Crafts+With+Paint

=Painting Pictures=

Use any kind of paint, and any kind of paper to experiment and have fun with paints. Here are some ideas.

MANAGING THE MESS:
 * Use good quality washable tempera paint.
 * Mix a bit of dish detergent with the paint to make it even more washable.
 * Cover your art surface with old newspapers or a plastic tablecloth that is used especially for crafts.
 * Cover your children's clothes with a smock or an old adult-sized shirt.
 * If paint gets on your child's clothes, wash it or soak it while the paint is still wet.

DIFFERENT WAYS TO PAINT:
 * Use different sized brushes to paint.
 * Use cotton buds (Q Tips) to paint.
 * Use cookie cutters dipped in paint (in a plastic container) to stamp shapes on your picture.

MIXING COLOURS:
 * Give your children the primary colours - red, yellow and blue - and white. If they want another colour, they can mix colours to make them. Experiment!
 * Use old egg cartons as a palette: put a little bit of each different colour in each cup, and leave some cups empty to mix colours in.
 * Use a plastic container or plate as a palette - put small blobs of each colour around the container or plate, leaving space for colour mixing.

DRYING AND DSIPLAYING YOUR PAINTINGS:
 * Hang pictures with clothespins on a string or a drying rack to dry.
 * Put out more newspapers in an out-of-the-way place where your children can leave their pictures to dry.
 * Have a designated spot to display the art: the fridge, a wall or door, or hang a string and use clothespins to make a display.

=Marble Painting=

Place a piece of paper into a box with low sides. Place a marble into a plastic container with one colour of paint. Use a spoon to put the marble on the paper in the box. Have your child shake the box back and forth. Place a marble into a different colour. Place it on the paper and shake again. Repeat until your child is happy with his/her picture. (Hint: Use colours that mix well together like red/yellow or yellow/blue or blue/red.)