Teaching Kids Art Through Picture Books

Mother's Day is just a few days away — and if you haven't quite landed on a gift yet, take a breath. You don't need a craft store run, a Pinterest board, or a perfect plan.

You just need a piece of cardboard, your recycling bin, and about an hour.

This week I released a new tutorial on YouTube: a flower collage made entirely from "found materials." Junk mail, old catalogues, buttons, pom poms, scissors, and glue. The finished pieces are surprisingly beautiful — layered, textured, full of color. The kind of thing Mom will actually want to keep.

It's also the kind of project that works for kids to do on their own — to make something special for you, for Grandma, or for another woman in their life they'd like to honor. Or you can sit down and do it with them and turn it into a creative afternoon together.

Watch the Tutorial

 The video runs about 16 minutes. I walk through the materials, the technique, and a few tips for helping kids get the most out of the project. I also share two ...