Check out Sydney on Social Media!

• Website: LuckyLotusNeedlepoint.com
• Instagram: @luckylotusneedlepoint
• TikTok: @luckylotusneedlepoint

Tell us a bit about yourself! How did you get into the needlepoint business?

I’m Sydney, the creative force behind all things Lucky Lotus Needlepoint! I picked up my first needlepoint project in August of 2023 and then quickly thereafter started designing and stitching my own needlepoint canvases!

I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan, but now call the city of Raleigh, North Carolina home and graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Packaging and a minor in Graphic Design.

What inspires your artwork?

I draw inspiration for my artwork from my hobbies. When I’m not needlepointing, you can find me golfing, playing pickleball, or gardening. These hobbies keep me inspired and bring fresh ideas to my needlepoint designs!

Sydney’s favorite needlepoint kit and canvas on her website!

Lucky Lotus Needlepoint
Olives

Lucky Lotus Needlepoint
Aloha

Can you tell us about your decision to start a needlepoint business? What inspired you to start?

I have always loved art and explored many different forms during quarantine when I fell in love with fiber arts. Once I discovered needlepoint, I became addicted! I loved it so much and wanted to add more modern and colorful designs to the industry!

What advice would you share with someone considering starting their own needlepoint business?

The advice I would share is to be willing to seek and accept advice from others within the needlepoint industry! Needlepoint has a lot of small business owners within it since the canvases are hand-painted. Additionally, there is a learning curve to business operations and learning more about the industry’s ins and outs. I’d recommend listening to those out there with a lot of experience.

Do you have any tips for fellow artists looking to boost their social media presence?

Keep posting! Don’t think too much about the content, just be yourself and show your passion!

Can you share a memorable project you created as a beginner needlepoint artist?

This is a picture my future mother-in-law took of their front porch in Vermont. As a Christmas gift, I designed, hand-painted, needlepointed, and framed the work. It was one of my first projects and to this day one I am most proud of.

How did you discover Pro Tapes products like Pro Artist Tape?

I discovered Pro Artist Tape while searching for a way to bind my needlepoint canvas edges; I wanted to find a tape that would not come off but would also not leave a tacky residue on the canvas if removed. After months of research, this is the best tape I found! It is the perfect product for taping needlepoint edges!

How does Pro Artist Tape enhance your work as a needlepoint artist? What do you like most about it?

This was the only tape on the market that fit what I needed it for, and plus, it is very affordable! I have been so happy using Pro Tapes products for my art, and my customers have said the same!

The post Lucky Lotus Crafts Unique Needlepoint with Pro Tapes®! appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Check out Dr. Wharton on Social Media

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com
• Instagram: @nostalgicsequoyah

Tell us a bit about yourself! How did you get into teaching?

My journey into teaching began with my love for art and education. Inspired by the transformative power of visual media, I pursued my educational degrees to deepen my understanding and skills. My extensive travels and commitment to lifelong learning have enriched my teaching approach. I aim to inspire students to explore their creativity and develop their skills in digital filmmaking, broadcast journalism, and visual arts. This combination of experiences drives my passion for teaching and empowers me to foster critical thinking and creativity in my students.

Given your background in digital filmmaking, broadcast journalism, and visual arts, how do you integrate these disciplines into your classroom curriculum?

I integrate these disciplines by designing interdisciplinary projects and collaborating with colleagues who teach various subjects. This approach allows students to experience different aspects of media production while learning about a wide array of topics that interest them. For example, students might create a documentary film about a science project, which involves scriptwriting, filming, editing, and presenting their work through a broadcast segment. This method helps students understand the interconnectedness of these fields and develop a broad skill set.

What are some of the biggest challenges you face in teaching media communications and visual arts?

One of the biggest challenges is accommodating diverse learning styles and skill levels of students in a short period of time—there is so much information I would like to share! Balancing the need to teach foundational technical skills while also encouraging creative expression can be difficult. Additionally, securing sufficient resources and equipment to provide hands-on learning experiences is often a struggle. Keeping the curriculum relevant in a rapidly evolving digital landscape and ensuring students are prepared for the future of media and arts is another ongoing challenge.

What advice do you have for students interested in pursuing careers in filmmaking, broadcast journalism, or visual arts?

My advice is to remain persistent and passionate about your craft. Many people might discourage you from pursuing a career in the arts due to misconceptions about job opportunities or the competitive nature of these fields. It’s crucial to continually refine your skills and stay dedicated to your work. Building a strong network and seeking mentorship can also be incredibly beneficial, as they offer valuable insights and open up new opportunities in your artistic journey.

How does using quality tape products like Pro Gaff and Pro Artist Tape enhance your students’ work?

Quality tape products like Pro Gaff® and Pro® Artist Tape are essential in my students’ media projects. They provide reliable solutions for setting up scenes, securing equipment, fixing or creating props, and creating seamless backdrops. The durability of these tapes ensures my student’s work remains professional and intact. Additionally, in my visual arts classes, these tapes introduce students to a unique medium they might not have considered. Inspired by artists like Flekz and Max Zorn, my students create original works of art using tape, expanding their creative horizons.

Whats your favorite Pro Tapes product and why?

My favorite product is the Pro Artist Tape. Its clean removal makes it ideal for detailed work and quick adjustments for my students from year to year. It’s an essential medium in our classroom for everything from marking positions, labeling equipment, and my favorite part, creating artwork.

How did you discover Pro Tapes products?

I initially discovered Pro Tapes products while ordering art supplies through a local art supply store. Later, after posting my students’ tape artwork on LinkedIn, Steve, Graphics Arts Business Manager, noticed the impressive work and reached out to me. He asked if we were using Pro Tapes, and I was pleasantly surprised by his accurate guess. His expertise confirmed that we were indeed using Pro Tapes, reinforcing our choice of these high-quality products.

How do Pro Tapes products enhance your work as a Media Communications and Visual Arts Teacher? What do you like most about it?

Pro Tapes products enhance my student’s work by providing reliable products for various classroom projects. What I like most is their consistency and quality, which allows me to focus on teaching and creating.

The post Interview with Arts Teacher Dr. Sequoyah Wharton appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Do you have a website or any social media sites you’d like to share with our audience?

All of my work and content can be found on the following platforms.
Website: gardenplaceballoons.com

Tell us a bit about yourself! What inspired you to become a balloon artist, and how did you get started in this field?

My name is Jam Evangelista I am the owner and creative director Of Garden Place Balloons.

From a very young age, I’ve always gravitated towards more creative and artistic activities. In high school, I pursued an arts path and participated in school art showcases. When I went to college, I was just a few courses away from completing a fine arts minor. However, at that time, I understood that in a city like New York, pursuing a career in the arts might not lead to the lifestyle I desired (or so I thought). Coming from a lineage of crafters and DIY enthusiasts, I was regularly surrounded by colorful materials and prints used to create clothes, bed sheets, table centerpieces, souvenirs, and more. For a while, my mom created custom photo albums for family and friends.

I’ve always had a keen interest in full event styling, so when the event industry experienced a boom, I decided to launch a full event styling business for my 25th birthday. However, I realized that I didn’t enjoy the logistical aspects of full events but rather found joy in balloon decor. In January 2019, I launched “Garden Place Balloons,” a luxury balloon boutique, which has since grown into a large-scale balloon decor production company offering a wide range of services and products.

What inspired you to create such a unique event like the NYC Balloon Ball?

Several educational experiences inspired me to create the New York City Balloon Ball, but most importantly, I aimed to establish a place where people would respect organic balloon decor as an art form. It provided a space for organic balloon artists to showcase the potential of organic balloon decor, and I believe we succeeded in doing just that. I also really wanted to allow others to participate in being part of a large build from its inception with proper instruction.

What were some of the challenges with setting up the large-scale balloon installations seen at NYCBB? What skills and qualities did you find most valuable in yourself and your team?

With every balloon ball, I learned that a new subset of skills is required, but the most important skill is the ability to delegate. Being bothered with unnecessary questions, concerns, and inconveniences absorbs a lot of time and energy that needs to be poured into the actual event experience. In addition to that, assigning specific roles to each person and establishing a very clear chain of command are essential. Although it may sound cliche, the NYCBB has shown me you really are as strong as your weakest player.

What are some of the most memorable moments from your career so far?

I have been blessed with so many opportunities in such a short time in the industry! My top two have to be the following:

Education-wise: An invitation to Sempertex’s International Balloon Convention in Bogota, Colombia! ( and Mexico shortly after)

Decor-wise: Being able to decorate 50 Cent’s 45th Birthday Party.

How did you discover Pro Tapes® tape products and/or UGlu®?

During the pandemic, balloon bouquets were my number one seller, and there were many issues with standard adhesives. Once I used UGlu Strips, it was an instant game-changer. I was able to complete my bouquets in half the time—truly the best tool in my toolkit

How does UGlu enhance your work as a balloon artist? What do you like most about it?

I can honestly say UGlu has been my cheat code to add layers to my decor without having to spend time creating points of attachment. UGlu Strips are a key component of many of my kids’ parties, where we have to add additional details to the decor to help bring the theme to life. Some examples of these events are ice cream-themed parties, trolls, and safaris.

What advice would you give to aspiring balloon artists who are starting their creative journey?

I think my biggest piece of advice is not to forget that this is a business. Ultimately, we all get into this business because we are creatives. Unfortunately, that comes with the downside of wanting to follow our passion or emotions to create endlessly. However, it’s essential to understand that ultimately, we have to make money. Our creativity will only get us so far, and ensuring that you maintain a business mindset will help you create and sustain a business in the long run.

The post Immersive Balloon Experiences with Jam Evangelista appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Check Michael out on social media:

Website: ww.michaelwinklerart.com

How did you begin working as a contemporary artist?

I never had any plans to be an artist! I was a composer of electronic music.

One night in December of 1980, I was in my room at the Savoy Hotel in Seattle working on an experimental music score involving the alphabet. I discovered a surprising patterning hidden in the letter-sequencing of the words that seemed to reflect their meaning.

The next morning, I had a chance meeting with an art curator, which resulted in my being invited to present a solo exhibition of what I’d discovered.

The exhibition got great reviews and the work sold–I literally became an artist overnight. I’ve been creating art that explores the imagery, as well as the implications, of that discovery ever since. 

How did you discover Pro Tapes products?

I began using Pro® 795 in the mid 80’s to create paintings. Creating hard-edge paintings using the tape allowed me to show the overlay of the lines and the dimensionality of the forms.

Pearl Paint was the major art supply store in New York City for many years. Hence, the masking tape I bought there was labeled “Pearl Paint 795.” I didn’t know it was actually a Pro Tapes product until Pearl Paint closed years later!

When I bought masking tape at some other stores, I had all sorts of problems with their tape products that I’d never encountered. Eventually, I was looking at one of my leftover rolls of the Pearl Paint 795 and saw that the inside of the roll actually said “Pro Tapes.”

I went searching through all of the art supply stores in New York City for masking tape that had “Pro Tapes” inside the roll.

Finally, I found it at a store next to the School of Visual Arts. Even though it was labeled “Chelsea Tapes 795,” I recognized it as the same high-quality tape I had purchased at Pearl Paint because “Pro Tapes” was printed inside the larger width rolls. I started using it, and it solved all the problems I had been experiencing!

Wow, that’s dedication! Is Pro 795 still your go-to masking tape product? What do you like about it?

Pro Tapes 795 Masking Tape is the only tape I’ve ever found that has all the features necessary to create my hard edge paintings.

My paintings mostly consist of lines of various widths, sometimes as small as 1/8th inch. Conveniently, Pro 795 is available in 1/8″, 1/4″ , 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, 1 1/2″, 2″, and 3″ widths.

Pro 795 has the perfect amount of adhesion and stretch resistance. Its width is consistent and its edges are never ragged. It never soaks through– and I sometimes apply 4 coats of fluid acrylic paint over it!

With the right painting technique, it produces very clean edges. And when you pull it off, the paint on the back of the tape doesn’t flake off onto your freshly painted work as it does with many other masking tapes. 

Tell us about any fun projects you’ve completed recently. What inspired you?

The inspiration for my hard-edge painting technique originally came from looking at the 70’s and 80’s paintings of Al Held (a second generation abstract expressionist who passed away a few years ago).

Subsequently, my art is process-based and originates from a conceptual standpoint. I’ve been practicing it for 43 years. Working in the studio feels much like going to a job I genuinely enjoy.

However, there is one thrilling moment in the creation of each painting: It occurs after I’ve painted the background color, and the taped canvas seems to be uniformly colored.

I then peel off the tape and the image gradually emerges line by line from underneath the paint. This reveals the mysterious form that was initially concealed within the language sign patterns, now illuminated in vibrant contrasting colors. 

When my daughter was little, she always wanted to be around to watch the magic of the reveal!  

What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or long-term plans?

I’m in my 70’s now. So, I’m primarily focused on trying to ensure that my overall project remains accessible in the future. Examples of my project and documentation are already archived in major museums and universities. Unfortunately, some of my major works were mixed-media installations that don’t lend themselves to being exhibited again in the future.

I began producing paintings early in the project, but they were not my primary focus until recently. The switch in focus was originally motivated by discovering a method of using the signs of language to generate colors. Presently I believe my paintings are the most likely works to be exhibited again when I’m gone (if I can make some really good ones).

Do you have any advice for people that are interested in making art using tape?

To create hard-edge acrylic paintings, make sure the painting’s surface isn’t too rough. It doesn’t have to be extremely smooth–my paintings are normally on #12 canvas (medium smooth).

• I prepare my canvas with 3 coats of slightly thinned acrylic gesso. Let the area of paint you plan to tape over dry overnight first.
• When it’s dry, you can begin placing your tape.
• After you have positioned the tape, seal its edges with either a thin coat of the color under the tape, or a thin coat of matte medium if there are multiple colors under the tape. The paint for this sealing coat should not be watery–I use fluid acrylics with no water added. Brush the sealing coat into the edges of the tape and entirely over it.

• Allow the sealing coat to dry completely to the touch. But don’t let it dry for too long -definitely avoid letting it dry overnight- because the paint/medium will adhere the tape to the painting.
• Apply multiple coats when the previous one is just dry enough for painting over. Remove the tape as soon as the paint becomes tacky on the final coat.
• To avoid touching the tacky surface of the painting when removing your tape, use a pointed razor knife to lift the end of the tape if it’s covered in paint. Finally, pull the tape off at a 45 degree angle from the painting’s surface.
• If any inconsistencies in the canvas surface have created spots where the paint has leaked past the sealing coat on the edges, it’s actually quite easy to touch up. The pulled tape leaves a raised edge, which you can just drag a small brush against until it looks fixed.

These suggestions are all based on using Pro Tapes 795 masking tape – I hope they help!

The post Contemporary Artist Michael Winkler uses Pro Tapes for Hard Edges appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Let’s Get Shadow Box Framing with Nicole!

Hey folks! I’m a long time tape user, but a newbie to shadow box framing. However, thanks to Pro Tapes® the process was super easy!

The four Pro Tapes® products I used to create this shadow box frame were:

• Pro® Flocking
• Pro® 410 ATG (along with our Pro® ATG HD Dispenser gun)
• UGlu®
• Pro Gaff®

Step 1: Gather Your Items to Be Framed

Your first step is to gather all of your items and tools:

• Any items that you want to frame
• The shadow box itself (I bought a premade one)
• And most importantly, tape!

For this project, I used items from my wedding that I have been meaning to frame.

Step 2: Prepare your Layout

Don’t wing your layout – practice it first! I laid out how I wanted all of the pictures and items arranged in the shadow box to figure out what the best layout would be.

Try different combinations until you find the one you like best.

Step 3: Create a Velvety Background with Pro® Flocking Tape

This specific shadow box I used as my base came with a canvas background, which I wasn’t a fan of. I wanted to have a darker background. This is where our first product comes in!

Pro® Flocking tape has an amazing permanent acrylic adhesive that allows the product to stick to low surface energy materials. In this case, it adhered to the canvas backing like it was always made to be there.

The liner that is included with Pro® Flocking tape made it easy to apply it to the canvas background gradually. It gives you time to apply it carefully and rub out any creases that might come up.

If the velvet of Pro® Flocking gets dirty, dusty, or covered in pet hair (pet owners will understand), I have a simple PRO tip: Use a lint roller! A lint roller works wonders for fur and dust removal.

Step 4: Stick down photographs with Pro® 410

With our new background complete thanks to Pro® Flocking tape, it’s time to mount our pictures. For that, I used Pro® 410 ATG tape, which I applied using our ATG dispenser.

I used Pro® 410 to adhere the pictures for multiple reasons:

1. It is a thin tape, so you won’t get any lines or bumps coming through the front of the photo
2. The acrylic adhesive on the Pro® 410 is strong enough to bond to a variety of materials, such as the flocking fibers on the new background I made

I applied Pro® 410 to the back of the printed pictures along all 4 sides. This ensures the best bond and prevents pictures from peeling off once the shadow box frame is hung up.

Step 5: Stick Down Bigger Items with UGlu®

Next, I used UGlu® to hold down bigger and odd-shaped items to the flocked background. This double sided tape comes in a variety of convenient shapes and sizes. Thanks to the paper backing on each piece of UGlu®, you can also use scissors to cut it down to even smaller pieces as needed.

I used UGlu® to attach thicker cardstock invitations, as well as a homemade magic wand and homemade mini lightsaber. The wand and lightsaber are as thin as chopsticks in some areas, so being able to cut the UGlu® strips down to smaller pieces was really convenient here.

Even with some of the unevenness of the items, UGlu® adhered really well to them. That is the magic of UGlu®: your objects do not have to be perfectly flat! It works incredibly well with odd shapes and uneven surfaces to ensure a fantastic bond.

Step 6: Finish the Edges of your Shadow Box Frame with Pro Gaff®

Lastly, I used black Pro Gaff® tape in Black along the inside of the shadow box frame. Instead of leaving the sides grey like the original shadow box frame had, I wanted to match the new background I created and give the frame more visual depth.

Just so you know, you don’t have to use the same colors as me for your frame! Pro Gaff® comes in many different colors, which gives you tons of creative freedom. You can mix and match as you like to fit your color palette or to match the décor around your frame.

Final Result

Considering this was my first time ever custom framing with a shadow box, I had tons of fun doing it! I feel inspired to take on more custom framing projects in the future.

What made everything that much easier was working with Pro Tapes®’ high quality products! If you’re thinking of taking on your own shadow box framing project, I highly recommend them.

LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT TAPE? ASK THE PROS!

We offer many more tape solutions for picture framing. Reach out to us, and our experienced customer success team will be happy to help you find the tape that meets your needs. Contact us today at sales@protapes.com.

The post Shadow Box Framing with Pro Tapes® appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

As a custom picture framer, there are many things to consider to ensure your custom framing work meets archival standards. The goal is not only to make the client’s art or memorabilia look good; it must also be preserved and protected.

Archival custom picture framing is achieved by using inherently acid-free materials. You must also consider sealing the frame to prevent any dirt or dust from entering.

• What type of glass should you use? Silicate or acrylic? You want to use a glassing with UV filtering.
• What type of frame? Metal or wood?
• Should you use decorative, conservation or museum grade mat board?
• What type of hardware and hanging systems should you employ?

On top of discussing these options with your client, you must also educate them on how to properly store their framed work. Remind clients to:

• Store their framed piece away from intake or outtake vents
• Be aware of swings in temperature and humidity where the framed piece will be displayed
• Keep the framed piece away from direct sunlight

Pro Tapes® can help you with the critical art of archival picture framing. Below, we’ll take a look at three tapes that can help you create archival framing.

For Permanent Picture Framing Solutions

Pro® 410 ATG is the ideal pH Neutral adhesive transfer tape to use for permanent bonding. It can be applied by hand or via dispenser gun.

Pro® 410 ATG has a double coated tissue carrier with an acrylic adhesive. The solvent based acrylic adhesive won’t yellow over time. It has excellent resistance to ultraviolet light.

At 89 oz per inch, it is super strong and ideal for object or memorabilia framing. It is also great for mounting artwork, attaching dust covers and adhering mats.

It’s a highly versatile product and can adhere to a wide variety of substrates such as cloth, paper, vinyl, rigid and flexible plastics and more.

For Fillets, Slips and More for Picture Framing

Pro® Fillet Tape is the go-to adhesive tape to adhere to the backside of fillet or slip.

The premium grade polyester carrier and acrylic adhesive are highly resistant to ultra violet light.  The solvent based acrylic adhesive is pH Neutral. 

Pro® Fillet Tape’s high tack was designed to adhere to metal as well as wood. It’s a fantastic product for creating decorative linings and increasing the depth between the artwork and the glass.

For Hinging the Work to be Framed

Hinging is the process of mounting artwork by suspending it with tabs of tape. Professional picture framers love to use our Pro® Artist Tape for hinging, and here’s why:

Pro® Artist Tape is engineered with SRA technology (Synthetic Rubber Adhesive). This single sided tape is repositionable and removes cleanly. The White color in particular is pH Neutral and won’t yellow over time. It also will not stain or ghost after removal.

Looking for the right tape to suit your needs? Ask the Pros!

We offer many more tape solutions for professional picture framing. Reach out to us, and our experienced customer success team will be happy to help you find the tape that meets your needs. Contact us today at sales@protapes.com.

The post Archival Picture Framing: The Top 3 Tapes You Need appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Pro® Costume Tape: For Skin and Fabric

Pro® Costume Tape (also known as Pro 1502 or Pro Body Tape) is a skin-friendly, double-sided tape that’s also great for fabric. It comes in a portable roll, with a paper liner that’s easy to tear by hand.

You can wear Pro Costume Tape on your skin for hours without irritation. It removes gently, without tearing skin, pulling facial or body hairs, or disturbing makeup.

Makeup artists can really benefit from Pro Costume tape, too. It allows you to easily add embellishments (like gems, flowers, etc.) to your makeup design. With this tape, you can reposition or reuse any embellishments as needed. Just watch this demo by face painting artist Brook (owner of Kiwis Party):

Pro Costume Tape also has a strong hold on medium to lightweight fabric for fabric-to-fabric attachments, making it easy to “sew” your own costume with NO sewing skills. The tape removes gently, without distorting fabric color or damaging fabric threads or texture. It’s cleaner than using hot glue guns, and any changes you make are reversible.

We also recommend Pro Costume Tape for wearing face masks without strings or ear loops! It’s perfect for fabric-to-skin applications.

Pro Costume Tape is also great for:

• attaching wigs, hair pieces, toupees, faux mustaches and beards
• special makeup FX and embellishments like gems, florals, and prosthetics
• attaching masks and eye pieces easily to skin, without strings
• altering costumes, including dance and gymnastics costumes, cosplay, and more

UGlu®: Your Secret Weapon for Amazing Costumes

Let’s not forget about UGlu®! Although UGlu is great for creating amazing balloon and party décor, it’s also a powerful tool for creating and customizing costumes, accessories, props for cosplay and stage sets, and more!

UGlu is a removable adhesive glue in a convenient tape-like format. It’s non-toxic, acid-free, weather-proof, and waterproof. UGlu comes in a variety of shapes, like squares (“dashes”), rectangular strips, and rolls.

UGlu attaches easily to a wide variety of surfaces, including rough or uneven surfaces. Like Pro Costume Tape, it removes easily and cleanly – so you can easily assemble, disassemble, and re-use any parts you’ve “uglu’d” together!

It’s great for DIY costumes for kids and adults (especially last-minute ideas), but it works just as well for professional-grade costume and prop work for cosplay, historical re-enactment, renaissance faires, film, theater and more. UGlu is a costume tape that is safe enough for kids to use, but powerful enough for professionals!

See these two costume tapes in action:

You may also be interested in…

Pro Gaff® in Fluorescent Colors

Our popular Pro Gaff® tape comes in five fluorescent colors that are UV-light reactive (that means they GLOW under UV!)

Pro Gaff is highly conformable to irregular surfaces, removes cleanly, tears easily by hand (no need for scissors), and is write-able with markers and pens.

Use it for decorations, assemble or add details to costumes, and to make your own props.

Pro Glow Gaff®

Pro Glow Gaff® has all the same properties as Pro Gaff, but it also glows in the dark without UV lights! You can create unique glowing looks for scenes, props, and costumes. Pro Glow Gaff is also great for safety marking stairs, exits, and more.

The post Costume Tapes: For Skin, Fabric, Props, Makeup SFX & More! appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

What are Motor Skills? Why are they important for children?

Gross motor skills are those which require whole body movement, using the bigger muscles of the body to perform everyday functions, such as standing and walking, running and jumping, and even sitting upright. They also include hand-eye coordination skills (like throwing, catching, kicking), as well as riding a bike or a scooter.

Fine motor skills involve the engagement of small muscles in very deliberate (“fine”) movements, usually involving hands and fingers in coordination with the eyes. Developing fine motor skills requires a lot of practice. Without fine motor skills, a young child will struggle with movements that come naturally to an older person, like using a pencil, using scissors, tying their shoes, and many other important daily activities.

How can Pro Tapes® products help develop children’s motor skills?

Believe it or not, our tape products make excellent tools in developing these essential life skills for children (and making it a little easier for parents!)

You can help your children develop their fine motor skills with actions like tearing tape, cutting tape with a safety scissors, sticking down and peeling tape up, and peeling off the paper liner on double-sided products (like UGlu®)

There are also many tape-based activities that engage children’s gross motor skills in a fun (and organized) way! Check out our Pinterest board HERE for ideas!

Plus, using tape means you can keep your house neater at the end of the day. Skip the messy cleanup after using paints and glues! Our tapes stick to almost any surface, and they remove from most surfaces just as easily, without leaving behind sticky residues. You can put tape down on your floors, walls, tables, desks, chairs – almost anywhere- without worrying about permanent damage to those surfaces.

These are some of our tapes that we recommend for motor skills activities:

Many of our tape products are easy for little fingers to unwind. Pro® 46, Pro® Artist, and Pro® Pocket Spike Stacks use a soft backing (that is, the non-sticky part of the tape) so they’re easy to tear by hand.

These tapes also come in a fantastic range of colors, so you can have your child pick their favorite color!

Learn more about our tapes here:

• Pro® 46: crepe paper masking tape; comes in 12 colors
• Pro® Artist Tape: comes in 11 colors, including 4 bright fluorescents that kids love!
• Pro® Pocket Spike Stacks: come in a pack of 5 bright fluorescent colors- plus, these rolls are small, perfect for little hands!

The post Develop Your Child’s Motor Skills with Tape – Here’s How! appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

The goal of STEM education should be to encourage a generation of innovators. STEM is becoming the backbone of K-12 education. Building a STEM –related foundation will prepare students for 21^st century jobs. STEM education encourages students to become more analytical, encourages team work and emphasizes application of theory into practice.

Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) include but are not limited to the following disciplines:

• Robotics
• Nanotechnology
• Physics
• Astrophysics
• Nuclear physics
• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Aerospace
• Chemical engineering
• Agriculture
• Statistics
• Info-sciences

Get inspired by creating this simple circuit using Pro® 882L Copper Tape!

Schools should not carry the sole burden of STEM education. Parents must also encourage their children to pursue STEM activities and increase awareness and interest at home and in extracurricular activities.

As parents we can help our children develop a better understanding for advanced engineering concepts with fun and easy projects.

Here is an easy experiment you can try out with your children, using Pro® 882L Copper Foil Tape!

Check out the video above, or see the photo guide below. There’s more than one way to make a path that makes this circuit work… have fun experimenting!

Step 1: Gather Your Materials Together

First, you need to bring all of your tools together before we can get started:

• Pro® 882L Copper Foil Tape (we used 3/4th inch, but different sizes are available!)
• A coin battery
• Individual LED lights (color choice is up to you!)
• A paper surface to work on, like card stock, printer paper, a sketchbook, etc

Step 2: Create a Switch for your Simple Circuit

Make a switch for your simple circuit! First, tape down your coin battery on top of some folded-over Pro® 882L Copper Tape. You want to make sure the coin is firmly touching the copper tape.

Then, fold over a corner of your sheet of paper so that it touches the battery when folded. Once you’ve got this ready, tape down a different strip of Pro® 882L Copper Tape on your corner so that, when folded, it touches the battery. This will be the “switch” for your LED light!

You should now have two “paths” of copper tape started. One coming from your coin battery and the other from your switch.

Step 3: Create your Circuit Path

Now you can get a little creative while creating your circuit!

The goal is to have the two paths of Pro® 882L Copper Tape end up next to each other, with a little bit of space for the LED light in between them.

The first time you try this simple circuit experiment, try making just a straight path, like two parallel lines forming an “11”.

Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can start folding your Pro® 882L Copper Tape (like you can see in the photo below) to create corners and all kinds of paths!

Step 4: Install your LED light

For the fourth step, you can go ahead and install your LED light – once you’re happy with your path!

Bend the little metal legs into whatever shape you need to fit under your Pro® 882L Copper Tape paths. Make sure the metal legs are taped securely!

Step 5: Flip the “switch” and try out your circuit!

If each of your components is securely attached to the copper tape, then when you fold your “switch” onto the battery, you should have LIGHT!

Possible Step 6: No glow? Troubleshoot the problem

Not every experiment will work out the first time! All scientists (big and small) should learn that failure doesn’t mean stop – it means, try something new!

If your circuit did not make your LED light up the first time, keep playing around with the Pro® 882L Copper Tape. Try making an easier circuit path. Double-check that the copper tape is touching itself securely at all bends and corners. Make sure your switch connects properly.

Keep experimenting, and you’ll be sure to find success!

The post STEM Crafts: Simple LED Circuit Project using Pro® 882L Copper Tape appeared first on Pro Tapes®.

Art Class

Of course, art class is the perfect time to get creative. Tape can help you make so many different arts & crafts projects!

Here are just some ideas:

• Use masking tape to make a colorful “mosaic” with chalk or paint, like we did here (link)
• Grab some canvases and paint, and use tape to mask out lines and shapes that you want to keep blank. Paint all over your canvas, peel back the tape, and voilà!
• Help your kids “redecorate” their furniture using tape! You can temporarily add bold new colors, patterns, and pictures without permanently damaging the furniture underneath

For more ideas, just check out the Crafter’s Corner section of our blog! We’ve got tons of craft ideas!

Math Class

That’s right… tape can even make math class fun!

Try these math activities:

• Learn how to measure angles by taping overlapping lines on a table, creating all kinds of triangles and other geometric shapes.
• Tape down a giant coordinate graph on the floor, and mark off each row and column with letters and numbers. Put objects down on random points, and have your children map the coordinates
• Grab your spare change and tape down a four-square box on your table or floor, and have your kids sort the different types of coins into each box

You can find many more ideas for making math class fun with tape on our Pinterest board here!

Language Arts Class

You can use tape as a tool to help kids practice writing and reading, too!

• Write different words from a sentence on a piece of tape (one word per piece of tape), scramble the sentence order, and have your child reorganize it into the correct sentence order
• You can have kids labels the words they see in the world (magazines, on toys, boxes) by noun, verb and adjective using small pieces of tape

Gym Class

DIY your own indoor gym quickly and easily with tape! Physical activity is especially important for kids stuck indoors.

Try these ideas:

• Combine math and exercise with a “frog jumping” activity! Mark a starting point off with tape, have your kids leap as far as they can, then mark where they land with tape. Using measuring tape to have kids measure how far they leaped
• Create an obstacle course with tape on your floors and walls! Make lines for children to “balance” walk on, lines to jump over, and even make tape barriers by taping from one wall the another for kids to duck or jump under

Music Class

Help your kids make their own band by DIYing their own instruments. Use colorful tape to make their instruments look really unique!

• Create a drum using some empty cans and taping across the top. Use chopsticks as drumsticks!
• Make a pan flute by taping a bunch of cut-down straws together
• If you’ve got a piano at home, use tape to label the keys so children can memorize notes
• DIY your own maracas by filling toilet paper tubes with rice or beans, then taping them shut!

For more great ideas, check out our Educational Tape Activities board on Pinterest!

What Tape Should I Use in my Homeschool Classroom?

This is a great question. Not all tapes are created equal! You want to use a tape that sticks down easily on a variety of surfaces, including hardwood floors and carpets.

The tape should also be gentle on surfaces and removes cleanly without damaging walls, furniture, etc. And you want these tapes to come in a wide range of colors that are fun and exciting for children.

These are the tapes we recommend you use in your homeschool classroom:

• Pro® 46 Colored Masking Tape: available in 12 colors, and it’s great for all of the projects we mentioned in this blog!
• Pro® Gaff Tape: available in 20 colors, and also a great choice for any project
• Pro® Scenic 714 Blue Masking Tape: for indoor and outdoor painting projects
• Pro® Pocket Spike Stacks: these small, fluorescent rolls are perfect for all kinds of quick labeling

What are some ways YOU use tape in your homeschool classroom?

Show us on social media and tag us @protapes so we can share your great ideas with the community!

The post How Do You Make Homeschool Classes Fun? With Tape! appeared first on Pro Tapes®.