Looking for easy ways to add some imagination and experimentation to your kids’ play routine? In case you missed it, we shared a set of free printable of art badges over on hello, Wonderful last month and this month, we wanted to share a reference list of some of our most-beloved art projects to go with them!
Almost all of these activities use materials you probably already have at home and can be modified to entertain kids of all ages, skills, and interests. You can even use this idea list to create your own at-home art camp! Grab the art badges here, pick a project from each medium group, and prepare to grow kids who can think flexibly, come up with out-of-the-box creative solutions, and develop a healthy imagination and love of unique art processes!
Looking for ideas to fit a specific supply? Use these quick links below to jump directly to the section you need:
In addition to the visual learning benefits, using a variety of materials like torn paper, textured fabrics, or smooth paints are great sensory stimuli, helping to develop fine motor skills and providing open-ended play and process opportunities. It’s also a fun way for kids to embrace risk-taking, find new ways to express themselves and learn a variety of processes.
For some extra inspiration: we put together a collection of over 100 art-themed picture books for kids that you can use to find companion books to fit any art project!
Fabric or Yarn
Wet Felting With Kids from Meri Cherry
Ribbon Weaving with a Popsicle Stick Loom from Buggy and Buddy
Fabric Flowers from Purple Twig
Glue Batik from Artful Parent
Yarn Painting from Picklebums
String Art from Cassie Stephens (video here)
Fabric Dying with Kids from The Long Thread
String Art Installation from Small Hands Big Art
Nature Materials
Sunprints on Fabric from TinkerLab
Nature Collage on Cardboard from Art Camp
Painting with Nature from Kids Craft Room
Garden Nature Art from The Craft Train
Flower Petal Stained Glass from Artful Parent
Self-Portraits with Found Nature Items from Happy Hooligans
Nature Weaving Looms from Housing a Forest
Leaf Rubbing Collage from Momma.Poppa.Bubba
Collage
Mini Rothko on Cardboard from Art Camp
Landscape Collages from Cassie Stephens
Paul Klee Castle Collages from Art is Basic
Eric Carle-inspired Collages from Oh Creative Day
Sculpture
Crazy Pasta Sculptures from hello, Wonderful
Colored Paper Collage Sculptures from Art for Kids and Robots
Calder Inspired Art Sculptures from Pink Stripey Socks (video here)
Crayon Art Sculptures from Meri Cherry
Recycled or Found Materials
Colorful CD Scratch Art from Kids Craft Room
Experimental Media with Ikea Hardware from Kid Can Doodle
Found Objects Collage from ARTBAR
Hanging Cardboard Collage from Handy with Scissors
Chalk or Pastels
Floating Chalk Prints from Cassie Stephens (video here)
DIY Scratch Art from Early Activities and Projects
Fossil Trading Cards from Art Projects for Kids
Collaborative Mural from Purple Twig
Pencil or Charcoal
Observational Drawing for Kids from Artful Parent
Household Object Drawing Prompts from Art for Kids and Robots
Charcoal Process Art from Montessori Nature
Drawing with Charcoal from My Small Potatoes
Printmaking
Paper Wildflower Wreath from Art Camp
Styrafoam Printing with Kids from Artbar
Layered Prints from Purple Twig
Fruit and Vegetable Stamping from barley & birch
Printed Cityscape from Dali’s Moustache
Collograph Flowers from Vicki Smith’s Art with Kids Blog
Recycled Container Printing from Picklebums
Plastic Bag Printing from Alisa Burke’s Blog (video here)
Paint or Watercolors
Sumigashi for Kids from Inner Child Fun (video here)
Watercolors and Oil from Babble Dabble Do
Soap Pump Bubble Painting from A Pinch of Perfect
Spin Painting for Preschoolers from Happy Hooligans
Watercolor Jellyfish Paintings from Crafternoon Playdate
Giant Canvas Toddler Art from Busy Toddler
Rainbow Squeegee Painting Process Art from hello, Wonderful (video here)
Popsicle Resist Art from Fun at Home with Kids
For more mixed media art projects, visit our detailed tutorial on creating stunning mixed media art pieces with kids, learn how to turn your art projects into wearable art, or try a storybook-style collaged card (one of our most popular projects!).
Thank you for including our watercolor jellyfish! We love them and I’m so glad you do too! – Jess
Jess! We made some of our own during a recent beach trip and they were SO much fun (and really look like jellyfish!) Thanks for sharing such a creative way to experiment with watercolors! – Amanda