How to Develop Your Child's Interest in Art and Craft!

Arts and crafts are great ways to help children develop interest in creative things and also gain the ability to appreciate the finer details of life. From drawing and painting, craft to any other type of project that involves making use of creativity, together with out-of-the-box thinking can help develop the child's mental stimulation together with making the child a more rounded individual. If you want your children to have a complete personality, then it's crucial to develop their interest in art and craft at an early age and here are five tips to help you in your mission of bringing your children closer to the world of art and crafts.

1. Show your Children that Art can be Fun
Children are more liable to be interested in arts and crafts if you make it look and sound fun. Instead of sending kids off to their room with a colouring book and some art and craft supplies like crayons or sketch pens, you can try to turn it into a game or a fun activity. Always join your kids in their art experiments and turn it into a team activity. This way you can also bond with your children better and give them some memories to cherish once they grow up. Also, another crucial thing is never to force art upon your children or it will take away all the fun and learning from it. So be encouraging without being too pushy.

2. Target their Interests
Taking tip number 1 a little further, a good way of encouraging your children into taking up art and crafts is by focusing on their interest area. For example, if your children are fond of watching superhero cartoons on television, then you can start their journey into the art world by beginning with some superhero project. If the art work is based on something that your children like or adore, then there are more chances that they will enjoy it better. So, it is important that you base the creative endeavor on something your children are interested in.

3. Invest in some Good Quality Art and Craft Supplies
Small children are naturally attracted towards new, shiny and colourful objects. While art and craft supplies are naturally colourful, you can choose the more appealing ones with pictures of cartoon characters or superheroes on the cover and go in for school stationery in attractive shapes and colours as such art and craft supplies are bound to be even more attractive to children. Also, never underestimate the importance of good quality when it comes to choosing art and craft supplies are good quality will always boost the performance of your budding artists.

4. Take your Children along to Buy Art and Craft Supplies
Visiting a craft store with your kids will help to expose your children to a wide variety of arts and craft supplies like crayons, painting brushes, poster paints, acrylic paints, glass and fabric paints, glitters, different types of paper, craft tools etc. Let your children pick out the art and craft supplies that they like and this way they will always be interested in art.

5. Decorate your Home with Art your Children Have Created
This is a sure shot way to get kids glued to art and crafts. Displaying the works of art that your children have created on the mantle, the showcase, on top of the fridge or on the living room table is perhaps the best way to encourage them. When your children see their artwork decorating the house, they will not just feel happy but will also realize that what they have created is beautiful and has value.

Consider these many creative options when assembling your personal arsenal of craft supplies! Apart from School stationery, as children grow up, it is a good idea to supplement their education with technology.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shiv_K_Gupta

About Temporary Body Art

Temporary body art is great for all ages. There are many different types and styles to choose from so you'll always find something new. Currently it is popular with children and adults because they have no permanent affect on your skin. They do create a similar appearance and depending on the style you choose, they can last from a few days to several weeks.

Kids have always loved it. The most popular style for kids are the temporary transfer tattoo. They're very simple to do and only take 30 seconds to apply. Kids love being able to have designs of their favorite superheroes, cartoon characters, and many of the other designs that you can find. Temporary transfer tattoos can last up to a week so the kids can show them to all of their friends.

Young adults and adults love temporary tattoos for when they go to parties, events, or just for self-expression. If they're thinking about getting an actual tattoo, temporary body art is a great way to decorate your body with a unique design without the pain, expense and permanence of a real tattoo. They also give you the chance to change your mind and try on many different styles of temporary body art. It allows you to show off your creativity in countless different ways.

The styles of temporary body art have grown so much over the years. The oldest original form is henna tattoos. They've been used for centuries in many Eastern cultures, and now have gained popularity in the rest of the world in recent years. They take the longest to apply and set, but the result is nothing but beautiful. Henna tattoos can last up to two or three weeks depending on your skin.

Temporary transfer tattoos are another of the original forms of temporary body art. They have gained popularity after they were created in the late 1800's. They now come in many different varieties and designs. You can find temporary transfer tattoos in most grocery stores as well as craft and toy stores.
Airbrush tattoos have been around since the late 1990's. They're one of the recent additions to temporary body art and have been used in film and TV to create realistic looking tattoos. If you're looking for a realistic look for your design, airbrush tattoos are the most popular.

The newest form and trend of temporary tattoos is glitter tattoos. Glitter tattoos use a hypoallergenic and waterproof body glue and body glitter to create beautiful temporary body art. They're so simple to create that literally anyone can do it. Kids can even apply them, but should have a parent supervise. Glitter tattoos can last up to 7 days and are definitely a fun way to add sparkle to anyone.

Whichever style you choose, you are always going to have fun creating new and unique designs.
~ Anie Dee is a professional glitter tattoo artist at GlitZGlam Body Art.

Check out GlitZGlam Body Art - Your One-Stop-Shop to body art that glitters! Find where on the web are the most amazing glitter tattoo kits On Sale, stencil sets, glitter and bling jewelry.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anie_Dee

Tree Trimming: It's Both An Art And A Science

When it comes to tree care, there are two kinds of tree trimming: the kind that you commit on a tree because you're worried that its branches are becoming a hazard, and the kind you commit on a tree because you know that some selective pruning can improve the tree's health and longevity. Today, we're talking about the second kind.

When To Trim
Arborists are universally united in saying that trees with damaged, diseased, pest-ridden, or dead limbs should have those limbs removed as soon as possible. They also note that if you have the option, there is decidedly a best time to prune: right at the transition from winter to spring. Before the buds begin to open, a tree experiences a 'return to life' surge that allows it to heal more quickly from injuries: that's the best time to do some careful tree trimming.

It's also worst to prune a tree during very hot periods, very cold periods, or very dry periods. The heat causes sap to flow more quickly, and a pruning injury can lead to excessive sap loss. The cold, on the other hand, causes the sap to flow more slowly and can lead to an injury remaining open without a protective sap 'callous' forming over it. Dry periods have the same problem, but because there's simply not enough sap to go around.

How to Trim
When trimming a tree for health reasons, you will want to cut the branches as close to the base as you can, without leaving behind a stub, but without removing excess bark from the remaining body of the tree.

'Topping', or haphazardly cutting off the larger branches or the entire top of a tree, is never a good idea. If you need to remove one fork of a split tree, work from the outside in, pruning that forks' branches down until just the fork of the trunk remains, then cut the fork off a half-inch or more away from the main trunk's body. This will reduce the chances of creating an extremely large wound that will have trouble healing and endanger the tree in the future.

Ideally, when performing this kind of tree trimming, you don't want to just cut branches -- you want to maintain the proportion and shape of the tree while improving it's health. Like most things in nature, a tree functions best when it's symmetrical and balanced. That's where the art comes in.

Hire Professionals In Tree Trimming
If you're not confident in your ability to prune your trees correctly, hire a tree care service -- they do so much more than just tree removal. They'll have the expertise to trim your tree in a way that's both an improvement to its overall health and to its aesthetics. And if it turns out that the damage isn't just limited to a branch or two like you believed, well, they can always fall back on the tree removal thing.

Residents trust Strobert for their tree trimming Westtown PA needs. There are a number of reasons why your friends and neighbors entrust their delicate tree care and removal jobs to the experts at Strobert Tree

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Lom

How to Make Paper Dolls

Making a paper doll is an excellent way to create the perfect gift for someone. The doll can be decorated according to personal taste. Since the paper doll is lightweight, it is inexpensive for mailing purposes. The project is a creative craft idea that is fabulous for making crafts with friends. Doll shapes can vary. I have used round, rectangle, triangle, and square shapes. Personally, my favorite is the triangle because it looks more realistic. It is best to keep the shape simple so that it will not compete with other elements of the doll.

This project is easy to make and only requires a few household items. I use recycled cardboard for the head and body. I also use scrapbook paper for the face and clothing. These days, I have implemented the use of lace as a clothing alternative. I think the lace softens the look of the paper doll. To keep the cost low, I use soft yarn for the hair. It is less expensive than doll hair at the craft store. Pearls or buttons create arms and legs for the doll. Lately, I have been using pearls to save money. The pearls cost less than the buttons.

I have given away several paper dolls as gifts. This project can be personalized extensively. Select a color of yarn that matches the person's natural hair color. There are so many different colors of yarn. There is something to match every hair color. The biggest challenge for me was to find the correct shade of black. Eventually, I found the color of sticks and stones was the perfect shade of black. This yarn is made by Caron Simply Soft. Even though it is not technically black, it registers as a natural black. It has lovely blended colors of purple, grey, navy blue, and brown. Another challenge was the color of blonde. I started using the basic color yellow. However, I now use light tan and beige because these colors look natural. For brown hair, there is so much variety for this color. I have used chocolate, auburn, and copper. Sometimes, I like to have fun with the hair and use purple or pink. I only do this when I want a whimsical look.

This project is an excellent way to explore one's creative artistry. Silk rosettes are awesome for embellishing the doll. I have also used seam binding and lace to make ribbons for the hair. Fashion a necklace out of colorful pearls or acrylic beads to decorate the doll with jewelry. Create a set and make a card to go with the handmade doll. There are so many things that can be done with paper dolls. This is a project that can be enjoyed by many, and using recycled cardboard makes this project affordable for all crafters.

For more information on paper doll templates, please visit my blog http://paperdolltemplate.me

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chan_C.

How to Find a Set of Markers That Last

When shopping for a set of markers you may have a nagging thought in the back of your head wondering just how soon you will need to replace the ones you buy today. This article will be focused on finding the longest lasting design, illustration and paint markers, the kinds artists use most often. For the most part what plays the biggest role in the usable longevity of markers depends on what kind of ink is inside and the quality of the pen's hardware. Be prepared to invest $3 to $5 per pen. The rest generally comes down to proper marker storage and handling, and I will touch on some valuable bits of advice on this as well.

Caveat Emptor Always find out what you can from the first-hand experience of other users. If you have artist pals or even an online community with a forum for sharing art product info hit them up for their advice on what to use and what to avoid. It is always best to do some research by reading reviews on specific marker sets first or even contact the product's manufacturer if you need any details clarified.

There are very many brands and types of art pens and markers out there, and the type you choose depends on your particular needs. Based on my research by talking with artists and scouring reviews I feel I can safely list these as the top three brands to give you a starting point:
1. Copic
2. Prismacolor
3. Faber-Castell
Keep in mind that the life of water-based ink is naturally shorter when deciding what kind of marker you wish to use. Water-based ink dries quickly, which can be very convenient when using them on paper or wood. However, the water-based ink will dry out from inside the pens more quickly than permanent or solvent-based ink would. Ink that contains alcohol will need to be stored in a cool area or else it will evaporate.

Be careful when you shop for art markers as sometimes they are advertised as having a refillable ink reservoir but are really not intended to be refilled. When refillable is not really refillable would be in cases where the actual ink cartridge can be replaced with new auxiliary ones that are sold separately as opposed to being able to buy a bottle of ink and pouring it into the existing ink reservoir.

Once you find the right markers, there are ways to make sure your quality tools last as long as possible. Leaky pens are a nightmare in their own right. Minimize ink spillage by storing them caps and cartridge barrels screwed tightly closed and stored in the correct position: one-sided store in an upright position, double-sided store in a flat or neutral position.

Most art markers are two-sided with a fine and a thick end. A very basic word of advice is to use both ends on each marker as equally as possible. Otherwise one end will dry out long before the other.
Always use the paper that is specific to the marker. If you use normal copy paper it will absorb the marker ink like a paper towel to water. Two examples: watercolor paper for watercolor markers, a pen sketcher pad for fine-tipped ink markers. You can even search "Marker Paper" and find a variety out there bound to suit your needs.

So be ready to budget the amount needed for the long lasting best quality markers. Once you know what kind of marker you require, do your research and find out all you can about that particular set and see how they compare with others' reviews. From there on it is up to you to use and store them properly and get the most out of the marker set you buy.

IOUart - a blog celebrating creativity.
Please visit my blog at the above link for art related articles and artist interviews.
Inspiration and Originality Underlined: Focusing on the contributions of artists that enrich the shared human experience.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rebecca_H_Knight