Free Book Friday!
Today is our Free Book Friday Giveaway! We are feeling a twing of spring and can’t wait for all the little critters to start creeping about, so we chose from some of our favorite nature guides!
Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies explores the world of insects, caterpillars, and butterflies including identification information, educational activities, and fun
facts. (Take Along Guides)
One Small Square – Woods helps young readers unlock the closely guarded secrets of the woodsÂÂ from the strange meetings of lazy butterflies, to the miraculous “walking” of a twig, to the riddle of why the leaves turn color and fall. One small square at a time, these “detectives” plunge deeper and deeper into ancient mysteriesÂÂ without ever getting lost. Beautifully illustrated, Woods offers a picture field guide, a glossary-index, and a resource list.
Watercolor with Children!
Watercolor is a wonderful media to use with children when expanding their horizons in art. Simple techniques such as painting clouds, making textures or landscapes can be created with simple tools. Trees, grass or rocks are all perfect to start with. We’ll make some easy back drop landscapes here.
Here is a very simple lesson for the child beginning art, using simple methods. We went out to the yard and collected leaves and flowers. For our painting tools, we brought out toothpicks, cotton balls, tissues and plastic wrap. We also used a blending tool, called a tortillion – that’s the hardest term you’ll need to remember here!
We used watercolor paper – it’s thicker than regular finger paint paper and wide brushes. Make a wash to begin, a little paint to mostly water.
Nothing But Blue Skies
A sky is a good place to start. Brush the paper with blue and use tissues to wipe away some of the paint while wet. Let this dry and add something more of a picture. How about a tree with a swing? Help your children imagine different backgrounds and scenery.
Make Sunshine
Apply yellow and be generous. Take your plastic wrap and ball up at least three wads. Stick this to the paper and let dry. NO peeking!!! Dry for at least 30 minutes and then peel off. Now add some scenery! I loved this background.
Leaves and Flowers
The next one will use the flowers or leaves you collected. The littler ones seemed to enjoy this the most. Coat the paper with dark green, or a nice bold color for the flowers. Press the leaves into the paint. You can place a rock on the leaf to hold it in place until semi-dry. Then peel off. They can also paint the leaves or flower petals with a cotton swab and press onto the paper.
Use the tortillion to smear or blend colors. Easy! Flower petals are used the same way the leaves are. What an easy start to pretty art! Have fun!
Enter the Giveaway!
*Note — Your email address will only be used on our mailÂing list or given to the sponÂsor of the giveÂaway only, we do NOT sell or give out email addresses — ever. You will not be overÂloaded with newsletÂters from JoyÂous Notions. We send an averÂage of 1–2 emails per week.
 The giveÂaway ends TuesÂday, March 11th at midÂnight | The winÂner will be announced here on Blog Hop WednesÂday the 12th and will be conÂtacted via email.