How to Make a Fairy Door!

In my clay book, Clay Lab for Kids, I created this Fairy Door project. I decided to do it recently with my fourth grade students. We needed a short project (30 minute class, if possible...although most needed 2 classes) and one that would be a hit. We call them Mystery Creature door to allow the kids to really get the wheels turning on just what lies behind their door. I created a video in case you'd like to do this lesson with your students!

Stay tuned on how we plan to finish these (tempera cakes, most likely!) and the story-writing component we plan to tie in. Also how we are going to 'hide' these in the school to get the creative wheels turning for students who discover them!

Dealing with Bullies, Part 1 and 2

I was recently asked a question in Instagram about how I "deal with rude staff/teachers" at school. First of all, before I upset any coworkers, I can honestly say I work with nice folks. Really, I do. BUT I can also say that I've been at my school for MANY years now and, honestly, for many, this is what an art teacher is/looks like/acts like/does. I've trained them that all art teachers are weird/late/loud/messy rainbow unicorns. So, if they take issue, they usually shrug it off with a 'well, she IS an art teacher' as if it's an affliction I just can't correct. 

They're not entirely wrong.

Anyway! When I was asked this, I promptly responded because I HAVE dealt with many a bully in my day. They have come in the form of 'friends', coworkers, staff and other art teachers. And I have actually chatted about this alot, especially here and in Episode 35 of my Cassie Stephens podcast. 

Click on the photo to take you to Episode 35!

Today, though, I'm approaching the subject a little differently. Let's talk about bullying by not talking about the 'bully' but as your perspective or your Insecurity Sunglasses, I'm calling them. 

You do have control over how you 'see' other people's actions and how you choose to spend your time...whether that be allowing those actions to affect you or not. Let's dig in more...you can take a listen to Episode 58 right here. 

DIY: Unicorn Earrings!

This weekend, I finished stitching a unicorn dress (fabric seen there in the background...more details on that to come!) but, alas, I didn't have any unicorn earrings to complete the look! No worries...I decided to stitch up my own. I thought I'd share the process with you.

Sewing earrings is quickly becoming my new fave thing. It's fast, easy and I work on them over the weekends when Mitch and I make our 20 minute drive to our favorite hiking spot. If we were traveling-traveling as we would normally do throughout the year, I can see this becoming my fave travel craft (easily replacing knitting!). But for now, it will have to be something I do on short road trips and at the spur of the moment when a pair of uni-earrings are needed. Here's how:

Thought I'd go ahead and share the other embroidered earring tutories I've created recently. I'm hooked! 

And these, the ones that started it all. I made them on a road trip last year!

Have fun!

Fibers and Clay, Two Hacks for You!

Let's create some clay stamps with left over clay! I did this at a PD 
at an art teacherin' buddy's school a couple of years ago and we love
to use these stamps in my art room. So fun to create, here's how:

I also recently shared my favorite yarn distribution hack on my Insta

and I thought I'd share it here. I have shared this hack MANY times...

so please pardon the repeat. But it's the best way that I have found 

to distribute yarn. Here you go:

I hope that helps with your yarn distribution! If you need ideas for clay or fibers lessons, be sure and check out my Clay and Fibers playlists on my YouTube channel. Be sure and subscribe, new videos are added

all the time! Have fun!

Clay Coil Hearts! and Reconstituting Clay!

Here's a clay lesson I recently created for my second graders! I created a video to share the process with them and thought I'd share it with you too. Here you go:

I did change things up from the video after working with the kids...we made the heart all in one sitting. That's right, 30 minutes! We hustled! Mostly because when I did try to have them wrap the clay coils up in a plate, they were dried and too brittle the next time. The key is that the clay needs to be super soft for the kids to work with. So passing that along to you!

This lesson could easily be done with both air dry and kiln fire clay. We used kiln fire. Once fired, I will dip all of the pieces in diluted India ink, covering the piece entirely. The ink dries quickly. Then I'll pass the piece back to my students and they will use craft store metallic acrylic paints to add the color. I added holes at the top so we could hang these. I may even have them add beads to the hanger. 

And in case your clay dried out before you could use it last year, I created a video on how to reconstitute that old clay. I did this process with clay that was two years old! Not fun at all...but it can be done and it's good to know when you are in need. I hope it helps!