Free Flow Art

Crafting together has mental health benefits for kids individually & benefits the parent/child relationship, as well. For a child, making a project like this one can be gratifying & build self-esteem. Working alongside their caregiver, they feel connected & appreciated, especially when they don’t feel pressured to do things exactly “right”. As they work together, they can have healthy conversations about anything – even those difficult topics that might otherwise be hard to discuss.
https://www.onoursleeves.org/mental-wellness-tools-guides/conversation-starters

This project has the added benefit of lending itself to the development of mindful behavior. Mindfulness, or living in the present moment, means focusing on the task at hand. Mindfulness insists that you slow down & take your time.
https://www.onoursleeves.org/mental-wellness-tools-guides/helping-kids-stay-positive/help-kids-practice-mindfulness​

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• White and Grey Cardstock Paper
• Marker Paper
• Colorful Cardstock Paper
• Printed Patterned Paper
• Fine Line Markers
• Scissors
• Glue Sticks
• Optional: Tape

DIRECTIONS:
To find the downloadable patterns click on the "GET PATTERNS" tab above.

NOTE: With this project, you can create two kinds of "free-flow" art—a collage and a continuous line art.

COLLAGE:

1. To find the downloadable patterns click on the "GET PATTERNS" tab above.
2. Print out the designs provided and use scissors to cut out the patterns. These patterns are now ready to use as templates. Trace and cut shapes from the colorful Cardstock and printed patterned paper. If you prefer to cut without leaving pencil marks, use tape to gently tack a rough cut-out template to the paper and cut both simultaneously without tracing.
3. Design a college from the colorful Cardstock and printed patterned papers, use a glue stick to adhere shapes to the Cardstock paper. Then, if desired, add linework using fine line markers.

CONTINUOUS LINE ART:

1. Click on the "GET PATTERNS" tab above to find the downloadable illustrations.
2. To make a continuous line artwork try drawing each illustration provided with one line without picking up your marker. You can repeat the images, overlapping using different colors.

JOANN HACKS:

• Play with different shapes, colors, and patterned papers to design your entire composition before gluing.
• A glue stick will dry clear.
• Trace the continuous line designs if you wish.
• Try your own continuous line drawing.