Don’t get me wrong, I love EVERYTHING my perfect, amazing and talented children do. However, sometimes it’s nice to see something other than stick figures holding hands. My kids love to paint, and I love to let them. Using stencils with watercolors for kids can take a little bit of work to set up but once they’re in it, they’re really in it. It relaxes them, gives me a chance to get some housework done and with the help of the stencils I picked up at Aaron Brothers, the result is magic. Over the last few years I’ve dabbled in watercolors, and even taken a few beginner courses. These supplies are a collection of certain pieces recommended by my instructors and are listed below. They were originally purchased for my work, but like most things in my house the kids took over and now we “share” them. What I love most about them is that at the end of the project there is something that looks complete and recognizable but is still a Coco or Elle original. watercolors  brushes  paper  butchers tray stencils       I use masking or painters tape to hold down the stencil on watercolor paper. They get to pick their own colors which always puts a smile on their face. I sometimes limit it to three or four so as not to get overwhelmed and although they insist they can do it themselves, you’ll want to be nearby to assist. Mason jars are everywhere these days, these were part of a gift but you can usually find them at your local hardware store. They’re great for water and brushes. This is called a butcher’s tray and it’s basically an aluminum tray for you to create your palette. Newspaper is a great tool for easy cleanup. It is watercolor so I haven’t had any staining problems, but if your table is porous like ours it’s a good idea to add this extra layer of protection.The best part is the reveal, they love pulling the tape away to reveal “real butterflies”.                                                                                                  Photos by Ashley Forchelli