Painting rocks is fun, and turning painted rocks into cute critters is even more fun! Why not make a bunch of love bug pet rocks with your kids? Here’s the simple how-to:

• Head outside and find a perfect rock.

• Paint your rock and let it dry. We use acrylic paints for the best coverage.

• Glue on heart-shaped wings cut from paper, craft foam, felt, or fabric. (A grown-up can help with cutting!)

• Add some googly eyes or draw eyes with a marker.

• For some sparkle, paint your bug with a thin layer of glue, then sprinkle with glitter. Or, use glitter glue pens like we did.

• Give your love bug to someone you love!

Enjoy your weekend!

I’ve been reorganizing my bookshelves, so I thought I would share some of my favorite early childhood resource books with you.  These are the ones I turn to when my own creativity is not flowing — they are filled with simple, play-based activities that encourage creativity and exploration.

In this post, I’ll share some of my most-used general resource books, to be followed with posts about my favorite art, science + nature, math, literacy, and parenting books. {Updated January 2012}

Unplugged Play: No Batteries. No Plugs. Pure Fun. by Bobbi Conner

Love this book! It’s divided into Toddler Play, Preschool Play, and Grade School Play and is FULL of games, crafts, pretend play, party ideas and more! There are many familiar ideas with new twists, as well as little tidbits on parenting, stocking an art cabinet, etc.  One of my favorite and most-used books.

Everyday Opportunities for Extraordinary Parenting: Simple Ways to Make a Difference in Your Child’s Life by Bobbi Conner

Another great book by the same author.  This one reminds me that to find those special moments of connection as we go about our day together.

Thinking Games for Preschoolers by Susan Baltrus

This book has tons of easy games to play at home, outside, in the car, at the grocery store, waiting in line, etc.  The games are even indexed in the back by skills like visual observation, problem solving, imagination, memory, and more. (This book appears to be out-of-print – I recommend tracking down a used copy!)

Fun on the Run!: 324 Instant Family Activities by Cynthia Copeland

This is a little book that you can stash in your purse, diaper bag, or glove box and use when things are getting crazy.  Ideas for doctor’s office visits, long car rides, shopping trips, etc.

Child of Wonder: Nurturing Creative and Naturally Curious Children by Ginger Carlson

This book is another treasure-filled resource for setting-up a creative environment and encouraging creative thinking. There are oodles of play ideas, too! It’s geared toward preschoolers, but families of school-age kids will find many activities to enjoy, too.

Playful Learning: Develop Your Child’s Sense of Joy and Wonder by Mariah Bruehl

My favorite aspect of this book is the experience philosophy. Rather than just a collection of activities, the experiences in this book truly provide opportunities for conversation, connection, and discovery. It is a wonderful book to enjoy side-by-side with your kids, following their interests and having fun learning together. (Read more about this book in my detailed review.)

Happy Reading!

Care to share a favorite from your bookshelf?

I’ve had make colored glue on my art to-do list for a while. During one of our recent history readings (we’re learning about the Middle Ages), we learned a bit about how stained glass is made. Perfect time for a stained glass art project!

We used a stained glass pattern of a castle, traced onto watercolor paper. (Hold your papers up to a window for easy tracing.) You could also draw your own picture with a pencil, or trace a design from a coloring book. You’ll definitely want a sturdy paper for this project.

Starting with a partially-full bottle of white glue, add a few squirts of black paint. I used black BioColor Paint – tempera or acrylic paint would work, too. Use a chopstick or small paintbrush to give the glue and paint a good mix.

The girls loved “drawing” with the black glue. We practiced on scratch paper before diving in to our castle project. Gently squeeze the glue bottle and keep the tip touching the paper for a steady line.

Let the glue dry completely – ours took a day to dry. Then, paint away! We used liquid watercolor paints this time. The dried glue lines act as barriers to keep your paint in its spot.

The girls have declared this their new favorite art project – that’s a pretty good endorsement!

We followed these excellent tutorials for our stained glass painting project:

Black Glue and Watercolor Resist :: Pink and Green Mama

Stained Glass on Paper :: that artist woman

Free drawing with the black glue is really fun, too. This is an engaging art experience for younger kids, and older kids might enjoy making an abstract masterpiece, too. I made this one and had a blast!

Materials from Discount School Supply:

BioColor Paint
Watercolor Paper
Liquid Watercolor Paints
Paint Cups In A Base (for saving liquid watercolors in between projects)

What’s the favorite art material or project in your house right now?