‘Create’ Articles at Sweetnicks

Create: Giant Watercolor Tutorial

February 19, 2013 · Narrative

If you couldn’t tell, I like to celebrate my children. Every day, for certain, but especially on their birthdays. I always want them to feel loved.

And so when I was planning all the little things I wanted to do for Madeline’s recent birthday and spied a tutorial for a giant watercolor celebrating her new age, I was all in.

I mean, really. A giant watercolor for my watercolor-loving girl?

It was a no-brainer.

The weekend right before her birthday, I had a quiet house to myself while the kids were with The Ex, and I took full advantage.

A giant piece of hot-pressed watercolor paper from Michael’s.

Watercolor paint.

Water cup.

Paint brush.

Pencil.

I was set.

It took a few sketches to get the number five just right. Just the way I wanted it. I did it free-hand, and I think that’s the easiest way to go about it. Just use the pencil lightly so it can erase easily if you need to edit as you go.

When it came to colors, I wanted to go with her current favorite colors: pink, purple, orange, and light blue. Blending a little bit here and there for some (attempted) smooth transitioning.

As I sat at the dining room table painting, memories of my grandmother were quick to come. She was an artist, of many mediums, for as long as I can remember, but painting with watercolors was, for sure, her jam. And as I blended and dabbed and thinned, I wondered if she was rolling over in her grave. Because if there are any techniques or rules when it comes to watercolor painting, I surely broke them. I just went about creating and doing what I thought felt right.

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Review: BabbaBox

December 12, 2012 · Ad-Free, Narrative

When it comes to creativity in a box, I am usually all ears. Although I love the moments where I can put a stash of craft and art supplies on the table and tell the kids to “go for it,” sometimes it’s nice to have someone else do all the work via a carefully curated box ‘o fun.

Am I right?

And the folks behind BabbaBox? They have my complete attention.

The box contents are carefully chosen by BabbaCo’s expert team (more information on their process can be found here), which is comprised of Ph.D’s, preschool teachers, physical therapists, nannies, topic experts, parents, and more. Each box has a different theme, and the one that we were recently sent focused on the sun, moon, and stars. Inside this particular box were three different activities for the kids to do:

– instructions and materials necessary to make a constellation frame, using the sun as the source of making the print.
– the tools and directions we need to make a paper mache moon nightlight
– mini binoculars and a lunar calendar so we can see and track the different phases of the moon

Beyond the activities included, there was also a best-selling book, Twinkle, Star of the Week, that corresponded with the theme as well. And lastly, a super cute star wine stopper (a surprise gift for parents!). Over the years, we have bought a number of craft and activity kits, but what stands out most about the BabbaBox, as opposed to the others we’ve had, is that it’s intelligent … it doesn’t dumb down anything, it’s educational in a fun way, and, instead, treats kids as the intellectual sponges that they are.

And, really, hooray for that.

Although it’s targeted for ages 3-6, I really think it could go a little past that. And with it being the holidays, it certainly makes for a unique gift for your favorite little creative mind. The folks at BabbaBox are offering 50% off your first month when you sign up for a monthly membership using the code, SWAY100. Offer expires December 31, 2012.

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Creating Art with Your Kids

December 3, 2012 · Narrative

My grandmother on my mom’s side died a few years ago. For all the things I loved about her, she was very difficult to get along with. Her home was awash with bright colors, pops of purples and pinks everywhere, but that was in sharp contrast to how negative she was. She was never shy in telling people what she thought and her tongue could be quite acerbic.

I’ll never forget the day she came to visit the first home that The Ex and I had bought. I had just finished painting the living room, and she was going to spend the day with me at our new home, helping me decorate and get us settled. She walked right into the living room and said “Why on earth would you paint it this color?”

Completely deflating the sense of pride I had in the first room I had finished in our new home. And so began a very long day. My time with her, both that day and otherwise, was filled with her constant negative comments about everything. My hair. The clothes I wore. Choices I made, decorating, life, and otherwise.

And as much as I hate that my kids will grow up never knowing her (Nick’s last visit with her was when he was 10 months old, so, of course, Madeline and my three nieces never got the chance to meet her), I am glad that what they *do* know of and have learned about her, is happy.

She was a master with the paint brush, and was known for turning out beautiful water color paintings with a quick flick of her wrist. She took art classes every year at her local college, withdrawing right before the end, so she could re-enroll again the next term.

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