By Leonor Alvim Brazao, Abrakadoodle Artist in Residence.

I have such fond memories of time spent with my mom during my childhood, because we incorporated art into our lives. We used to spend hours on the beach collecting shells. At home, we transformed our sunny days collections into collages. For her it was the beginning of her textile collages. For me, it marked the beginning of my artistic path – simple, fun and connected to nature.

Encourage your kids to spend more time outdoors, which is also a great place to get inspiration for art activities at home. You and your children will enjoy collecting leaves, pine cones, river rocks, shells, feathers and other interesting items from nature. After you bring home your nature souvenirs, consider arty and creative ways to use them. For instance, you can make leaf prints by dipping your leaves into different paint colors and pressing them onto paper. You will help your kids connect with nature while creating unforgettable memories.

Leonor Brazao is Abrakadoodle’s Artist in Residence. She uses her artistic talents to promote the Abrakadoodle brand, support franchise owners and inspire students. She holds a bachelor’s degree in visual communications from Universidad Presbiteriana Mackenzie in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Prior to her role at Abrakadoodle, Leonor worked in several advertising agencies managing creative campaigns. She won national recognition for a cultural project sponsored by the Portuguese Embassy in the U.S. Her artwork includes drawing, acrylics, tiles murals, paper, collage and mixed media and has been featured in galleries, exhibitions and public displays since 1980.