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Halloween - A beginners guide to pumpkin carving (2023 Update)
Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome

Halloween - A beginners guide to pumpkin carving (2023 Update)

I like to carve my own pumpkins, but I never seem to have as much time as I’d like to achieve an intricate design. For this reason, I have come up with some pumpkin templates that don’t take too long to carve, but are really effective! I have provided instructions for the simplest way to achieve a carved pumpkin. Each design is available as a PDF to print out and use as a template or use your own design if you prefer.

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How to Make Halloween Salt Dough Ghost and Ghoul Figures
Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome

How to Make Halloween Salt Dough Ghost and Ghoul Figures

Making salt dough ghost figures is a really fun activity to do with your children in the lead-up to Halloween. The beauty of salt dough ghost figures is that they are really easy to make and require very few ingredients. These ghost figures make excellent ornaments and decorations to place around your home in preparation for the Halloween festivities.

I have set out the equipment needed and step-by-step instructions to make your salt dough ghost figure creations.

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Craft ideas for kids - A Guide to Painting Stones!
Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome

Craft ideas for kids - A Guide to Painting Stones!

No visit to a beach with children is complete until you have chosen a selection of stones or shells to take home. Painting the stones at a later date is a lovely activity that children enjoy and really makes the most of their collection. I have set out what equipment you need and a step by step guide to follow for your stone painting.

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Art Ideas for Kids: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Art Generators
Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome

Art Ideas for Kids: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Art Generators

In today's digital age, technology has become a useful tool in enhancing creativity and innovation in art activities. One of the most recent technological advances in the art world is Artificial Intelligence (AI) Art, I find it really fascinating and have spent some time exploring it with my children. They both loved it and it has become a new arts and craft activity for them that has really allowed them explore their imagination and creativity.

In this post, I will explore how AI Art can enhance children's creativity in arts and crafts activities.

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Easy craft ideas for kids – Vincent van Gogh inspired art
Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome

Easy craft ideas for kids – Vincent van Gogh inspired art

Creating artwork inspired by Vincent van Gogh is a great rainy-day or school holiday art activity for children. Vincent van Gogh lived a unique and fascinating life, while your child carries out the art project, you can explain the themes of his artwork and the context in which they were created.

This craft activity is perfect for older children from age 7 upwards, as they build the layers needed to create the wonderful colours and textures in Van Gogh’s work. I have also included a way to adapt this activity to suit younger children from 4 - 6 year olds.

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Easy summer craft ideas for kids – Jackson Pollock “Drip Painting” Art
Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome

Easy summer craft ideas for kids – Jackson Pollock “Drip Painting” Art

Creating Jackson Pollock art with children is a fun, messy activity that they will love !!

Paul Jackson Pollock is an American painter famous for his "drip technique" of pouring or splashing paint onto a flat surface. Pollock would use his whole body while creating his paintings, in a method that was almost like a dance. His technique became known as “Action Art”.

“Drip painting” is a perfect summer craft for children. This is a craft activity that would work with children from 3 years and upwards, but I feel it is perfect for 5 - 10 year olds.

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Easy craft ideas for kids – Kandinsky Circle Art
Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome

Easy craft ideas for kids – Kandinsky Circle Art

Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter and art theorist from the early to mid 20th Century. He was perhaps most famous for his use of squares within concentric circles, otherwise known as Kandinsky Circles. Creating Kandinsky Circles will keep kids entertained for hours, as they explore texture and colour and let their imagination to run wild.

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Craft Ideas for Kids - Tie Dye Kit for Kids
Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome Arts and Crafts with Children Sarah Ransome

Craft Ideas for Kids - Tie Dye Kit for Kids

Tie dying is a really versatile activity that so many children absolutely love. This activity suits ages from about 6 to 12-years-old and the bonus is that you end up with items of clothes you can wear for months to come. There are some great tie dye kits available, meaning you only need to buy some white clothes and you have everything you need to get going. I have provided instructions on what to do, together with a review of the TBC (The Best Crafts) Tie-Dye Art Kit.

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