By Candie Cooper

So it's the day of the big birthday luau celebration.  The tiki torches are set, grass skirts await and the next thing you know the weatherman is calling for an 89% chance of rain.  Luau canceled.  Now what?!?  Rainy day paint party, that's what! 



This is a hit for kids of all ages and there are many ways to go about it.  For my birthday, everyone took turns painting on a large 5'x5' canvas which I have in my studio (makes me smile every time I walk by it).  The other option is to buy mini canvases in which everyone paints there own picture to keep (party favors---check!).



I chose a Folk Art pallet of paint ahead of time (this still doesn't mean party guests won't get in your delicious stash of paint though---also makes me smile).   For a large painting, it's good to have 1" to 3" brushes available.  Paper towels, paper plates, water buckets, and smocks were also on hand.



It was so neat seeing the painting evolve.  People painted on and off throughout the evening, adding their special touch.



When it was finished, I sealed it with Folk Art gloss varnish.  Check out these detail shots!







It ended up being the best birthday in a really long time.  I got to hang out with my friends, create and laugh.  I really can't think of a better way to turn 32.  Thanks to all my friends for playing.

Here is a super cute and easy project from our friend, Debbie Saenz that you can do with kids. Check it out!



Supplies:
Apple Barrel Colors Limeade
Pom Poms in coordinating colors
Paper Mache boxes in varying sizes
Paint Brush
Craft Glue
Glue gun and glue



Paint your boxes Limeade, or whatever color your kiddos want.



Once the paint is dry smooth glue over the largest and medium sized lids. Then adhere the bottom of the medium and small boxes to them.



Put your boxes together, then break out the glue gun and the pom poms! Put dabs of glue where you want a pom pom.



Then stick the pom poms on. That's it!

Once the glue is dry you'll have a fun and functional tower for the bedroom, playroom, or any other room in the house that needs a whimsical touch.

by Candie Cooper



With the hot days of summer on our heels, my mind takes me back to swimming at Grandma's pool, Popsicles on the porch swing, hose fights with my sister (when we were really supposed to be washing the car), flip flops, lightning bugs, and trips to the lake.  My mom always had little craft projects for us to make with our friends on the front porch.  With that in mind, here is a quick and easy jewelry project that you can make together this summer.



Materials:
Mod Podge
Paint brush
Fabric scraps
Clear acrylic pendants
Large jump ring
Extra bead embellishments, head pins, jump rings (optional)
Ribbon or leather (20" for each necklace)
Scissors
Tapestry needle



Cut a piece of fabric slightly larger than your pendant.  I used 100% cotton because it's super flexible which formed around the pendant easily.



Paint a coat of Mod Podge on the back of the crystal and place fabric on top.  Roll the crystal on it's side to burnish the fabric in place.  Set aside to dry.



Trim excess fabric around the edge of the pendant.



Seal the fabric with 2 more coats of Mod Podge and leave to dry. (tip: you can use a hair dryer to speed the drying process a bit)



Use a tapestry needle to poke a hole through the fabric where it hangs from.  Beaded embellishments can be added as well with extra jump rings, bits of chain, etc...  (Another tip: Mis-matched earrings make great added dangles, too, because they are essentially pre-made.)  If you want more tips on how to make your own jewelry, check out my jewelry making video on PlaidOnline.



String the pendant onto a piece of leather, ribbon or cord of your choice.
Tie around your neck with a bow for summer fun style!

When I picked up my son from school today he proudly showed off the project he made for his dad. I thought it was so cute and easy that I had to share it. All the kids did was Mod Podge tissue paper to tin cans. That's it! They each got creative with the colors they used and the way they placed the paper on the cans, and each one was a little masterpiece. Best of all, this project can be done in about an hour, not including drying time.

The teachers printed out "I love, you, Dad! Happy Father's Day 2011" and the kids glued it to the top of the can. They also printed out a little saying for the side:

"When I am at school, or when we are far apart, you are always in my heart. So here are some hugs and kisses for when I am away to remind you that I love you every day."



You know what is in the tin? You guessed it! Hershey's hugs and kisses candy. So sweet and simple, and Dad is sure to love it.

If you're looking for other last minute projects to do with the kiddos, check out our sister blog, Paint Me Plaid, and PlaidOnline.com.

Have a Happy Father's Day!

With all that has been in the news in recent years about toxic chemicals in our children's toys, we thought we'd let you know that Plaid paints are certified non-toxic. In fact, someone submitted a question to our sister blog, Paint Me Plaid, about it. Here's the post with the details.

by Candie Cooper



Kids love making things which is one of the reasons I love working with them so much!  Here is a list of things to keep in mind when crafting with a group of children.  I hope you'll find it helpful and feel free to leave your tips in the comment section. The more the merrier!

1.  Choose a craft that everyone can be successful with because frustrated crafty kids equals no fun.  Most craft projects for children indicate the age appropriate in the instructions.

2.  Work with kid-friendly, non-toxic materials.  Plaid products like Apple Barrel paints and ModPodge fit the bill!

3.  Have one or two finished samples of the craft ready to show children so they can see what they are making.

4.  This may be obvious, but make sure everyone can see you when showing how to make the craft.  I always start by saying, "can everyone see me?" and then they shuffle and adjust (it's pretty cute).

5.  Little bowls and trays are great for organizing the supplies on the table.  If you are painting, wide bottomed water buckets are awesome to put paint brushes in because they don't tip easy and save your brushes for clean-up later.   Being organized is key when working with kids so things go smoothly because, well, they're fast!

6.  Extra paint smocks are great to have on hand to protect clothing just in case the kiddos didn't come prepared to get messy.

7.  Which reminds me: protect table surfaces.  Dollar stores are great places to pick up inexpensive plastic tablecloths.

8.  Referring to number five, have a simple self-guided activity for those who finish ahead of others (i.e. construction paper and crayons).  I've also asked those that finish early to offer their friends help or given them a simple task to help me in clean-up.

9.  Speaking of clean-up, have a clean-up station stocked with wet wipes, paper towels, water buckets, and brush cleaner.

10.  If you are unsure of how long the craft will take or difficulty level, you can always do a practice run with one or two children before the actual event.  This really helps to work out the kinks.

11.  Tell the kids what a great job they did on their craft and CELEBRATE CREATIVITY!!  (And pat yourself on the back for leading them!)

Our newest contributor to our blog, Candie Cooper, had this great idea for a quick and easy gift for Father's Day. Check it out!

The tie has been a tried and true Father's Day present for dads across the world for years!  Polka dots, stripes, navy or brown, paisley, and rubber ducks-there is one to suit every dad on the planet!  This year when I was scouting out something to craft for Dad, I found this tie rack.  When I saw it, I thought a plain little tie rack with wooden center piece that was begging for some embellishment!?!?  I was set!



I started by lightly sanding the wooden surface on both sides. Wipe the dust away and paint with your favorite Folk Art color.




And just like that, we find ourselves ready to embellish!  I love how fast the Folk Art paint dries.  Select some fun papers, pencil, pattern, and letters to spell out "dad" (and don't forget grandpa!")



Trace your tie pattern onto the back side of your favorite paper that works with the pattern.



Add a layer of Mod Podge to the surface of the tie rack and position the paper tie.  Seal with a coat of Mod Podge and add other embellishments.  The Mod Podge will add a glossy surface to your painted pieces.



You can add your scrabble tiles with the Mod Podge as well.  And why not decorate the back?!?



I smiled when I laid out the D-A-D letter tiles with the point system.  That would be a five point word score for DAD!  Go Dads!