SPRING THINGS

Give old or faded canvas umbrellas a new life. This is a fun project for the whole family. Decorate the umbrella by using either fabric paint or fabric pens, or a combination. Or you prefer embroidery for the umbrella is made for shade not rain. Alternatively, string a group of different coloured umbrellas together and make a multi coloured fun canopy. You can even decorate each one and create a shady spot under a multi-coloured awning. There are many types of fabric pens that will do the trick. The art won’t last forever, but it will be fun while it does and the memories created under the canvas umbrella will last a long time.

Use an old flat sheet or quilt for an outdoor ground cover or picnic blanket. This can be decorated using dyes or inks for fabrics or you can stay with the fabric pens and allow the kids to decorate a piece each. You are bound to make memories and have a lot of fun allowing your creative side free reign.

Try your hand at mosaic – either choose a small clay pot plant holder or be more adventurous and buy an item specifically for the purpose like a mirror, table. Even pavers can be decorated and placed vertically in a flower bed or against a wall. This is a great project for kids and adults alike and the sky is the limit with design and colour. Keep the item small as it can be very time consuming and expensive if you opt for huge pavers. This is a great idea for indoors or outdoors décor.

Hanging baskets, available from almost any nursery, also provide an opportunity for a fun Spring project. These can be decorated with multi-coloured ribbons, string or even beads and hanging crystals. It is fun and easy to make and engaging for young and old alike.

Cordon off small squares on a wall and allow your children to paint a mural in their square. It will add colour and life to any wall inside or out and will be their unique art. If you would rather prefer to keep your walls art free, get some markers that draw on plastic and allow them to decorate the dustbins – glow in the dark paint is also something that can create a lot of fun and will make the old dustbin look so much better!

Paint flat pebbles and lay out paths in the garden, intersperse these with solar lights and solar fairy lights and you will have magical grottos in your garden. A fun project, especially as we approach the festive season, and it creates a fun place for kids to play in the evening while on holiday. This is another fantastic way to make memories and even better photographs.

If you have old wooden loungers, you can give them a fresh coat of paint and decorate the slats in assorted colours or patterns. Similarly, there are paints and markers that will transfer onto plastic and wood that can also be used any stationery or art shop will be able to advise you.

Using pavement chalk is a fun way for kids to decorate the paving around the pool or in the driveway with their art. The chalk is big, chunky and inexpensive – and so easy to use. The best part is that a hose down or a rainstorm will wash their canvas clean and they can start afresh.

All of these activities can be done by an adult or child, though younger kids may need some supervision. They are all fun and can provide a real piece of creative art that you can keep and cherish or at least create memories and photos and will give your living space a unique and individualised touch!

Visit your stationery or art supply store and see what they have on hand in the marker range for drawing on different mediums. Decorating glass or ceramics is so easy and so much fun, as is trying out tie dying and fabric paint. As with all coloured markers, paints and dyes, it is advisable to keep a close watch on kids or your entire house could suffer a make-over; for sheer fun and time spent creating, these projects are great. �