If you like to turn any occasion into a party, then a mini party is a great way to pull off a party faster, with less effort and for less money. How about a mini art party? It works for boys and girls, and is a fun way to spend a summer afternoon.
The Party Teacher received product and compensation for this review, but all opinions are my own. I only introduce companies and products to you that I believe in.
My mini art party was inspired by this tablecloth that is designed to be colored on. I get asked fairly often to do product reviews, and I usually say no. I have to feel confident the item is something you’d really like in order to introduce it to you. But the other week, I was approached by The Coloring Table, and I quickly said yes. This product was new to me, and I definitely wanted to share it with you.
Megan Dove is a mom-preneur and inventor (so, I already like her) behind The Coloring Table. She created these fun fabric tablecloths with a durable laminate backing. You can color on them with fabric markers or washable crayons or markers and the fabric guarantees that markers will not bleed through onto your table. And, the fabric is completely machine-washable and wrinkle-free.
How to Plan the Mini Art Party
I figured my girls would be the best judge of the tablecloth, so I set up a mini art party for them in our backyard. (Tomorrow: tutorials for our watercolor decorations!) I chose the “frame fun” tablecloth because I knew it would let the girls be as creative as they liked. The tablecloth also comes with your choice of permanent or washable crayons or markers.
From my party stash and our craft cabinets I dug out:
- Tin buckets to hold the washable crayons and markers (You can order the crayons and/or markers along with your tablecloth.)
- Ribbon
- Ramekins
- Plates
- Napkins
- Paint brushes
- White cardstock
- Mini easels
- Red Marius stools from Ikea
The girls and I picked up a few more items:
- Cupcakes and soda
- 8″ x 10″ picture frames from the dollar store to serve as placemats (just remove the glass and backing)
- Watercolors
- Flowers
We painted cardstock with watercolors, let it dry, and then trimmed it for our “Art Party” banner, soda bottle wraps, cupcake flags, ramekin liners, and placecards.
About The Coloring Tablecloths
If you’ve hung around The Party Teacher for any amount of time, you know I have a Joan-Crawford-and-wire-hangers kind of thing about plastic tablecloths. So, these coloring tablecloths are right up my alley.
Even though Megan described them as fabric, I was still really expecting a vinyl-type product, but this fabric feels like soft canvas. I was really impressed and proud to put it on my table. The other thing I liked about this tablecloth is that it’s nice and heavy. It doesn’t scoot around when you color on it.
I seriously love Megan’s story. Read this post from her Kickstarter campaign about how she fought to be taken seriously as a “mom with an idea,” and how her husband had her back the whole way. He draws the designs and they are SUPER cute.
The tablecloth arrives folded, so I thought there would be fold lines, but there weren’t. I just smoothed the tablecloth in place and was done. Not having to iron? Big thumbs up.
I asked Baby A what she thought of the tablecloth after the party and she told me, “Since I like art so much it was fun to do. I really liked that it was such a big canvas. You have like 50 picture frames and I liked coloring them in because you got to be creative and use multiple different colors.”
Once I had my photos, I put down the camera and colored, too. This is definitely a “for all ages” product.
One thing I particularly like about the tablecloth is that it’s reusable. If you use the washable crayons or markers, you can pop the tablecloth in the washer and dryer, and have it to color all over again. We’ll be pulling this out for playdates and trips to Grandma’s.
One of the things I try to do for every party is to over plan the amount of activities I need. Having coloring as an option is always a good filler activity. Coloring also is great for what I call “arrival activities” — you know, when you’re waiting for all the guests to arrive, but you need to get the first guests busy doing something. A Coloring Table tablecloth and some washable crayons checks both of those boxes.
You can find The Coloring Table here, and keep up with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
The Party Teacher received product and compensation for this review, but all opinions are my own. I only introduce companies and products to you that I believe in.
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