We Have a WINNER selected by Rafflecopter and random.org

You can view results on our original Post: Ocean Water Color Canvas Art by Children

 Congratulations Jamie!

Jamie May 23, 2013 at 2:39 pm

I like to sing but not too loud as I’m tone deaf. I especially love singing in the shower! I also like to take a long walk whenever I can.

Contact us at our email: winner at waddleeahchaa dot com

(Prize must be claimed by Friday, May 31, 2013.)

Original Post: Ocean Water Color Canvas Art by Children

Week at a Glance:

• Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Sea Horse The Shyest Fish in the Sea by Chris Butterworth
• Step-by-Step Ocean Canvas Painting by Children.

Book of the Week GIVEAWAY: Sea Horse The Shyest Fish in the Sea by Chris Butterworth

Why we love this book:

In the last few years, I have been pleasantly surprised by the quality of nonfiction books available for children. Sea Horse The Shyest Fish in the Sea is a nonfiction book that has the look of  beautifully illustrated children’s literature. When the artwork on the cover of this book first grabbed my attention, I was expecting a story book. The watery textured background is layered with vinyl engravings of delicate plants, coral, seahorses and other sea animals. The muted hues of ocean blues, greens, oranges and reds take you right down into the sea. Love, love, love these uniquely artistic illustrations!

I find sea horses to be one of the most enchanting animals in the ocean. They truly look like mythical creatures. We were lucky to observe these little guys at the South Padre Island Dolphin Research and Sealife Center. (I’ll share more about this great educational center in next few weeks!) Sea Horse The Shyest Fish in the Sea is a wonderful combination of engaging artwork and nonfiction information. The author, Chris Butterworth, writes a narrative that shares how the seahorse moves, eats and reproduces. I know reproduction stories sometimes send parents running in the other direction. Breathe deep, the sea horses are described as dancing until sunset. The illustrations do show the female putting the eggs into the male pouch. Actually, a very interesting fact! If you read this book, I bet you learn a few sea horse facts!

Ocean Canvas Art by Children

Supplies

• Ocean Books with Watery Illustrations
  • Sea Horse The Shyest Fish in the Sea by Chris Butterworth
  • Swimmy by Leo Lionni
• White Canvas: I bought 2 in a pack at Hobby Lobby ($6.99 minus 40% discount)
  • 20″ x 16″, almost 1″ thick
• Acrylic Paints hues of blue, green, purple
• Paint Brushes

Painting Tip

• We use the plastic lids off of yogurt and butter containers.
• The kids use as many as they like and if too messy for clean-up, we simply toss them in the recycle.

Step 1: Mix the Paint

• The trick is to water down the paints! Then add more water!

Step 2: Paint Canvas with Watery Designs

Track Painting Technique

• The children created their own designs using coordinating colors.
• MacGyver calls this painting technique Track Painting.
• He begins by making a watery circle of paint.
• Next, he tilts the canvas this way and that, running the paint all over the canvas.
• Interesting, as he adds more watery colors and tilts the canvas, the paints find an existing “track” of paint to travel.
• As the paint travels along a track, the paints mix, creating new watery colors.

• Next, he tilts the canvas this way and that, running the paint all over the canvas.
• Interesting, as he adds more watery colors and tilts the canvas, the paints find an existing “track” of paint to travel.
• As the paint travels along a track, the paints mix creating new watery colors.

Ocean Canvas Track Painting by MacGyver, age 9

Viola, modern art painting of the ocean uniquely envisioned  by a 9-year-old boy! Love, love, love!

Ocean Canvas Layer Painting by Miss Enigma, age 6

Layer Painting Technique

• Miss Enigma began by painting a watery background.
• Muted, very watery colors gently painted throughout the background with a large paint brush.
• She also titled the canvas to spread the paint. However, a much more subtle look than her brother.

• Let the first layer dry.

• For the second layer, Miss Enigma used a bit of the Track Painting technique invented by her brother.
• She also blew air on large circles of paint creating abstract jellyfish!

Children expressing themselves, making unique works of art . . . makes my heart smile!

 My Mother’s Day Gift!

After the kiddos made their Hand Print Canvases for their Grandmas, I knew exactly what I wanted for Mother’s Day. I have a serious addiction . . . it’s called the beach. There is nothing more peaceful to me than the ocean. After reading our watery ocean books, I simply instructed the children that I wanted them to paint canvases of  ocean water for my bedroom. No sea creatures, no embellishments, just their vision of ocean water. They knew I wanted peaceful paintings to hang in my bedroom. (Yes, it’s Daddy’s bedroom too, but these are MY paintings!)

I’ve already hung the paintings and I stop to admire them each time I enter and exit the room. I’m ready to disappear into the deep, peaceful waters! The overcast day photos of their paintings do not do them justice. Trust this Mommy, they are gorgeous! And believe me, I’m not one bit biased!

We’re GIVING AWAY one Hardcover copy of Sea Horse The Shyest Fish in the Sea by Chris Butterworth

To enter this contest, use the Rafflecopter to answer the following question. After you leave a comment, you can move ahead with more entries.

Answer the following question in the comments section of this post.

What is your peaceful addiction? What tells you, “Relax, soak up the beauty of life!”  (Or just say “Hey.” We’re flexible around here.)

The Rules:

No entries after 11:59 pm Central Time, Thursday, May 23, 2013

The winner must be a resident of The United States.

The winner will be selected at random and announced Friday, May 24, 2013. Check back to claim your prize. It might be you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sharing this week at:

Hip Homeschool Moms

We Have a WINNER selected by Rafflecopter and random.org

 You can view results on our original Post: Homemade Mother’s Day Gifts Made by Kids

 Congratulations Robin!

Robin May 6, 2013 at 4:32 pm

I Love my Mother for being such a good Mom, she was always there when we came home from school. She cooked us yummy meals and always had her ears open and was ready to listen then her kind words would help guide us along our way.

 Contact us at our email: winner at waddleeahchaa dot com

 (Prize must be claimed by Friday, May 17, 2013.)

Original Post: Homemade Mother’s Day Gifts Made by Kids

Week at a Glance:

• Book of the week GIVEAWAY: Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman
• Mother’s Day Gift Ideas Made by Kids

Book of the week GIVEAWAY: Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman

Why we love this book:

This book is magical! Both the lyrical, rhyming words and the fantastical paintings are magical.  The message is quite simple, “I wanted you more than you ever will know, so I sent love to follow wherever you go.” A message that all children need hear over and over again! “In the green of the grass . . . in the smell of the sea . . . in the clouds floating by . . . at the top of the tree . . .  in the sound crickets make at the end of the day. . . You are loved. You are loved. You are loved, they all say.”

The sweet phrases encourage children to climb tall mountains, go out on a limb, dance until they’re dizzy, paint ’til they’re blue because, “There’s no place, not one, that my love can’t find you.”

This Mother’s Day, give yourself a treat. Grab a tissue and read Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You. It will be hard to find a another book that so sweetly expresses how much we Mommy’s love our little babes (even if they’re way grown).

This book is an absolutely wonderful baby shower gift. Long after the wee ones have grown out of their bottles, toys and onesies, Mommy can read Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You and both Mommy and child can revisit the magical message of Mommy’s unconditional love.

Homemade Mother’s Day Gifts Made by Kids

 The Kissing Hand Mother’s Day Card

• step by step directions with photos and samples

DIY Mother’s Day Hand Print Canvases Made by Children

• step by step directions with photos and samples
• professional looking DIY gift by kids

Homemade Mother’s Day Collage Cards

• step by step collage directions and samples with pictures

Mother’s Day Portraits

• samples of Mommy Portraits and Children’s Conversations about Mommy

Easy Painted Photo Frames

• step by step directions and samples with pictures
• We painted these photo frames at Christmas for Grandma and Grandpa but they would make a lovely Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift.

Colorful Herb Container Gardens

• step by step directions, soil mixture and samples with pictures
• Since both Grandma’s love to garden, the kiddos usually plant a special container garden for their Mother’s Day Gifts.

Fun With Feathers Mother’s Day Surprise

• these fun feather designs were dreamed-up and created by my children as Mother’s Day gifts
• photo samples

We’re GIVING AWAY one Hardcover copy of Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman

To enter this contest, use the Rafflecopter to answer the following question. After you leave a comment, you can move ahead with more entries.

Answer the following question in the comments section of this post.

What do you love most about your mother?  (Or just say “Hey.” We’re flexible around here.)

The Rules:

No entries after 11:59 pm Central Time, Thursday, May 9, 2013

The winner must be a resident of The United States.

The winner will be selected at random and announced Friday, May 10, 2013. Check back to claim your prize. It might be you!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

sharing this week at:

Hip Homeschool Moms

We Have a WINNER selected by Rafflecopter and random.org

You can view results on our original Post: Hand Print Canvases for Mother’s Day

 Congratulations Ellie!

Ellie May 2, 2013 at 10:40 pm

Smiles and “I love you”s!

Contact us at our email: winner at waddleeahchaa dot com

(Prize must be claimed by Friday, May 17, 2013.)

Original Post: Hand Print Canvases for Mother’s Day