Testing Dollar Tree Acrylic Markers

I was testing Crafter Square & PrimeArt Acrylic Markers (purchased at Dollar Tree) The 

Crafter Square has a finer point, but better opacity. PrimeArt has a slightly thicker point, but needed two coats to match Crafter Square. Not bad though...and great if you have young artists at home. 

 

Dollar Tree Transformation

It's no secret that Dollar Tree is one of my favorite places!!  Recently I found these Christmas gnomes that I thought were super cute.  However, I saw the potential in using them at school with a little transformation.  The image is printed on(except the gloves and boots are extra wood pieces added on top of the image.  The snow flake and present were on the beard of the gnomes, and I knew I could easily paint over that area, and change things up a bit. I have them flanking a board in the hall where I hang students work they make me outside of class. They have become the art gnome guardians. 

Modifying A Poster From Dollar Tree

 I was looking for a new encouraging/motivational poster at Dollar Tree recently when I came across a dinosaur poster.  I love dinosaurs, but don't usually put up such things in my room. I loved it though, and thought I could modify it to be more "art" related.

 For a $1.25 and a little bit of work...totally worth it! 

TESTING CRAYOLA SPECIALTY CRAYONS FROM DOLLAR TREE

As an art teacher and a dad, I was curious to all the specialty Crayola Crayons in stock at Dollar Tree.  Some I had experience with, but most I had never used before.  I wanted to test them to see if they were really  something I'd purchase for my students or my own kids.

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

BOLD & BRIGHT

Crayola's first version of construction paper crayons were good, but they leaned more towards pastel/muted tones. Sargent came out with their own version that was really wonderful.  The colors were truer & came in a wider range.  The Bold & Bright version of Crayola's construction paper crayons are really wonderful.  The 8 pack(what is available at Dollar Tree) is nice, but the 24 pack offers so many colors that are truly beautiful & work so well together.  

PEARL & PASTEL

I liked both the Pearl & Pastel crayons.  I'm not sure I'd say they are MUST HAVE's, but they would be nice editions.  The colors are nice & I feel they deliver on what they claim to be! 

NEON

The neon are just ok.  I think kids would enjoy them.  However, the color does not go down as well as regular colors & they really are a niche selection with limited use in most works of art.  

CONFETTI, METALLIC, GLITTER

Save your money!  I don't really get the Confetti crayons at all?! The ones that actually show other colors present kind of make mud.  The ones where the color doesn't show up just look like regular crayons. So why bother?  The Metallic & Glitter both have very little sparkle.  If you hold the paper just right in the perfect light, maybe.  Once again...why bother? Your money can be spent else where(like on the Bold & Bright!).  

Don't take my word for it...go to Dollar Tree and pick you up the ones you are curious about. You may love the ones I didn't?!? 

(One last test...all on black paper.)

October Art Challenge: #dollartreeterrors

I posted about this earlier because I wanted everyone to have enough time to get their materials and make a plan!  Now that we are getting closer to the end of September, I wanted to give you all a reminder about #dollartreeterrors.  I'm a huge fan of Dollar Tree, and love all the crafting materials (traditional & otherwise).  I may be doing the #pumpkinaday challenge as well, but knew for sure that a nontraditional art supply crafting opportunity would be super fun! 

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO?

Just go to Dollar Tree and pick up a stuffed animal or doll (or whatever you wish really), and transform it into something spooky!  You can add things to it, paint it, combined two different things.  The only limitation is your imagination!

WHAT DO I DO WHEN I'M DONE?

Post your finished project (progress pictures with the finished project would be great!) to your social media.  Give it the hashtags: #dollartreeterrors #dollartree #artchallenge #octoberartchallenge #artwithmre

Dollar Tree Glass Pen & Ink Set Review

I was so excited to try these out, and they did not disappoint! Check out how the Glass Pen & Ink set from Dollar Tree performed! 

Dollar Tree Metallic Marker Review

If you like metallic markers....check this review out.  

They are all from Dollar Tree, but not all things at Dollar Tree 

are created equally! 

Dollar Tree Find!!!

 

Dollar Tree Wood Carving Tools Review

I have never done wood carving. I have no idea what I'm doing. 

 Let me make that clear right off the bat! ha ha ha

It was fun to try, and I really want to try to create prints off of a carving in the future. 

Dollar Tree Oil Pastel Review

WAS excited to see these at my local Dollar Tree....emphasis on WAS! 

What my review & you'll see why!

Dollar Tree: Cake Tools As Art Tools

 Dollar Tree Continues to surprise me! 

The other day I walked in to Dollar Tree, and I found an end cap of cake decorating items! I instantly had an idea to repurpose some of the items. Check out my video. 

Art Supply Review: Crafter's Square Rolling Cutter

I found something new at Dollar Tree!!!  Check out my review (Here's a hint...I LOVE IT!).  I know that Dollar Tree's are not always consistent in what they carry.  

 

Art Supply Review: Dollar Tree Metallic Markers

Here is another Crafter’s Square art supply review! 

I found these metallic markers, and really wanted to see how they worked.

When I made this video I had found white, silver, and gold.  Just today I found another...copper. 

Let me test these art supplies...so you don’t have to!

(Unless they are awesome!!)

Art Supply Review: Dollar Tree’s Crafter’s Square Watercolor Set

Testing another product....SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO!! 

Dollar Tree Hacks: Tempera Cakes Container

I love Dollar Tree!  So many great things that can be used in the art room.  I think my Cumberland University students think I'm secretly working for Dollar Tree because I'm a walking advertisement! You share what you love, right?!?! 

I purchased these muffin tins from Dollar Tree about 2 yrs ago.  They are the perfect size for the tempera cakes I have in my classroom.  I have one for primary & one for secondary colors.  They are compact in size.  Both trays will fit in the center of their table, and still leave plenty of room for students to work. The trays I saw online for the tempera cakes was much more expensive, and my school budget would not allow me to purchase those. 

REVIEW: Dollar Tree Marbling Kit

Dollar Tree is one of my favorite places to explore!

You just never know what you'll find!!!

A week or so ago I found a paper marbling kit.  

I was curious, but not so sure what to expect.

You fill a container with regular tap water, and then squeeze & swirl the color onto the surface  (note: you have to clip the ends...or risk causing the tube to blow!)  Don't stir/swirl too much or it will muddy the color.  Once it looks as you wish...lay a piece of paper on top of the water.  It doesn't need to rest there for long.  Place the paper on a flat surface to dry.  

It turned out surprisingly well!  It could be a fun art club project, at home with your kids, as a reward for a small group....but the shaving cream with paint is a better bang for your buck when working with a larger number of students (though a whole lot messier than this Dollar Tree kit).  

Dollar Tree Art Robot Drawing Thingie

After seeing many posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram from this year's NAEA Conference in New York City....I had to try my own Art Robot Drawing Thingie! I believe it was a part of a STEAM workshop at the conference. I saw on one of the posts that they obtained all their materials from Dollar Tree.  Well, you don't have to twist my arm to go to Dollar Tree...I LOVE THAT PLACE!!!  

So here is what you need to purchase:  POOL NOODLE, ELECTRIC TOOTH BRUSH(they even include the battery!!), RUBBER BANDS, AND MARKERS.  I decorated mine...not necessary, but sure does add to the fun factor!!  

I originally cut the pool noodle the same length as the electric tooth brush.  I found that it did not want to move/vibrate as freely....so I cut it so that the bristle  part of the tooth brush was exposed.  I'm not sure if it was a weight issue...or maybe I just didn't have the tooth brush placed inside the noodle exactly right.  There is a lot of trial and error when creating these.  I rubber banded three markers onto the noodle.  I first used thin markers, but switched to the regular conical tip Crayola marker.  I'm guessing almost anything would work as long as you have strong tips on them.  The markers are the trickiest part of the whole thing.  You have to make sure they are as level as possible...but sometimes when they aren't..they pevot...and it goes around and around in circles! ha ha  I may add a 4th marker later to see how it will respond?!  That's what is so fun about this..so many combinations..trials...errors...successes.  

ART ROBOT GETS A FACELIFT...AND THICKER MARKERS

WHY???

Good question!  I think that it has many applications.  Engineering, Science, Prediction, and Aesthetics.  I really see this being a great discussion with my students about WHAT IS ART?  CAN SOMETHING WITHOUT A HEART?BRAIN MAKE ART? WHY/WHY NOT??    

This might be a project at this summer's ART WITH MR. E WORKSHOP!!!!

You can access the on and off switch under the hair!

Mine kept going around and around and around....

but I have gotten to work like a RUMBA and bounce off of things and head back in a different direction.

Dollar Tree Love

I'm pretty sure I've talked about Dollar Tree in the past on here.  I truly think it was designed with teachers in mind!  We've been having MAJOR issues with the outsourced cleaning crew at our school.  I walk into a dirty classroom that has not been swept..trash has not been taken out...and forget about any other kind of cleaning that might occur.  TOTALLY AWESOME! is my favorite cleaner there.  That stuff is totally awesome!!  I've cleaned the hallway walls with it...taken writing off the bathroom walls...A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.  I've bought other clean products there as well that have truly been a blessing.  These are my latest purchases.  YEP...$1 A PIECE!!!!!   Are they the highest quality...nope, but they get the job done!!  That dust pan on a stick sure helps and old fat man like me!!  ha ha  I hope you all have Dollar Tree near you...it is a teacher's dream!!! (I'm not being paid or supported by Dollar Tree...just love 'em!!!)

Great Find at Dollar Tree

My family & I were at the Dollar Tree last night killin' some time before dinner.  We love the Dollar Tree...you just never know what treasure you'll find(If you don't have them where you are..it is a store where everything is $1).  Well...this is what we found last night.... Crayola board "ish" books!!!  They only had Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green, but ya get what ya get and you don't throw a fit.  They are about 18 in. long and 4 or 5 in tall.  They have 6 pages of amazing color photos & questions.  Kids are asked to find things you can eat, how many bows can you find, where is the match of the pair...etc.  I think these will be great for some of my special needs students!!  If you have a Dollar Tree near you...go pick them up!!!