Color in Aprons can be a fun birthday party activity for kids

As a kid, I loved to paint; pictures, walls, you name it, I loved to paint it. Most kids love to paint, especially when they're painting something that is either theirs and/or that they can give as a gift.

For a while, I was the hostess for birthday parties at a local arts and craft store. One of the most popular activities was painting something. Each kid was intrigued with designing their own creation, and everyone looked forward to taking their masterpiece home, whether it was a picture frame, a wooden box, a tee shirt, their painting on a canvas, etc.

Another thing about kids, is that they also love to wear their creations, if it's clothing of some sort. So I invite you to consider Outline Drawings on Aprons as the canvas for their next creativity session.

Why aprons? The material that aprons are made of isn't stretchy like tshirts, making them easy to control as the coloring process proceeds.

There are many aprons that can be ordered with outlines already printed on them. Kids can paint them in, add to the design, and then get to wear them! They can wear their aprons when they help out in the kitchen, do a messy project, and/or for more painting. It's a win win.

I ordered aprons from Zazzle, with pre-printed outlines on them, to test them out. They are made of sturdy cotton, and lay nice when painting on them. A piece of solid cardboard placed under them is best to keep the paint from bleeding through to the underneath surface. The cardboard can also be taped to the back of the apron, to help keep it in place, while painting.

Here's one of the samples of designs that you can find at my CherylsArt store on Zazzle:

Coloring Apron - Pizza Dough with Toppings
by CherylsArt

You can use acrylic fabric paint, acrylic paint with fabric medium already mixed in, and or acrylic paint markers. The acrylic paints do a great job for painting on fabric; and there are lots of colors to choose from. You may need to heat set the painting once it is dry, so check the labels on the medium that you choose for the recommended method.

Do test the paint markers on a scrap fabric piece or at least some scrap cardboard to make sure that the paint flow is working. If it isn't coming out yet, press the paint tip down on the scrap material a few times, and then try drawing with it on the scrap material first before painting on the apron.

Check out more outline aprons in my CherylsArt store on Zazzle:

Outline Drawings on Aprons for Kids to Color
by CherylsArt

Happy Creating.

Cheryl Paton

Affirmation Stickers are Helpful for Kids and Adults

When my daughter was young, she loved receiving stickers for a job well done, for a lesson learned, for encouragement, and more. I thought that she had perhaps outgrown it, but maybe not.

I had read a comment on an earlier affirmation article of mine, that a lab technician and dietitian uses them in their work place, and that they work. I love that they're being used in work places too.

I guess we really don't outgrow liking signs of appreciation. Sometimes I even give myself some appreciation, by giving myself a compliment in the mirror. I still give my daughter appreciation, but perhaps I'll give her some in the form of some stickers too.

How about you?

These Bright Idea and Great Job stickers are a great way to reward the recipients. They are printed by Zazzle, a print on demand company. The stickers are peel and stick, and come in a choice of two sizes. They have a glossy finish and stick well.

That's a bright idea, Yellow Light Bulb stickers
by CherylsArt

Great job!, stickers, circles of colorful stars
by CherylsArt

Happy Rewarding.

Cheryl Paton