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If you don't already read 'Milk Please Mum', you really should. It's the personal blog of Mother, Photographer and creative Tahnee. Filled with truly breathtaking captures of her family, home, life and interests. Vivid colour, crispy lines and faces filled with laughter will be there to greet you, I promise.
One of the things that always floors me about Tahnee's blog (in addition to the woman's skills with the camera) is the crafting she undertakes with her children. We're not just talking pencils on paper here- we're talking full on ART and CRAFTS movement stuff.
I was absolutely thrilled when she agreed to prepare a post on Kids Art for us, just in time for the Easter long weekend too.
Read on to discover a range of ways that you can turn your children's art work into amazing keepsakes.
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Hello there! It’s so lovely to be here at The Beetle Shack. Nice digs, Em.
She’s the good hostess sort and she’s put the kettle on, so while we wait, in celebration of all things kid like here at the Beetle Shack this month, let’s have a chit chat about the infinite possibilities that can be created from your little people’s never ending avalanche of artwork.
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Most kids love to create - mine certainly do. Whether it’s with pencils, crayons, textas, chalk, glue, sticky tape, play dough, clay, paint, baking, useful box, glitter (Dear God, the glitter!).. the list is endless. Most of the time, so is the mess. But every now and then they come up with an absolute cracker that deserves pride of place in the home and makes you instantly forget about the glue you have to scrape off the dining table once you’re done admiring your little Picasso’s masterpiece. But then - where to put it? Add it to the crap pile (yes, we all have one) on the end of the kitchen bench? Absolutely not. Try prime position on the art wall, inspiration wire, pin board, mantlepiece, back of the toilet door. Or maybe the couch?

:: tape your desired size of fabric to something firm to minimise movement - we used the back of their large sketch books;
:: remind your smalls to go slowly - drawing on fabric is different from drawing on paper, especially if your fabric has a little stretch in it. If you move too quickly the textas can become faint and you will then need to retrace to make them bolder;
:: if your child is a little too small to handle the fabric and instruction of SLOW drawing, simply trace their original paper artwork onto the fabric and bring their fabric masterpiece to life yourself;
:: let the kids know they need to keep their creations a few centimetres from the edge of the fabric to allow for your seam allowance when you are ready to sew your cushion cover together;
:: to cure their beautiful drawings, so that your cushion cover can go through the wash and come out again the same way, simply iron the fabric with a scrap piece of fabric/thin tea towel between the iron and the artwork (follow the instructions on your fabric markers box).
:: let them try embroidery. Hoops are cheap as chips and you can buy large, plastic, kid safe needles, or for your older kids, use a large needle with a blunter tip. Cut the excess fabric from the perimeter, leaving a few centimetres that can be glued inside the frame - hang it on the wall;
:: use their paintings as backing sheets for framed photos, rather than a plain white background;
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Gosh what I wouldn't give to have a cuppa with you two ladies! Love this post, great ideas Tahnee! xo
ReplyDeleteCake, now all I can think of is cake! ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these wonderful ideas Tahnee.
x Laura
I am in awe of Tahnee's creativity and what she does with her children. Such a great post. Thanks to both of you. I'm with Jody, Would love a sit down and cuppa with all three of you! x
ReplyDeleteSuch fabulous ideas! Definitely have to give the pillow one a try. x
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to make pillow art with Osc (I think his attention span is a little lacking, but soon he'll be old enough). Great post Tahnee.
ReplyDeleteI also love Brenda @ Mira Narnie's idea of holding an exhibition and selling the children's artworks to doting relatives (http://miranarnie.blogspot.com.au/2013/03/the-exhibition.html#comment-form) So smart.
Gorgeous post and SO many ideas!
ReplyDeleteNo kids here yet but i shall store these ideas for later on. A wonderful list.
ReplyDeletex
Love Tahnee's work :) She's inspired many times over. As for my daughter's works of art I have purchased a whole stack of cheap photo frames from Target and frame her beautiful pictures which I hang on the wall or place about the home. Those Command hooks are my best friend! You can put them up and take them down as you please!
ReplyDeleteThink I'll be purchasing those fabric markers in my next craft shop!
Sophie xo
great post tahnee. so many ideas to try, truly inspiring!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful ideas, I will definitely be trying the fabric marker one once Bebe is little older! Can't wait to ponder on more ideas on Tahnee's blog :) thank you Em for introducing these wonderful ideas through Tahnee :) x
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely ideas, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletewhat fabulous ideas! thanks tahnee x
ReplyDeleteThat was lovely. I absolutely treasure my son's artworks. he's 13 now and I've had a really hard time getting rid of any of his stuff. I'd love to put one of his drawings on a tshirt. Must have a go at that now:) x
ReplyDeleteLove all the artwork :) nice pictures
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That pillow is just amazing! Such a great idea for a gift!
ReplyDeleteLove Clare x
A really lovely post Em, thanks for having our wonderful, talented daughter over for a cuppa & cake. Yes, she is always creating even behind the camera lens. Very proud Mum xx
ReplyDeleteI am very impressed by this site and really going to share this site to my friends. Thanks for sharing....
ReplyDeleteEmbroidery Machine