Melissa over at Sack Family asked me a week or so ago how I come up with my art projects.  I thought I’d take some time today to answer her question.  If anyone else has a question, feel free to ask and I’ll do my best to answer.  But be forewarned I am by no means an expert on anything. LOL  Also if anyone would like to add their answer to the question, by all means do.

Here’s the short answer, I get my ideas from several sources actually, the internet, TV, books, magazines, craft isles, and things I see for sale.  But I suppose you were looking for a little more detail. LOL

The internet:  if we are doing a lesson on a particular subject I’ll do a google search for projects to go with the subject.  I’ll type in searches like ancient Egypt crafts, ancient Egypt projects, ancient Egypt activities.  This will usually produce different results and give me lots of ideas to use.  Sometimes while doing these searches I’ll see something for sale and think “we can make something like that”.  A lot of times this will get ideas flowing in my little brain.

TV:  I like watching shows on HGTV.  One of my favorites is Decorating Cents.  I know it is a show on how to decorate a room but if you watch they often show you lots of techniques using simple things that can translate into good projects.  I also like checking out their website they have lots of kids projects.

Books:  The library is a wonderful place!  If it’s a history subject I’m putting together I look for craft books like American kids in history Colonial Times.   Our library has the non fiction books put together by topic so it makes it very easy to find what I’m looking for.  I always look through several books on the topic we’re studying.  Sometimes I use it just like it is in a book but I usually end up altering it some to go with the supplies I have on hand.  I also have several books in my personal library that I refer to for inspiration.  Here are some that I have: The Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas, A Handbook of Arts and Crafts, Science Activities for elementary children, How to Make Books with Children, Rose art Origami, 101 Science Experiments, and Science Fair Projects.  I’ve gotten most of this second hand at yard sales and thrift stores.  I did get some off of clearance racks at the Barnes and Noble.  I always hit the clearance rack there.

Magazines:  My mom has for years giving me a subscription to one magazine or another.  The ones I like most were Nick Jr., Sesame Street, and Better Homes and Gardens.  They always had some neat ideas for projects and crafts in there.  What I do is cut out any idea that I like and stick it in a photo album.  I usually put a note beside it with any ideas I thought of while looking at the article.  Then I have a handy resource of projects to do with the kids. 

Craft isles and things for sale:  I always walk down the craft isle of a store I’m at.  Sometimes they have really cool things on clearance.  More often than not though I just walk through it to look at what kind of kids projects they’ve come out with.  Most of the pre-fab kits can easily be duplicated with things I have at home.  It is more of an inspiration isle for me.  It’s kind of like walking through the art gallery.  An example is when I saw this craft for sale.  I thought we could do something similar using paper mache.  I’ll see something and think that would go nicely with what we are studying; I wonder how we could make it.  The only time I buy something like this is if it is really cheap because I just have too many kids to buy it for.  

So there you have it.  I think that gives you an idea how my brain works when coming up with stuff.