parent child time |

We welcome Ashlie Blake, artist and Hudson Valley parent, who will be showing us how to create terrific arts and crafts projects using simple items around the house. Just for HVParent.com.

Ashlie Blake is a mixed media artist and blogger living in the Minisink area of our beautiful Hudson Valley N.Y.. Ashlie loves life with her husband and three young boys aged almost 2 to almost 7. Working out of her home studio while the children play and create right along with her, she loves having the ability of being a stay at home mom as well as a working artist. Ashlie hopes from sharing children/parent craft tutorials that it will encourage parents to spend more time with their children and have fun doing so. Creating is a time to explore and increase self-confidence… praise from a parent to a child can be one of the things that stays and builds character for the rest of a child’s life. In a world where creativity reigns, Ashlie hopes to guide parents into making, doing, and painting up a whole storm of projects!

This is a craft for ages 18-months and up… a beautiful canvas painted by your little one and a hand full of marbles!

{{Marble Rolled Canvas Art }}

Recommended for children ages 18 months and up

Prepare to get messy and have fun too!

Your kids will love this project with it’s bright colors.

Get ready to hear giggles as paint covered marbles glide across a kid driven canvas!

{{Supplies}}

Canvas

Bag of Marbles

Liquid Acrylics (found in the wood section of your local craft store)

Cardboard

Packaging Tape

Paper Plates, water and bowls

Special Note: Liquid acrylics will stain clothing, please dress your child accordingly. In our house I let my boys create in their underwear, this way it’s straight to the tub when they have completed their projects.

#Step 1 : Cut several long strips of cardboard about 2 inches wide, attach pieces together with packaging tape. Wrap strip around canvas creating a rim (This rim will protect your marble from falling off of the canvas while your children roll)

#Step 2: After forming rim and securing with tape, flip canvas over and tape vertically/horizontally pulling tension tight (see image below). Cardboard should be secure yet removable.

#Step 3 : Cover your dining room table with a twin sized fitted sheet. Corners will hold onto the table preventing slippage while also keeping your surface clean. Offer bowls of water for rinsing marbles between colors and paper towels for drying them as well as wiping hands.

#Step 4 : Squirt paint onto paper plates. Let children coat marbles one by one and place in the center of their canvas. Once you have placed your marbles and are ready, let your child pick up and roll the marbles in any direction they want.

The more you roll, the more you paint… when marbles appear to have lost their paint, coat again and keep creating. Repeat as much as you want! layer after layer your child’s canvas becomes a modern piece of art to be shared!

Also, the more the marbles – the more fun rolling them!

This project being an absolutely hands project provides a child with fun and enjoyment. Parent’s work one on one with the child/children offering plenty of quality time and smiles. Finished projects create confidence and build esteem.

Be sure to offer lots of praise to your child/children, they soak it up like sunshine.