Category Archives: Art & Crafts

Back to School Art Projects

Summer holiday is over. September is the month when children return to school. Young students in their elementary years may experience mixed emotions about early mornings and homework. Starting up such a routine is less than thrilling but back to school art projects can make returning to the classroom exciting.

Listed below are art projects that are creative, fun, and great conversations starters. Since getting back to school is all about starting fresh and making new friends, these functional art pieces are sure to kick off the school year on the right foot.

Pencil Toppers

Make plain, old yellow pencils fun. A number of household items can be used to top a pencil. (Walnuts are an example listed here: http://www.redtedart.com/2012/08/13/back-to-school-crafts-ideas/.) This is a great back to school art project for young kids. And, it makes a student’s school supplies one-of-a-kind.

Notebook Designs

Many schools require students cover their books. Change it up this year by covering a textbook with something extraordinary – like denim. Also, make ordinary notebooks more exciting with stickers and original designs.

Backpacks

Adding patches and pins to a backpack can give it a new look. For young students, a themed backpack may boost confidence and increase excitement about going back to school.

Organizing the Homework Area

Schoolwork starts in the classroom and continues at home. Setting up a creative homework area is a fun and beneficial activity. These resources have a few fun ways for kids to set up their own homework stations: http://spoonful.com/back-to-school/back-to-school-crafts. Maintaining this space within a home can be a great way to stay organized and make schoolwork enjoyable.

Back to school is anything but boring. Make sure kids get excited — and stay excited — by adding creative activities. These back to school art projects may begin at home but they are taken into the classroom. A student can show off his or her creative talents and stand out this year.

Read more Segmation blog posts about Art Projects:

Candy Art: We Don’t all Have to be Artists to Create Art!

The Meaning of Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Art

Ideas for Creating Halloween Art

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Make Labor Day Special, Celebrate with Art

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The United States was a nation built from the ground up. It began taking shape in the latter half of the 18^th century. This is when people started pursuing missions that would create a great society. As a result, 12 hour work days became the backbone of American spirit.

This dedication and determination gained recognition in the late 19^th century. Citizens of the United States started celebrating Labor Day in 1882. The idea was adopted from Canada. The North American neighbor began celebrating Labour Day a decade prior.

Until present day, the United States has been consistent in honoring social and economic achievements on the first Monday in September. Most businesses are closed on this day and hardworking American citizens are offered a long weekend. During this time, barbecues and festive parties are the norm. In fact, the United States celebrates Labor Day with the same spirit that fills Fourth of July.

This blog offers five artistic tips that celebrate the “155 million men and women who are in the U.S. workforce.”

TIP 1- Recycle Old Crafts

Celebrate hard work with fun décor. Labor Day is the perfect opportunity to use red, white, and blue decorations. Dig up the patriotic crafts created for the Fourth of July.

TIP 2- Festive Party Invitations

For those planning Labor Day parties, invite family and friends with unique invitation designs. This is a great resource for anyone wanting inspiration for festive ideas: http://www.examiner.com/article/celebrating-labor-day-with-martha-stewart

TIP 3- Fun for the Kids

Teach children why the nation celebrates Labor Day. This can be done with a fun craft. One suggestion is to use old magazines and have kids cut out pictures of people working. Make a collage of the images. Click on this link for more artistic and educational craft ideas: http://familycrafts.about.com/od/holidays/p/LaborDay.htm

TIP 4- Printable Projects

Teachers and parents who want to convey the important of Labor Day can explore creative ideas here: http://homeschooling.about.com/od/holidays/ss/labordayprint_8.htm. There are many crafts and games that can be downloaded and printed out. This webpage has everything from themed puzzles to festive knickknacks (door hangings and bookmarks too!). In addition, there are quizzes for older kids and adults.

TIP 5- The Perfect Centerpiece

When thinking about this year’s Labor Day party, think about a theme that can celebrate the holiday and excite those who plan to attend. Is it possible to have a party focus on a family member’s career achievements? Find ideas that can mix up traditional themes: http://labor-day-weekend.com/parties/centerpieces.htm

Enjoy celebrating the nation’s achievements and hard work by keeping art at the heart of this holiday. There are plenty of DIY crafts that can make Labor Day special. Be sure to relax and spend time doing something fun.

Read more Segmation blog posts about Celebrating Holidays with Art:

Green Represents Saint Patrick’s Day

Hanukkah, Christmas, Happy New Year’s – Season’s Greetings as Beautiful Art Paintings

The Meaning of Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Art

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Welcome Spring with a Freshly Painted Front Door

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Spring is here, and with it will come a plethora of beautiful colors. The May flowers that April showers bring display lovely shades of red, purple, yellow and blue. With the wave of new life and vibrant color that is soon-to-come, many homeowners will be thinking about Spring cleaning as a preparation for Summer. In addition to thoroughly cleaning, giving your home an external “makeover” would be the ideal activity to welcome Spring. Believe it or not, simply painting your front door can drastically change the appearance of your entire home and make it the feature of your neighborhood.

Painting your front door is perhaps the most inexpensive way to change the look and feel of your house. The colors you have to choose from are endless, but some of the most popular front door shades include:

— Yellow — This bright and sunny hue inspires feelings of happiness, warmth and joy. Yellow is the ideal shade of door paint for a home that is a drab color (such as grey). Painting your front door yellow is definitely the best way to make your home “pop” and stand out to visitors.

— Red — Warm, sultry, passionate — these are all words that are associated with the color red. Applied to a front door, red truly makes a statement. Interestingly, early American homes with red doors were thought to be exceptionally welcoming. Those drawn to Americana-style decor will likely love the look of a bright red front door.

— Green — Homeowners who are ready for a fresh start and a renewed sense of vitality might want to opt for a green door. Mint and lime are two colors that have been wildly popular lately; these shades are sure to bring a house to life and cause visitors to feel refreshed.

— Blue — Did you know that blue is one of the most stunning front door hues for brick homes? Blue also looks beautiful against natural siding. Those who are ready to quickly and inexpensively change the look of their home should consider a vibrant shade of blue for their front door.

What color is your front door? If you could paint your entryway door any shade in celebration of Spring, what color would you choose? Share with Segmation by leaving a comment below.

Sources:

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/6861936/list?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u227&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery12

Coming soon: If you love art as well as technology, you won’t want to miss our upcoming blog post about word cloud portraits.

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Be an Artist in 2 minutes with Segmation SegPlay® PC (see more details here)

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