The Big Messy* Art Book: *But Easy to Clean Up

I bought this book because I was teaching a summer art camp for a week. It has become custom that on the Thursday of the week, I announce that it is Messy Day!! We have a lot of fun with the different projects I come up with.. but I was running out of new ideas!I am one of those people who won't buy recipe books or art books because you can usually find everything you need on the internet these days! But I thought this was a pretty good deal and the reviews were good, so I gave it a try! I am soooo glad I did!! This has a TON of hilarious and fun and messy ideas in it!I like how she divides lessons up by messiness factor. Some of these I could totally do during my school year art classes, because they aren't too messy. Others were totally messy and creative. A very good variety is in this book. You cannot find these ideas on the internet! Get this book and you will be able to use it for every fun art occasion!

With all the really positive reviews, I purchased this book to use with my kids. The book is separated into five chapters: Action Art, Basic but Bigger, All Kinds of Brushes, Mixtures and Moosh and Adventurous Ideas. Each chapter had a dozen and a half ideas, though most of them are basic ideas easily found on the internet. Many of them had materials you need to specifically purchase for the project (drywall mud, chicken wire, jewelry chain, flour sifter, plywood, rubber gloves, disposable roasting pans, etc.). Many require heavy parent involvement and the ones we tried took longer for me to set up than for my kids to enjoy.As the name implies, most of these projects require a large space, preferably outdoors. I would not do these in a house with carpets. My floors were easy to clean when my kids inevitably stepped off the paper with their feet covered in paint.We tried several projects that simply didn't work. Tying streamers to their ankles, wetting them and walking and making tracks was the first thing we tried. The kids got frustrated because wet streamers break very easily. We ended up just painting on the large paper. Tying beads to foot long strings attached to their fingers and painting like a marionette? Both kids had the strings in knots before we ever got to painting. It didn't work well. We ended up just painting on the large paper.Many of the projects are simply "paint a large picture with some wacky tool instead of a brush!" The only project my kids really enjoyed was wrapping each other in toilet paper, which was less an art project and more just something fun to do.

Awesome book for teachers and parent, great activities for a child's birthday party.

Of all of the books by this author that I am familiar with, I have never been disappointed. This book has some awesome ideas that I can't wait to use with my preschool class. Many would be great to do during the summertime outside. I am inspired and excited! Thanks MaryAnn!

All preschool/early childhood educators would benefit from all craft books by this author. Easy to read and follow. Gives ideas using a variety of simple things.

So fun to have in my pre school classroom. I use it a lot. Kids love the projects. Very easy to keep around and handy n would recommend to a friend.

I love this book! Great ideas to get the little one's to enjoy art. Good book for both parents and teachers!

but still okay to have a paper version of it. not the most original ideas. we'll see in the long run

The grand children loved it. Hours of fun.

excellent resource. practical and fun

Like it so much! Has a super easy step by step activities, but the proposal are not to make at home, they are not "easy to clean".You can get much inspiration from it!