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Home » Blog » 10 Simple Afternoon Art Projects

in HomeSchooling

10 Simple Afternoon Art Projects

This summer we’ve just been enjoying some absolutely fun art projects. Many I’ve found on Pinterest. I’ve just been picking those that take little prep and offer marvelous results. So, today I’m sharing a round up of those projects because I know you and your children will enjoy them too – any time of year!

1. Glue Pictures

Prep: Just simply cut some pictures from magazines (or let your older child do this) and glue the cut out pictures to construction paper. Wonderful practice in small motor skills. It may even allow an older sibling to be a helper – preparing glue pictures for a younger brother or sister.

Gluing is one of those simple learning tools and pleasures of childhood. My preschoolers often enjoy gluing cut out magazine pictures while at church. We’ve adopted the practice at home. It’s one of those activities to enjoy year round and a handy thing to pull out on a summer afternoon.

Read the rest of my article on Glue Pictures at Heart of the Matter (with links to more fun things to do with magazines).

2. Circle Art

This was one of our favorites! Pull out the paper plate palettes, a few pieces of printer paper.

Dip toilet paper tubes, mason jars, even a marker cap in rainbows of colors.

Be sure to overlap. Let it dry. Then pull out the markers and make fun designs in the overlap area. Don’t wait a minute more. Click over to Circle Art at Skip to My Lou Summer Camp Craft.

And update! This same technique can be used to make Olympic Poster Inspired Art. Make the Olympic rings. Fun! (We plan to do that this week.)

3. Hand and Feet Floating Space Art

Hands and Feet ‘Falling Back in Space’ Art

4. Animal Mosaic

An Animal Mosaic (via Barb-Harmony Art Mom’s pin)

5. Acrylic ‘wash’ gift tags by Nana

This was spontaneous art fun at the beach! With four or five tubes of paint, Nana set out to make gift tags. She used small – 5×5 or 6×6 squares of watercolor paper. With a limited palette of red, blue and brown, mix your paint  with a lot of water.

Look out the window and paint what you see. This will not be elaborate or detailed because you are just going to use it to put on a present. And an acrylic gift tag is special for the recipient.

6. Watercolor Mosaic – Art and Math

A favorite from last fall. Such simple fun we just might have to do it again  Watercolor Mosaic – Art and Math

These look fun too!

  • 7. Cindy’s clay art project – we don’t often play with clay and this would be different. Also a literature connection.
  • 8. Self Portrait Collage – just torn pieces of paper from a magazine
  • 9. All Things Beautiful – 10 Weeks of Summer Learning and Fun with Pinterest – not linking to any one thing because there is so much inspiration!

10. Here on Hodgepodge:

  • Pete the Cat Chalk Pastel Fun
  • 10 Creative Summer and Beach arts and crafts
  • Free Chalk Pastel Tutorials and Acrylic Lessons

Need encouragement to pull out those art supplies?

How to Add in the Joy of Art

A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels

100 pages of simple afternoon art projects. Just add chalk pastels and paper with A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels.

Thanks to Angie at Many Little Blessings! Be sure to stop by to see Angie’s top ten and all the top ten link ups.

Top Ten Tuesday at Many Little Blessings

Have you been doing any arts and crafts or other projects from Pinterest?

Related

Filed Under: HomeSchooling Tagged With: art, craft, glue, Heart of the Matter, Pinterest, preschool

About Hodgepodgemom

Tricia faces a daily dose of chaos homeschooling five children. The biggest lesson she’s learned? At the end of the day – when the dishes are put away and the children are tucked in bed – truly what matters is each child’s relationship with the Lord. Raising children is a God-given privilege and, folks, the time is short.

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Comments

  1. Stephanie @ Harrington Harmonies says

    July 31, 2012 at 7:49 AM

    Wonderful ideas Tricia. My favorites are the Animal Mosaics and the water color mosaic. Really adds a simple but interesting change when cut and reconstructed in a different order. Cool Ideas!

    Reply
  2. Mary says

    July 31, 2012 at 8:00 AM

    These are GOOD. I am thinking it may be time for some circle art this afternoon! We made Queen’s Dolls yesterday and I can see my kids looking forward to art afternoons once or twice a week. 🙂

    Thank you for all of the ideas!

    Reply
  3. Jenilee says

    July 31, 2012 at 8:41 AM

    Thanks for the fun ideas! the circle one looks really fun!!

    Reply
  4. Vanessa Pruitt says

    July 31, 2012 at 9:25 AM

    These look like some easy and fun ideas. I will have to try some of these with my boys. Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Hodgepodgemom says

    July 31, 2012 at 10:44 AM

    These are all just basic fun with huge results (the main one being big smiles from the children). Building that joy of art. Thanks ladies!

    Reply
  6. Sherri says

    August 2, 2012 at 12:59 AM

    Great ideas!!

    Reply
  7. Penny says

    August 13, 2012 at 8:21 PM

    These are great! I always come up with a reason for not doing art but these are so simple and easy.

    Reply

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