gadgets used as painting tools make interesting prints, and you can find them all over your home. Here are the gadgets I use for this large-scale art activity:

9-inch round cake or pie pan
Jumbo circular bubble wand and tray
ground meat chopper
spools
bottle sponge brush
round sponge brush

A few simple supplies complete the list of items needed to make poppy art:

tempera paint colors in bright red, yellow, green, pink, and orange
12-inch x 16-inch sturdy white paper
green construction paper
green marker
ruler
scissors
glue stick
flat plate or tray

_______

Gadget Printmaking Poppy Art Steps

Simple steps to create beautiful poppy art with a gadget printmaking technique. The art project introduces participants to a new and unusual way to paint.

_______

First, lay out a large sheet of sturdy paper on a table.

Next, pour red paint on a tray or flat plate. Dip the bottom of a round cake or pie pan in the paint, and press it down on the paper background to make the flower head.

Then dip a bubble wand into orange paint and press it in the middle of the dot. The bubble wand tray holds the paint perfectly for this step.

Afterward, press a sponge bottle brush into the green paint, and make a print in the center.

Then dip a spool into black paint, and press it into the very center of the flower.

Bubble wand, sponge bottle brush, and spool paint prints add color and definition to this gadget printmaking poppy art project.

_______

Next, draw on a stem with a green marker. If desired, use a ruler to keep the stem line straight.

Finally, cut a simple leaf from green fadeless construction paper, and glue it onto the stem.

_______

Poppy Art Color Variations

The gadgets and paint colors used for enhancing the red poppies can be varied. In this art project, a bubble wand, bottle brush, and two spools are the gadgets used.

_______

A ground meat chopper paint print adds detail to the flower center below.

A bubble wand and ground meat chopper paint print add color and definition to this gadget printmaking poppy art project.

_______

Remembrance Day Poppy Art

_______

This next project employs the bubble wand tray for the large dot print. The tray is not as big as the cake or pie pan, so can be used with a smaller-sized paper base. And it has a scalloped edge, adding character to the poppy dot. This design is my pick for the official Remembrance Day art project for this year.

For the flower center, dip a round sponge brush or small round sponge into black paint, and press it in the middle of the red dot print. Then press a sponge bottle brush into yellow paint, and make a print on top of the black circle. Finish off with a black spool print in the center of the flower.

Tip: Letting the red and black paint dry for a few hours helps the yellow sponge bottle print stand out and remain bright.

Create this beautiful Remembrance Day poppy art with a gadget printmaking technique. The art project introduces participants to a new and unusual way to paint.

_______

_______

More Gadget Printmaking Poppy Art Ideas

Instead of using only red for the large flower petal dot, introduce a few more color choices, such as yellow and orange. The colors will blend in nicely to make red-orange hues, adding shading and texture.

And since poppies come in a variety of colors, you could choose an entirely new color scheme for this project.

Bubble wand, sponge, meat chopper, bottle brush, and spool prints add highlights and detail to the poppy flower art. And the gadget painting technique introduces participants to a new and unusual way to do painting and printmaking.

_______

More Remembrance Day Art Projects

Remembrance Day Butterfly Craft

Remembrance Day Poppy Art

_______

[Read more…]

Glam Skeleton Playdough Tray

October 30, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

For the longest while I stayed away from featuring skeletons in activities for little learners. But you wouldn’t know it by all the posts about them on this blog. That’s because in recent years I’ve seen so many glam skeletons in home décor, inspiring a host of ways to showcase them in fun, non-threatening ways. This glam skeleton playdough tray is my latest bone-filled play invitation. It is an extension of a post I did last week about an elegant skeleton sensory bin.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies To Gather

Silver and gold loose parts complement the neutral palette in this glam skeleton-themed playdough invitation.

_______

The same loose parts used in the skeleton-themed sensory bin work wonderfully in a playdough party tray:

skeletons
skulls
bones
spider figurines
pearl beads
gem leaves
bead jewelry strands
crown hair combs
mini pumpkins
bells

_______

The Glam Skeleton Playdough Tray

This playdough tray can be offered with a basic playdough recipe or one that is colored. Black and white playdough contrast each other in the tray below. There are links to the dough recipes further on in the post.

A skeleton sits atop black and white playdough in this inviting party tray. Other loose parts include pumpkins, spiders, skulls, and bones.

_______

This next tray features white playdough made with my go-to basic playdough recipe.

_______

Although there’s a whole lotta glam in the sensory tray, an ornate mirror adds just a little more.

A mirror adds elegance to this glam skeleton playdough invitation early learners will be excited to explore.

_______

The loose parts spark the imagination and children can use them to make unique designs. They make interesting prints in the dough.

_______

Playdough Recipes

Find the recipes for the playdough here:

Black Playdough Recipe (from the blog “Left Brain Craft Brain.”)

This black playdough was featured in my “White Lilacs And Black Playdough” blog post a few months ago. Believe it or not, the playdough is still pliable.

Basic Playdough Recipe

The basic playdough recipe can be made in a big batch to use with a group of children.

_______

Four different ways to feature skeleton-themed loose parts in sensory play. Black and white playdough recipes are included.

_______

Related:

Skeleton And Eyeball Waterplay

Skeleton Preschool Theme

Q-tip Skeleton Craft

_______

More Themed Playdough Trays

Circus Playdough Tray

Watermelon Playdough Tray

Pumpkin Playdough Activities

Santa Claus Playdough Tray

Pet-Themed Playdough Tray

_______

[Read more…]

Fall Tablescape Pretend Play

October 30, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

Living in Alberta, Canada, it seems a little late to feature a fall activity post. The leaves have almost completely blown off the trees, by fierce winds that seem determined to knock every last one to the ground. But although fall has nearly left us, we are not ready to leave it behind. So here’s one last colorful autumn post…an inviting fall tablescape pretend play center.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies Collected

Pretend play is super fun and imaginative in this fall tablescape pretend play set up early learners are bound to love.

_______

Fall colors, leaves, and animals feature prominently in this list of gathered supplies:

leaf-themed paper plates
green, yellow, and orange forks and spoons
fall cupcake liners
orange ice cube tray
bowl with owl, leaf, acorn, and apple game pieces
jar with yellow, orange and red felt balls
container with leaf, acorn, pumpkin, and diamond gems
felt animal decorations
orange artificial flower sprig
artificial sunflower heads
large felt maple leaf
muffin pan
cookie sheet
potholder and spatula

_______

The Fall Tablescape Pretend Play Setup

The list of supplies seems long, but this play tablescape is quick and easy to set up. I started out by setting out the red maple leaf and vase with flowers. Next, I added the plates and cutlery. Then I added the rest of the supplies.

_______

Loose parts such as gems, felt balls, and game pieces allow children to use their imagination. Little learners love incorporating them in pretend play. For instance, wouldn’t the felt animal decorations make super fancy cookies?

_______

Seasonal loose parts add a host of imaginative possibilities to this easy-to-put-together fall tablescape pretend play setup.

_______

Loose parts such as game pieces and felt balls add imaginative possibilities to this easy-to-put-together fall tablescape pretend play setup.

_______

Can you think of anything I’ve forgotten to set out on the table? It’s fall-themed cups! I didn’t realize they were missing until after I had taken all the pictures.

_______

Little learners relish playing with seasonal accessories. And it’s especially fun to see their excited response the first day they notice a new play kitchen theme.

_______

View this Fall Play Tablescape as a video.

_______

[Read more…]

Light Table Leaf Exploration

October 29, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

_______

One of the nicest places to observe colors and shapes in fall leaves is on the light table. Early learners get the chance to investigate natural materials indoors. The leaves get illuminated and their stripes, spots, and beautiful colors become even more noticeable. And best of all, there are a lot of learning possibilities in this light table leaf exploration activity.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

_______

Supplies To Collect

Fall leaf matching on the light table is easy with silhouettes drawn on overhead transparencies.

_______

Gather the following supplies for this low-prep, economical nature play invitation:

leaves in different colors, shapes, textures, and sizes
overhead transparencies
black permanent marker
“leaf” word strip
transparent alphabet letters
magnifying glasses
artificial flowers in vases

_______

Light Table Leaf Exploration

To collect the leaves, take your little charges on a nature walk. Give everyone a bag and ask each participant to find leaves in different shapes, sizes, and colors.

Back at home or in class, set some of the leaves on a light table for the children to view. Invite everyone to explore, sort, and arrange the foliage.

Extra leaves can be placed in an indoor DIY mud kitchen or added to a sensory tub.

Include magnifying glasses for early learners to see leaf veins and midribs clearly.

Fall leaves look extra pretty on the light table. And this leafy center has many learning opportunities.

_______

Place a word strip with the word “leaf” on the table, and include transparent alphabet letters. Encourage children to say and spell the word.

Fall flower sprigs in vases add ambiance to the center.

Exploring leaves is super fun on the light table. Magnifying glasses and the word "leaf" add learning possibilities to the center.

_______

Overhead Transparency Leaf Silhouettes

Trace some of the leaves onto overhead transparencies using a black permanent marker. Invite your early learners to match the light-enhanced leaves to their silhouettes.

Leaf matching on the light table is easy with silhouettes drawn on overhead transparencies.

_______

Light Table Leaf Exploration Benefits

This simple sensory activity has so many learning opportunities. Here are some possibilities this leaf light table setup offers:

recognizing leaf colors
counting and sorting leaves
shape matching
ordering leaves by size
alphabet letter identification
learning to make and spell a word
discussing leaf midribs and veins
creating designs with leaves

_______

Related: Eyedropper Leaf Art

_______

[Read more…]