Natural things are the earths art materials.They are inspiring to look at and conjure endless possibilities.
Here’s one idea for creating with a natural thing;
The pinecone is so accessible this time of year. With all of its nooks and crannies it is just asking to be embellished.

Next time your out walking or out on the town, see if you can spot a pinecone to decorate. When found, be sure to gently tap it on the ground to release any seeds that didn’t scatter when it fell, as well as any little bug friends too.

Get it home and it’s ready for paint, glue and beads or paper bits and string, whatever you are called to add. It may even turn into a fun place-card holder for your thanksgiving festivities.
Enjoy!

This month I spotlight Cardboard. It’s such a versatile material to reuse, I used it as a lightweight material to decorate a pumpkin for a contest and it worked so well!
I could cut it to any shape I needed, paint it and embellish it and Boo! It’s made!
Think about reusing cardboard you may have laying around to decorate your pumpkins without carving them. It’s a perfect material for a last minute Halloween activity for some friendly competition at home or as a group project in a classroom!
Make a face, a spooky scene or go abstract! Any way is a winner for fun and reuse!

This month I feature Paper as the material I spotlight.

Paper is probably the most used art material among school age kids so what better material to us for a fun fall project!
Check out my YouTube video on creating with shredded paper to make a cute shredded paper pumpkin and more.
All you’ll need are a few items you likely have around the house; shredded paper, school glue, a plastic container for mixing. and some paint.
I hope this project becomes a family favorite in your home. It is a favorite in ours. Fall vibes are coming your way!

Summer is just about here with school years winding to a close.
This presents the age old question, what will the kids do all summer?
I have a great option for kids throughout the summer, booking ahead, or for last minute fun!
Check out my summer camp line-up here.
I am offering an array of creative, hands-on fun for kids age 5-12!

See you there!

Jemma

I have a fun valentine activity for you! Stop by the Thousand Oaks or Newbury Park libraries to get one of my simply curated, embroidered heart kits that you can sew at home-your way!

Enjoy learning a new skill or build on the skill you have with my little d.i.y. kits in the comfort of your home or on the go!
Pick up your FREE kit, one per teen while supplies last.

Enjoy!
Jemma

This reuse of the material cork is sure to be a fun project to try!
Check out my YouTube video to create cork fun!

For the month of January, I spotlight the material- cork. It’s a mighty material!

I primarily use it in the studio in the form of wine corks but it’s a truely amazing, natural material. It is naturally the outer bark of a cork tree that uniquely sustainable because the cork bark can be harvested (by hand) from the trunk of the tree. The tree will then grow a new protective layer of cork bark! This process can happen again in another 7-10 years.

Cork is not just for wine bottles, it’s used for a host of other useful items like cork boards, insoles, linings for sports balls, sea buoys, furniture and so much more!

Since most of us see cork as stoppers for wine we’re seeing lots of imitation corks, even screw tops on wine bottles but due to corks unique, porous nature some wines need a cork stopper to allow the right amount air to circulate through, no imitation will do!

Cork is quite versatile and fun to create with, just cruise around Pinterest for a while! It is recyclable and reusable and it’s mightiest feet..cork trees are also dynamos in nature because they are fire resistant and can be planted to help create fire barriers.