Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Art Teacherin' 101: Episode 8

Holy moly, y'all! I have discovered Art Teacher Heaven and it looks like this: 
I know most of you art teacherin' types are familiar with The Dollar Tree and all of it's amazingness but I hardly ever venture inside. Prolly because I don't trust those places that refer to themselves as "dollar"-y when they actually mean dollar$$ (yes, I'm talking about YOU, Target "Dollar" Spot. Smh.) Then the other day, on a whim, I spotted something shiny in the window and tiptoed inside. Two giant bags of dollar-y goodness later, I was CONVINCED that this place was perf and I just had to share my excitement with y'all. So, here's what I picked up for my art room, why and how I plan to put it to use in some crazy creative art making!
Now, like I said, I didn't buy EVERYTHING...but I got really close. Below are somethings that I left behind but I do believe would be useful in any art room. 
This kind of chalk is pretty useless for making art inside...but it would be great for the outdoors (hence the name "sidewalk" chalk). I thought it was a pretty solid amount of chalk for the price. 
If it's one thing that no art teacher can ever have enough of, it's bowls, trays, plates, bins, you get the idea. I loved the sweet patterns on these hard plastic bowls. 
Okay, help me out here. I need these in my art room! I mean, the architectural history in these sand castle building thingies is just too much. I left them behind but I do love them so. 
 Need a cheap still life? How about a Frida Kahlo crown? The Dollah got you covered. 
For those of you that color coordinate your art room, the possibilities were endless. Totally digging the table clothes. 
I have a stash of thank you, birthday and blank cards at school for when I need them. 
I hate putting together puzzles. I'd much rather use the pieces for collage projects or print making! What a fun assortment for on the cheap.
The assortment wasn't huge but what they did have was good: U.S. map, behavior charts, die cut letters and those things I scooped up.
 In my art room, I have a little light that I turn on when it's the kid's turn to chat. Meaning, when I'm giving directions, I don't want to constantly see hands up and be fielding questions. It's disruptive and time consuming. When the light is off, the kids know it's my turn to chat. When it's on, they can ask questions. An alternative to this is an Open/Closed sign. A fellow art teacher told me about it years ago. It's the same concept: Open means they can chat and ask questions; Closed means it's a listening time. 
 Organization for days.
How fun would these mirrors be for self portraits? I don't know if the dudes would dig them but my girls would feel like Cinderella.
Safety googles for when things get a bit STEAM-y in your art room.
I was JUST trying to find these the other day to label somethings and none of my office supply stores had them. Now I know.
Totally digging those flowery trays. Think of all the art supplies those could hold per table!
 I mean, really. There is no reason I shouldn't be able to get organized. The Dollah was reminding me of this on every isle. 
If you have sinks, you need these. I've twice had sinks get backed up because sweet, innocent children (ahem) drop paint brushes down the drain. 
 These would be perfect screens for paper making!
 We use these trays in my room for papier mache and plaster projects. They are also great if you want to do paper marbling. 
 I send my students clay projects home wrapped in newspaper and stuffed in a lunch bag. These are so much cheaper than the ones I pick up at the grocery! Also, foil is wonderful for the leaf relief project you can find on the right hand side of this blog. 
All of my tables have table top trashcans. I totes would have picked these up if I didn't have some 'cans already. 
 I have a couple of these in my art room that get used plenty.
 Wanna organize those paint brushes?
Resealable condiment cups are my jam. These are great for paint, glue, you name it!
So, what did I forget? I'm dying for a reason to go back!
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20 comments:

  1. Anonymous6/23/2016

    DOLLAR TREE! I'm a dangerous woman in this store! You've inspired another trip! Loving the flower shaped trays, sink strainers, and of course I gotta pick up some paper paint tools! I'm so excited about that Primary color beach ball, it's a perfect 3D color wheel!-M3

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    1. AH!! That is a GREAT idea for the beach ball!! Super smart, thank you for sharing that!!

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  2. I am headed to our Dollar Tree! Thanks Cassie! Keep that crazy personality coming!

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    1. Oh, I hope you picked up some super fun things!!

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  3. Just a thought... If you really want the Sand Castle molds you might want to use them in ceramics as sort of slump molds for clay... they looked like you could press bits of clay inside and as it dries will shrink a bit to more easy to pop out...

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    1. EXCELLENT idea!! I'll have to go back and pick them up. They were in and out of my cart like 5 times!

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    2. I've used similar molds with paper clay...

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  4. That water sprayer! I've been wanting to try a painting project with an approach like that! I was considering it for an event I was going to, for a group participation project. I ended up going a different route, wherein I chopped up a print of Vermeer's "The Music Lesson" and asked each person to paint one or more squares on tiny little 4" square canvases. It turned out brilliantly: http://lusty.org/vermeer.JPG

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    1. WOWZA!! It DID turn out amazing! That is fabulous, congrats on that! How awesome!!

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    2. The subject matter was inspired by our closing speaker at this event: Tim Jenison, who painted his own version of this painting using techniques he thinks Vermeer actually used in his time. The process is followed in a documentary called Tim's Vermeer, which I highly recommend. We displayed our version at the dinner where Tim spoke, and the best part was everyone gathered around pointing out the square(s) that they painted.

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  5. The styrofoam trays and pretty little bowls would also be great slump molds!

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  6. Anonymous6/24/2016

    Love hate relationship with that store. Oh the paycheck eater...I can never walk out without a cart full. Lol. Love the sparkle paint pallets. I use those for art student of the day/week awards. Ice cube trays for paint. And I was thinking if I get some cake paints this year fingers crossed the muffin tins/cupcake holders might be great holders. I love the hand clapped you found...and I can't wait to check out your bubble paint episode.As always thanks for sharing and making art so fun.

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    1. Yes! I love ice cube trays for paint...but I really like to use those plastic egg cartons too, they seem to seal better. Although, I think press and seal on the ice cube trays would probably be best. Muffin tins is an excellent idea for the tempera cakes. I've done that too because those trays the cakes come in fall apart very fast. The Dollar Tree is a TOTAL paycheck eater!!

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  7. I just bought those sand castle molds before my family beach trip last week. We had great fun building Mayan/Roman/Greek cities on the beach! Didn't see the Taj Mahal one though.

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  8. Just got out of the Dollar Tree today with a 24packs of Kraft Paper PostIt Notes. Several Ice Breakers and Beginning of the Year Class Display already planned. Yes I bought them all.

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  9. Hope your still checking your blog for comments and questions. Your art room weaving tutorial came up on facebook. It is terrific. We have a youth center, I would like to get the Chipboards to help the little ones learn to weave as well as some children a bit older. I tried the address you gave but it keeps coming up with your Tutorial, can you lead me in the right direction to purchase these Chipboards so I can started to teach weaving? Personally have 3 weaving looms of my own and really enjoy the craft. I had been wanting to do this with the kids for a while but the thought of making carboard looms was a deterent for me. I just want to do the fun part not get stressed out. Elma L. DeVinney

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    1. Hi Elma! Sorry for the bad link! Here is where I purchase the boards and I purchase the most narrow ones: http://www.dickblick.com/products/cardboard-looms/

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  10. When I took the art teacher job at my current high school, both storage closets looked like an episode of hoarders! After a dumpster load of garbage removed and a trip to the Dollar Tree, all of my supplies are in color coordinating storage containers! It is my 4th year and I go back each year to buy more! The plastic totes are perfect for ceramics supplies, yarn storage, and literally everything else!

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  11. I was so excited to find these awesome color wheels that spin to teach color theory! They were awesome-but I only four 4 and need two more for each table to have one. I tired went to SEVERAL DTs in the Birmingham area with no luck! tried to order online and you can't choose color wheels specifically just a "grab back of education items! so sad!!!!

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