As the summer months creep upon us, many of you at-home moms are finding yourselves with kid overload. You may find your days full of dealing with your at-home-for-summer little ones. Regretfully, what kindergarten has taught them is in the language of play-time and crafts.

You can expect that soon they will start asking, “Mom, what are we going to do today?” or complaining, “Mom, I’m bored.” My suggestion to entertain their summer day –– an art class at Ladybug Lane. Indulge your kiddos in the world of art while treating yourself to some down time all the while.

Among the many various offerings Ladybug Lane on Highway 119 in Alabaster offers (including dance attire, consigned clothes, scrapbook supplies and classes, mom’s night out, etc.), this summer brings us their “Young at Art” classes.

Tiffany Seale, the artistic talent behind the Cross Your Art division of Ladybug Lane, began these child–oriented art classes over a year ago in March 2008.

“I am naturally geared towards kids,” Seale states. “What I do is out of love of doing it.”

Cross Your Art has featured a wide variety of class themes and allows kids to paint on anything imaginable –– from canvas to fabric, window frames to T–shirts. Cross Your Art was even a part of Alabaster’s recent Art in the Park, drawing over 100 kids to their area where they painted washcloths.

Cross Your Art classes average at around 10-12 children and welcome ages five-12. For those younger ones, Seale also offers “Piggy Parties” where she crafts inventive images from the imprint of an infant’s hands or feet.

Birthday art parties are also held on Saturdays and Sunday for a minimum of five children.

The birthday boy or girl simply selects a theme for the party, and the artwork is created around it. Past themes have included princesses, baseball, peace, camouflage and scarecrows.

“Young at Art” summer classes will continue to run this summer on Mondays by demand. The July 6 class will be involve a beach scene on canvas complete with actual sand and seashells.

Cost for the class is $15 and can be made by calling Ladybug Lane at 663-5550. Ladybug Lane can also be found online at Ladybuglane.biz.

Jessica Vance can be reached by e–mail at jvance86@hotmail.com.