With all the bad in the world, we can honestly say, we’ve loved parts about our down time, in quarantine. It’s been great to tackle projects around the home and take on some exciting ideas with the kids. One of them was this fun art project the other day, in effort to freshen up the hideaway. It’s definitely time for its annual spring cleaning a-la the pressure washer, but they loved sprucing it up with their handmade art! This is a lot like our first take on the fun abstract art that we did, except this time, with Frogtape®!
This was absolutely therapeutic for them, and they loved creating all the pieces!
Want to make some of your own?
Here’s what you’ll need:
• canvas
• Frogtape®
• acrylic paint – any kind will do but we love ready to pour for a great option that mixes fabulously.
• drop cloths
• blow dryer
First, you’ll want to decide where you want to paint, location-wise. We decided to move this party to the yard, poolside. Three kids + acrylic paint + all the blow-drying = catastrophe averted.
This project can get away from you fast, with kids – ours are older but outside made it much easier.
So tape out any pattern you want on your canvas. We ended up using two different widths of Frogtape® on some of the paintings.
Press down evenly, even around the sides, and you’re ready to go.
Add your first color.
This is definitely a smaller version of the project here, but think of working on it in sections.
{Total side note: This is also a great lesson for kids on negative and positive space when it comes to art.}
Blow gently with your blow dryer, pushing it to the edges of your canvas. You can play with the effects of the paint based on speed. We even found that moving it around varied the direction of the paint, and changed the way the colors were dispersed in ripples of fun color.
We got a little better at it below, but multitasking with a camera was hard. Be sure to check out our stories later today for a quick, fast-motion version.
Tips:
• As best as you can, blow away from the tape.
• Work in small sections around your tape design, and it keeps the paint manageable.
• Keep the blow dryer on cool and it will help with the tape’s adhesion to the canvas.
Another great version of this, if you don’t have canvas, would be small pieces of MDF. Simply paint it first with white paint, and that can serve as your “canvas”
The kids had so much fun spreading the paint around. And it was so bright, the younger two stole my sunglasses.
Paint one section at a time until you’re satisfied, and then move to the next. All until you’re finished.
For a faster drying option, let them sit in the sun.
The drying time is a fraction of the time compared with our first round indoors with this project, so another bonus to working outside.
They had so much fun!
When they were dry, we removed the tape and we loved all those fun crisp lines with negative space!
If you have a booboo {which can easily happen with kids working outside with blowdryers and paint} simply remove the tape, and gently scrape away a little of the excess paint with a small X-Acto blade.
Winning!
The look is so fun and colorful for spring, we just had to try this version for the Hideaway!
Though two of them have already stolen their paintings because they like them so much, and they’re now in their rooms.
I guess we’ll be creating some more for the hideaway.
What can I say, other than I think the project was a success!
Such fun little designs.
As always, let us know if you try it. We’d love to hear!
Have an inspired day!
pssst… for more of our fave projects with Frogtape … check them all out here.
See more fun stuff, like this basketball goal
A table makeover with frogtape + more ideas here
Be sure to check them all out here!
Hope to see you there.
Leave a Reply