Free Activities from the ILLUSTORIA Archives

With kids and parents sheltered at home during these extremely difficult times, I’ve been reflecting on what Illustoria has to offer and how we can contribute to families in a small way. Since we launched the magazine in 2016, a guiding ethos has been to inspire creativity across generations; to get grownups and kids to slow down together to read, write, make, draw, play, and get into the mood for creative experiences together off screen. Now as we find ourselves in our homes, finding brilliant new ways to stay connected virtually, it seems technology has never been more appreciated and needed. And yet—the tactile act of making, baking, crafting; the joy of snuggling together with a book (or kids’ mag); the pleasure of dancing to music and the beat of our own drums…many, who are fortunate to, are finding more time and space for these simple, timeless activities.

Whether you are needing a break from the kids (these pages can keep them occupied for hours!) or looking for more inspiration for activities to engage in together, I hope families will find some fun distraction and joyful art-making here. This 42-page collection represents some of our favorite activities from Issues 1–5—all out-of-print issues that we’re so thrilled to revisit and bring back to life in this way—and represent contributions by amazingly talented writers, artists, and staff through the years.

Feel free to print out a copy of this activity collection, staple it together, and have your kids customize the cover with their own colorful drawings. If you don’t have a printer, many of the activities can still be referenced and enjoyed off your device. For those with a home printer, please consider printing an extra copy or two for a neighbor or kids you know who might enjoy these activities.

Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart, for your support through the years and for being a part of our community.

******DOWNLOAD BELOW*******

PRINTABLE EDITION (single pages; PLEASE PRINT DOUBLE-SIDED + STAPLE TOGETHER)

DIGITAL EDITION (double pages; BEST FOR VIEWING ON SCREEN—not for print)

A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.

A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.

A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.

A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.

A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.

A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.

A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.

A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.

A spread from “DRAW, WRITE, PLAY, MAKE,” a free collection of activities from issues 1–5 of Illustoria.

Heath Make Good Market 2019

Come join ILLUSTORIA at Heath SF’s annual Make Good Market—an extraordinary event with over 30 talented vendors—artisan-makers and designers who will be on hand to share their craft, process, and goods with you. We are happy to be back at Heath, selling magazines (including discounted back issue bundles!) and hosting a DIY collage art activity that easily doubles as wrapping paper for your favorite gifts.

Find out more about Heath’s Make Good Market here.

It will be an amazing time to learn about the process and inspiration behind some of the makers whose work we most admire. Come celebrate creativity, select timeless, quality gifts of all price ranges, and make art with us. Then head to Tartine for a delicious bite to eat and to Playmountain East and Aesthetic Union for more goodness!

We hope to see you there!

Illustoria at Heath SF's Make Good Market

Need some holiday cheer, thoughtful gifts, and custom wrapping? Look no further! Join us at Heath SF’s second annual Make Good Market! 

Illustoria will be hosting a *FREE* design-your-own gift wrap station with stamps, art supplies, and paper just waiting for your unique creative output. Shop locally made goods for yourself or holiday gifting, then come by our table to DIY giftwrap. We’ll also be selling the coolest creative mag for kids, of course!

The Make Good Market is a celebration of people, place, process, and product. Check out over 30 different designers and makers demonstrating their craft and offering up their gorgeous goods. Spend the day learning about vase throwing, wreath making, and more. Some of Illustoria’s fave local vendors include Dandelion Chocolate, Jacob May, Silvia Song, and Aesthetic Union.

See the full list of vendors here.  And check out this interview with Cathy Bailey on the meaning behind the Make Good Market. 

WHEN:

Saturday, December 8, 10–5pm

&

Sunday, December 9, 10–3pm

WHERE:

San Francisco Factory & Showroom

2900 18th Street, CA 94110

Thanks to Heath for hosting us and to our sponsor Sakura of America for supplying us with plenty of art supplies so we all can design and doodle our hearts out!

DIT (Do-It-Together) Collaborative Paint Chip Banner

Looking for a fun and simple art project to do with your kiddos or friends? Look no further! With just a few simple materials you can make upcycled paint chip banners (or individual bookmarks) and fill an afternoon with art-making, collaboration, and silly antics around the table. Here at Illustoria we believe in inspiring creativity every day with the simplest of materials and the best of friends and loved ones. Enjoy!

MATERIALS

Paint chip cards
Collage paper (old magazines, tissue paper, construction paper, etc.)
Pens or Crayons
Scissors
Glue

STEPS

For 3 or more people

1. Each person is given a paint chip, box of collages papers, pen, scissors, glue.

2. Set time for 2 minutes! Personalize the paint chip as much as you can, snip it/ glue stuff on it, doodle! 

3. When the timer goes off, pass it left for your partner to continue for another 2 mins.

4. Keep going ‘round and add paint chips when you feel like one is complete. 

5. Hole punch your paint chips at the top and use twine to string through.

Ta da! A collaborative paint chip banner made by you and your friends :-)

Issue 7 Release + Pop-Up at Morningtide / Solano Stroll

Come celebrate the release of #7: The Black & White Issue with some black-and-white activities and crafts! We will provide all supplies to make zines, cards, and drawings using white ink on black paper. Also make your own adorable b&w pom-pom bookmarks! 

Our issue #7 sponsor Sakura of America will be giving away these FREE sets of Gelly Roll and Pigma Micron pens + pouch and stickers with every Illustoria Magazine purchase. All this at the lovely neighborhood shop, Morningtide, during the family-friendly, annual Solano Stroll. We look forward to seeing you there!

Free pens + pouch set by Sakura of America with every Illustoria magazine purchase on 9/9 at Morningtide!

Come doodle and craft with us and make some great art to take home. 

WHAT: ILLUSTORIA POP-UP + ISSUE 7 RELEASE!

WHERE: Morningtide
               847 Cornell Ave
               Albany, CA

WHEN: Sunday, September 9th, 2018
             11am-3pm

Art by Basak Agaoglu from "Not So Black-and-White Party," from Issue 7: Black & White.

We hope to see you there!

xoxo ~ ILLUSTORIA

Heath Newsstand Launch Party

Photo courtesy Heath Newsstand

Get out your party hats and come celebrate with us on June 3rd, 2017 for the launch of Heath Newsstand, a new gorgeously curated space of printed publications at Heath Ceramics!  From 10 AM–1 PM, we'll be hosting a craft table where kiddos & grownups alike can color, write, and make their very own books and zines. While you create, there will be delicious pastries provided by Tartine Manufactory and free juice samples from the Juice Shop truck. But wait there's more—we'll be giving away adorable limited-edition pins, stickers, temporary tattoos and postcards. What could be more delightful?

In addition to crafts, we'll be showing off our newly released Issue 4: The Grow Issue along with our past issues 1–3. 

After you've crafted to your heart's content, stick around to meet contributors from other local publications:

2–4 PM: Meet the team behind the National Magazine Award-winning publication The California Sunday Magazine. Full of ambitious true features and cinematic photography from across California, the West, Asia, and Latin America. Chat with Leo Jung, Creative Director, and Jacqueline Bates, Photography Director. And, don’t miss the free samples from San Francisco-based Original Grahams, graham crackers with quite the underground following in the city.

5–7 PM: Franchise will be presenting their newest issue and limited-edition print giveaways. It’s a global basketball print-only magazine full of vibrant photography, illustrations, interviews with designers and players, and covers locations from LA to Ghana. We’ll have beer from our friends at Fort Point Brewery along with bread and cheese from Tartine.

Photo courtesy Heath Newsstand

Heath Newsstand is a democratic space for the local community and visitors alike, with a wide range of topics to explore: international design publications, hard-to-find printed matter from far-off cultures, food and lifestyle magazines, and your favorite daily newspapers. There’s also a sweet selection of classic candy, snacks, cold drinks, cards from our favorite printers, and flowers from La Fleuriste. Plus, bags and accessories from Heath Sews, perfect for work and travel. 

For more information about the event, check out: http://mailchi.mp/heathceramics/youre-invited-heath-newsstand-grand-opening?e=94d3664172
 

Photo courtesy Heath Newsstand

What: Heath Newsstand Launch Party -- ILLUSTORIA DIY bookmaking & crafts

When: June 3rd, 2017

Time: We'll be there 10–1 PM, but the festivities continue until 7 PM!

Where: Heath Ceramics, 2900 18th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110

RSVP here.

Photo courtesy Heath Newsstand

See you there! 

Oakland Book Festival 2017

Don't miss the Oakland Book Festival this Sunday, May 21st, 2017, from 11am–6pm! ILLUSTORIA will be there with plenty of magazines--including the just-out issue 4: The Grow Issue -- and lotsa swag including temp tattoos, stickers, coloring pages, and pins. We'll be at booth 22 in the kids' activity area, where you and your creative little ones can color, craft, make zines and create your own custom bookmarks with us. Meet Joanne and Mark, the publisher and co-founders of Illustoria and craft and chat kids' lit with our team. We would love to meet you!

Check out the impressive list of authors at this not-to-be-missed annual event for literary lovers in the heart of downtown Oakland:

There are events and talks galore so check out all the happenings here. 

What: Oakland Book Festival

When: Sunday, May 21st, 2017

Time: 11am–6pm

Where: Oakland City Hall, Downtown Oakland

See you there!  

Indie Bookstore Day w/ ILLUSTORIA + DIESEL Oakland

Mark your calendars! April 29th is Independent Bookstore Day (2017) and you'll find Illustoria at one of our absolute fave local bookshops, Diesel in Oakland! The day will be full of events and activities catered to your literary (and little one's) heart's delight. Grownups with creative kids, come drop in from 1-2 pm for a craft session with Illustoria. We'll make easy-peasy and totally original bound books and zines with kids, and there will be stamps and coloring for all. Take home bookmarks, pins, and other cool swag. We'll even have a temp tattoo station!

WHEN:   Saturday, April 29th, 2017 / 1-2pm

WHAT:    Indie Bookstores Day
                Kids' Craft Time w/ ILLUSTORIA

WHERE:  Diesel, A Bookstore
                5433 College Ave
                Oakland, CA 94618

Also check out these happenings at Diesel Oakland throughout the day:

10am - noon: Big Kid / Little Kid Juice Stand. Mimosas for the adults, and OJ for the kiddies. Books for everybody.

1-2pm: Kids' Craft Time with Illustoria. 

4-5pm: Literary Happy Hour. Our featured item this year is the IBD limited-edition, A Literary Cocktail Party. Pouring their signature cocktails from the book will be, Edan Lepucki -- Tequila Negroni; Novella Carpenter -- Beet Kvass Shots; and Jacqueline Luckett -- Dirty Martini. Cheers!

We couldn't agree more with this testimony to the relevance of indie bookstores today, from the staff at Diesel:

"Bookstores are unique places in the chaos and hubbub of our modern times. They are places where you can come to disconnect, relax, and enjoy a moment of silence, yet simultaneously they are also places where you can feel more engaged with and informed about the world around you. Bookstores embody dichotomy: antiquated yet ever-more-relevant, sanctuaries of knowledge but purveyors of distraction, nerdy yet sophisticated, esoteric and yet always welcoming. Cities across the nation have seen the resurgence of these oh-so-vital centers of conscience and community, and we want to celebrate with you! So come out and enjoy a day of browsing, reading, and reveling in all things book-related."

Come surround yourself with great books and let's celebrate ideas, crafts, and curiosity together. Here's to our thriving literary community. Yay, Oakland! Yay, Indie Bookstores Day! 

Sakura's Pen Touch Marker Review

If you’re like me, the kind of person that makes a beeline for the pen section at an art store, and then lingers farrrr too long before making a purchase, than you too will understand that there is truly nothing more satisfying than a thick, inky marker. Finding a marker that is super opaque, saturated with color, lasts a long time, AND is shiny is a rare, rare thing. Pretty much the holy grail of markers. Well, you can call me King Arthur because the quest is over. Ladies and gentleman, I give you Sakura’s Pen Touch paint markers.

View fullsize

Tee-dah! Wow, so beautiful right? While these markers will not provide eternal youth or instant nirvana; abundant happiness it can offer - I’ll promise you that much. These markers are extremely versatile. They can draw on pretty much any surface (glass, wood, porcelain, plastic, paper and metal) and will dry instantly. But it’s not regular ol’ ink coming out of the tip--- it’s super rich, opaque paint!

View fullsize

They come in a range of sizes from 0.7mm (thin) to 2.0mm (super thick) which is great for creating and experimenting with variety of line widths. Packs come in metallic (gold, silver, and copper) and assorted colors (purple, blue, yellow, red, green, white and black).

View fullsize

The ink flows from the chamber of the pen to the tip, so to get started give ‘em a couple shakes with the cap still on, then uncap. Depress the tip in an upright position to release any internal pressure. Press firmly on a piece of paper until the ink is released. (Be sure not to over-pump.) Occasionally, the tip will run out of ink, but fear not! Just continue to shake the marker and more paint will flow.

I’ve been using these guys on everything from protest posters to paper mache! Gatta say, they make nearly every project 100% cooler, and they’re waaayyyy faster to use than actual paint. You can achieve finer, smoother detail too. Just remember, these paint markers are permanent and will stain! So, best to use on non-precious objects, aka NOT the walls, hands, grandma’s hundred year old porcelain, etc.

View fullsize

We're so excited to have Sakura sponsor Issue #4 of Illustoria, which will be on shelves this spring. Meanwhile, you can grab your Pen Touch paint markers and start drawing! 

**** NOW thru 3/31/17: Enter promo code SAKURA at checkout for a 10% discount off ILLUSTORIA subscriptions and gift subscriptions! ****


 

Hervé Tullet & ILLUSTORIA at Bank Street Book Store

View fullsize

Hervé Tullet is known for his interactive picture books that engage readers in an experience that is always new and spontaneous. photo ©  Andrey Klemeshov

Illustoria is thrilled to be pairing up with Hervé Tullet to celebrate the release of issue 2 at Bank Street Book Store in New York City! Hervé is the internationally bestselling author behind Press Here, Mix It Up!, Let's Play!, Art Workshops for Children, and many more titles equally loved by grownups and kids.  

View fullsize

Hervé Tullet painting at one of his many art workshops for kids around the globe.

View fullsize

I'll be on hand sharing some of my favorite pieces from Issue 2: The Canvas Issue. (Cover to be revealed shortly so stay tuned!) photo © Melissa Kaseman

Hervé will talk about his unique approach to storytelling, staying innovative, and what we can all learn from making art with kids. I'll be interviewing Hervé about his process and inspiration, his favorite medium, what music he listens to while he paints, and how to create stories that appeal across generations. I'm also excited to share highlights from issue 2: The Canvas Issue. 

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

So calling all artists, writers, parents, kids, teachers, and librarians: Come join us for an afternoon of inspiration and fun, pick up a copy of the newly released issue 2 and any number of awesome Tullet books that may be missing from your home collection, and enjoy coloring, crafts, light snacks, and swag! For more information about the event, go to the Bank Street Book Store events page and RSVP here. 

HERVE TULLET + ILLUSTORIA
Bank Street Book Store
2780 Broadway
New York City
When: Saturday / November 19th / 1–2 pm 
 

ILLUSTORIA Launch Party

Come join us to celebrate the launch of ILLUSTORIA!

Get your hands on our first issue! Meet the staff, color and craft, clink some glasses. Free goodie bags for first 50 kids, so come early. Enjoy snacks, a free photo booth, a chance to win a raffle prize, plus readings by Illustoria's art director, Elizabeth Haidle, and a fave local author, Amy Novesky. We look forward to growing our community of artists, writers, makers, educators, librarians, retailers, and friends--so come join! 

When: Saturday, September 17, 2016 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (PDT) / activities + bubbles + snacks throughout / talks + readings at 3pm / raffle prize drawing at 4pm

Where: Minted Local - 222 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108  

Please RSVP to let us know you will be coming. 

Many thanks to our amazing event sponsors, Minted & Sakura of America:

FAQs

Can I invite friends?

Yes! We encourage you to spread the news to all your creative friends and their creative kids.

What activities can we expect for kids?

There will be coloring and crafts, a tattoo station, a free photo booth, and readings from our premiere issue.

Will we be able to purchase issue 1?

Yes! We'll be selling our first issue and you can also purchase a discounted subscription to the magazine.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Minted Local is just a 1-minute walk from the White House Garage lot and a 4-minute walk from the Montgomery Street BART station. 

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Contact hello@illustoria.com with any questions or to RSVP for a large party.