In the Art Room: Salt Dough Sunflowers!

Here's a way to introduce your kiddos to clay even if you don't have a kiln: Salt Dough Clay! Last summer, when I was writing my book Clay Lab for Kids, I had to come up with kid-friendly clay recipes. You see, the book is divided into three parts: projects created with air dry clays available at craft stores; polymer clay projects and clay projects created with homemade clays. There are several clay recipes in my book (including an edible clay!) and this salt dough clay is one of my favorites. Here's how to make it and create a Salt Dough Sunflower (a project not found in my book, just for you!):

Here's the recipe which would be enough clay to create a half dozen flowers:
(Allergy warning! If you are allergic to gluten, this is not the project for you.)

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup salt
* 3/4 cup water

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Dump out ingredients onto wax paper or plastic and continue to knead until a soft dough forms. When creating, be sure to work on a plastic covered surface as this stuff is sticky! Also, when making this flower, use a styrofoam bowl or a bowl covered in plastic wrap so that the flower pops out easily when dry. 

Also, any clay not used, simply wrap in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for later use. 

I placed my flower in front of a fan to dry overnight. Just so you know: this is a dough so it will rise a bit! Don't be surprised if your flower looks a little fluffy once dry. 

Salt dough can also be cured by baking in the oven at 200. Keep an eye on it as the goal is simply to dry it out, not burn it. I have cooked mine for 15-30 minutes depending on the dampness of the clay. 

I painted my flower with acrylic paint but tempra could also be used. Be sure to cover with a coat of ModPodge to insure that it will not break. 

If you don't subscribe already, I update my YouTube channel with videos like this and all things art teachery pretty frequently. You are always welcome to use my videos and lessons...I just always appreciate a shout out. 

In other news, I'll be presenting at Art Ed NOW on August 3rd on...you guessed it, all things clay! I'll be sharing a TON of no-kiln clay projects for the elementary and middle school set. 

And if you've picked up my clay book and you have a spare moment, a review here would be so very much appreciated. Thank you so much, y'all!

Earth Day Art Lessons: Salt Dough Earth!

Yesterday, during our LIVE art class on my Facebook page and my Instagram, we created a Salt Dough Solar System and it was a crowd favorite! In case you missed, that video will be posted to my YouTube channel later today (to stay up to date on art makin' videos, you might want to subscribe!). I decided to take that same idea and create this Salt Dough Earth project. Let me walk you through how to make salt dough clay with just 1/2 cup of flour, 1/4 water and a 1/4 of salt. We used food coloring to create the primary colors of clay. If you don't have the ingredients, don't worry, use Play-Doh or another type of clay instead. I also use a piece of cardboard, crayons and a marker. Here we go:

Have fun!

Outer Space Week: Salt Dough Solar System!

If you joined me for my live art class either on my Facebook or my Instagram then you know...this art lessons was easily a favorite! I know you'll have a blast and your artwork will be out of this world! Grab some cardboard and crayons for the background. To create the planets, you can use Play-Doh or I'll teach you how to creat Salt Dough Clay with 1/2 cup of flour, 1/4 cup of salt and 1/4 cup of water as well as food coloring. Let's create!

For more videos like this one, be sure and subscribe to my YouTube channel!

My 10 Favorite Earth Day Art Lessons!

Hello, friends! 

I know many of you are coming off of Spring Break which means you are officially in the home stretch. That is...unless you teach until the end of June. Then, well, all I can say is...I'm sorry. 

BUT I do have some fun Earth Day lessons for you! Nearly all of them are video format which means you can just hit play. I created them during 2020 so most are just simple supplies. I hope you enjoy and find something here that will help you and your students celebrate Earthy Day which is on April 22nd. 

Here's the first Earth Day project...

You can find this lesson right here. 

If you are in need of a fun How-to-Draw and printing lesson, you may like this project right here. Complete with instructional video!

There is something truly magical about a pop-up card! My students are always fascinated when we make these. You'll find all the kid-friendly instructions in this video right here. 

Have you ever made Salt Dough Clay? This would be so fun to do with a small group of students. Perfect for an after school activity, homeschool, scouts, you name it. Using cardboard means you can recycle which is always great for Earth Day. Here's the lesson and video!

So you want to paint with kids buty ou don't wanna get out the paint? I hear ya! My students always love the marker-meets-water trick! Try it out with this lesson! 

Of course, not every Earth Day lesson has to be Earth-art focused. You could simply use it as a jumping point for landscape projects! Here's a fast one that helps students understand the difference between foreground, middle and background. 

If you'd like a project that includes the whole school, you may want to try making a map of the Earth with self-portraits! You can find details on this lesson here.

If you still have some homemade salt dough clay leftover, you can try making a whole solar system with it! 

If you are looking for a fun and happy kindergarten Earth Day (or any day!) lesson, look no further than here!

And what better way to celebrate Earth Day than a mural dedicated to it? We made this huge mural based on the song What a Wonderful World and it stayed up all year. 

Also! Just incase you missed the news...

My book Larry the Line now has a companion...

That's right! I just launched my new book Alfred the Ape Knows His Shapes last week and I'm so excited! I'm working on a series of Elements of Art books as I always wished there was something like that. I did a limited print run and I'm currently...signing all books as they head out the door. So! If you'd like a copy, you can check it out here! 

Wizard Week: Salt Dough Unicorn!

Every time we do a salt dough clay project, the crowd goes wild! This project was no exception. I'll walk you through how to make your clay and dye it before we dive into our lesson. Here are the supplies you'll need:

 Here we go:

Want to join the fun today? You can catch me live here on my Instagram or on my Facebook page. Or check me out later on my YouTube channel. I add new videos everyday so be sure and subscribe so you don't miss any! 

Dinosaur Week: Dino Dig!

We had so much fun creating dinosaur bones yesterday with our simple salt dough clay recipe! If you don't have the ingredients, any clay will work. Modeling clay is the only one that will not air dry but the others like Play-Doh or Model Magic would work great. Here's what we used:

You can create any ole dinosaur or imagined creature that you like. If you are using your own clay, just zip through the part where I make my salt dough clay.

Have fun! If you'd like to join us today, here's what we're creating:

Pop-Out Dinosaurs Love Snacks! You can create with me LIVE on my Instagram or my Facebook. Or you can catch the afterparty on my YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe, new videos are added nearly everyday! 

Snacktastic Chefs Week: Salt Dough Pizza and 3-D Cake!

 Alright you snacktastic chefs! Here's a little bit of a round-up of our projects from Wednesday and Thursday. In case you missed, we made Salt Dough Pizza! Here's the list of supplies:

And here's the video:

On Thursday, we made cake!

 All you need are the following supplies:

I'll show you how to draw both of these cakes right here:

Today we are BAKING! It's important to set that butter out about an hour before I go LIVE so it is softened. You can bake cookies with me on Instagram, Facebook or catch me later on YouTube. New videos are uploaded to my channel multiple times a day so you might want to subscribe!

Let's Make Black Light Clay!

Bet you didn't even know you could make clay that glows under black light! Let me show you how to make Salt Dough Clay with my simple three-ingredient recipe...and then how to make it glow! I'll also share how to create a deep sea scene. You'll need the following:

1/4 cup of water
1/4 cups of salt
1/2 cup of flour
Prang Fluorscent Paint
Cardboard
Crayons

Let's create!

5 Earth Day Art Projects You'll Love!

Hello, friends! Earth Day is coming up and so I thought I'd put together all of my very favorite Earth Day videos and lessons right here! I'm even placing the videos in this post so you don't need to hop all over the place. That's right, it's a one-stop-shop today on my blog. Enjoy!

First up is this Draw-Along Give the Earth a Hug.

Supplies needed:

* Scissors

* Paper

* Markers

* Crayons

* Glue

This project is another Draw Along but you also get to add color with a fun printmaking activity! Here's what you'll need:

* Black permanent marker

* Markers

* Paper

* Aluminum Foil

Making salt-dough clay is a blast! Just by itself! But to make something with it is even more fun. Here's what you'll need:

* Cardboard

* Flour

* Salt

* Food Coloring

* Crayons

* Markers

This pop-up poster involves turning markers into paint! Here's what you'll need to have:

* Paper

* Construction paper

* Markers

* Cup of water

* Paintbrush

* Scissors

* Glue

Who doesn't love to make a pop-up?! And this one just requires a few supplies:

* Crayons

* Paper

* Scissors

That's it!

Have fun creating!

Under the Sea Week: A Wrap Up!

Under the Sea Week was so much fun! If you missed any of the LIVE art classes from last week, they are now all up and on my YouTube channel! I add new videos there all the time, so be sure to subscribe! 

On Friday, We created a Mermaid and Poseidon and then did a cool printing trick in the background!

On Thursday, we had a blast drawing Sharks Eating Snacks!

Wednesday was big fun as we made Salt Dough Shoe Print Sea Turtles...a HUGE hit!

On Tuesday, we put our collage skills to good use by creating Coral Reef Relief Collages!

And on Monday we made Bubble Print Snorkelin' Selfies!

Be sure and tune in this week as we celebrate Pet Week! I go LIVE everyday at 11am CT on my Instagram and Facebook page!

Snacktastic Chef's Week: Hamburger Sculptures and Chef Selfies!

If you missed yesterday's art project, don't worry! The video is now here. This one was an Art Class with Cassie favorite. The hamburgers the kids created were AMAZING! I hope you have fun. Here's the video:

Also, if you missed the Chef Selfie project here you go:

Join me LIVE today as we make a slice of pizza! We'll be sculpting our own pizza made from salt dough clay. Here's the supplies you'll need:

To join us LIVE, you can find me on my Instagram, my Facebook or just catch the afterparty the following day on my YouTube channel. I add new videos every day (sometimes more than once a day!) so you might want to subscribe so you don't miss any! 

PIrate Week: Treasure Box with Coins

Yesterday we had a wild time creating not one but TWO art projects! That's right, we created both a treasure box and made salt dough clay to create the decorations and coins for our box. Here's the video:

Here's the list of supplies we used:

For today's LIVE art class, you'll need to grab the following:

You can join me LIVE on my Facebook,  my Instagram or catch me later on my YouTube channel. New videos are uploaded almost DAILY so if you are interested, you might want to subscribe!