One way to embrace your inner artist is to host a coloring party for friends who would love a few hours set aside to do nothing but draw, paint, and color -- and maybe eat, drink, and chat up a storm with good mates, too.
Encourage Artistry
The first step is to make your home a haven for creativity. Clear a large table or supply your guests with handy TV trays so they can have their own mini studio. Set out a dizzying array of colorful implements for them to use. Boxes of crayons, pencil crayons, pastels, markers, colored pens, and even a set or two of water colors should do the trick nicely.
For those more inclined to monotones, provide charcoal, chalk, and drawing pencils. Set out pencil sharpeners and crayon sharpeners, and don't forget erasers and whiteout so mistakes can easily be rectified.
Offer your guests a selection of ways for them to get creative. Provide blank notepads for those who like to make their own creations, coloring books for those speedy artists who can fly through their art projects, and a stack of adult coloring pages so people can choose the designs they like best. Free adult coloring pages are readily available online and can be quickly printed off at home in case you run out.
Choose background music that enhances the mood but isn't dominating. Coloring often provides the pleasant sort of distraction that makes conversation easy and comfortable.
Feed the Body and the Soul
Provide snack foods that won't get those artist hands dirty. Avoid chips and popcorn and choose non-greasy options such as baked pretzels or savory crackers.
Toasted pepitas spiced with cumin and sea salt can be set out in individual cupcake papers or in small bowls with spoons so guests can scoop them into their mouths without their hands getting greasy. Roasted nuts would work well, too.
For dessert, try sugar cookies dusted with bright rainbow sprinkles that mimic the vivid colors in the crayon boxes.
Toasted Pepitas with Cumin and Sea Salt
Ingredients:
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups raw pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon finely ground sea salt
Preparation:
Heat saucepan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and tip to coat pan.Add pepitas and stir to coat. Leave to toast, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
When seeds are nicely toasted, remove from heat and pour into heat-proof bowl. Add cumin and sea salt and toss to coat evenly.
Let cool and serve.
Photo Credits: author, author, Pink Sherbet Photography, and author.
