Valentine Suncatchers

Here is a quick Valentine project.  In December, Cassi over at the Crafty Crow posted a Poinsettia Project as part of her Advent series that I just loved.

Using the same technique you can make these Valentine Suncatchers.

If you have any leftover hearts you may also want to check out these necklaces over at filth wizardry.....also amazing.  I saw her hearts after I had already created mine...great minds think alike!

Valentine Inchies: Classroom Results

A few posts back I presented a Valentine Inchie idea and I wanted to show the results with Grade 2......Click on picture to see larger.

I know, I know there is a space but it's that last kid who has been away and just finished hers, we are letting it dry and then the board will be full!

How To Make an Alphabet Block Elf Christmas Ornament

Here is an oldie but a goodie....another craft for Christmas Craft Day, an alphabet block elf.

These can hang on your tree or sit on your mantle...you can make several and have them spell out a word like JOY, NOEL, MERRY.

Easy to make so follow along.....

Nativity Banner

This is a project I did 2 years ago with Kindergarten.  We needed a quick project for the front display case and we had tons of felt and burlap.



It was amazing to see them all finished with each child adding their own interpretation to the Nativity.  Some had the Mary and Joseph outside with the sheep inside, one had the sheep on the roof....


Now this can easily be adapted for older kids just don't give them the templates....see what they can create on their own.

Wycinanki

I recently presented at a Early Childhood Education conference in Edmonton, the theme of my session was Multicultural Art Techniques.  One of the techniques I discussed was Wycinanki or Polish paper cutouts. There are lots of examples in google images.

This "Tree of Life" theme is quite common, a symmetrical cutting done on the fold.
I also talked about amate cutouts from the Otomi people of San Pablito, ( Art for Small Hands recently did a post), which is also a symmetrical cutting.

These Wycinanki designs  were used to decorate the freshly white washed walls of farmer's homes in the spring in preparation for Easter.
I think they look terrific at any time and it's amazing what you can create with the simplest of materials. (Paper, glue, and scissors)

Not all Wycinanki is symmetrical "cut on the fold". 

This turkey (for all of you in the USA this week) which could easily be a Rooster or Peacock, it is also a very traditional design.

A symmetrical design is a good way to get started.  Take a piece of black paper, fold, and trace out a design using white crayon, pencil, or colored pencils.

If you want to use my designs you can find them here:

Tree of Life 1
Tree of Life 2
Turkey, Rooster, or Peacock

Now with young kids trying to cut this design can be difficult so I am all for cheating.  We will glue this fringe back into place at the end and this makes it so much easier!

On the pattern you will see where you can cut this decorative fringe frame section off so you can cut the inner design.

Fringe frames are quite common designs, many Wycinanki have quite elaborate ones and often more than one. 

For this fringe cut little "teeth" into the outside edge. 

Glue your design onto a backing paper.  Here I'm using white as it contrasts so nicely with my black cutout.
Glue the fringe back into place and no one will be the wiser.

Now it's time to add some color.  To mimic a painted folk art design add bits of colored paper, layering as you go.

If you fold your colored paper and cut 2 shapes at the same time you can keep that symmetrical look.

Glue and let dry.  Place a piece of wax paper on top and place a heavy book on your design to help it dry flat.

That's it.

Once you start let's see if you can just stop at one...I have some ideas for some Christmas themed ones so check back for the templates.


See you next time.

Sand Casts

After a few beach vacations it seems we have baggies of shells, "magic" rocks and other collectibles all over the house, time for an art project!

I took some recycled containers (we had takeout Friday) and added some sand from the sandbox.  Sift out any leaves or twigs that might interfere with your cast.

If you are doing a whole class you can also use those little Styrofoam bowls like I used for the sand candles.

I started off thinking we would do hand or foot prints but our sand was way too coarse for that.  We couldn't get a good impression so on to Plan B.

We pushed in a bowl shape but you could also form one with your hands, just digging out a form.

Then the kids started placing in their special shells, bits of sea glass and rocks.

You want to have the side you want to see facing down into the sand.

Once you have your composition the way you want it....it's time for the plaster.

Now you can pick this up at the hardware store or Wal mart.  At school I have it by the sack.  I use it to make stamps for ceramics as well as for projects like this.

You want to mix it up in an old recycled container that you will throw out when done.  I'm also using an old salad dressing cup for the measuring.

Mix well with a chopstix or old spoon.  Make sure it is nice and smooth.  You have about 20-30 minutes before it will harden.

Only mix up as much as you can deal with in that time frame.  For a class set of projects you are better to do up 2 batches than have it harden on you before you can dish it all out.

Scoop into your sand bowls carefully so you don't dislodge any of the treasures.

Let sit for an hour or so until it has really hardened up.

Remove from the sand and give it a quick scrub under the tap.

That's it......now you can use this method on your little collections!

Ryan wants to cast his rock collection but I'm going to try to get some finer sand so we can cast it in the shape of his hand.



We'll see you next time.

Finger Kites

Calgary is a pretty windy city, especially in the Fall when the leaves turn and last.....oh maybe 10 minutes before being blown into oblivion.

You have to enjoy those Fall colors when you can!

So here are some Finger Kites we made.  They are smaller than your usual kite so you only fly them about 1 metre high but the kids like chasing each other around with them.  I had a few issues with this one but I'll tell you about it as we go.

Now you can make kites out of fabric but I was looking for alternatives.  You don't want to use paper or your kite will be one time only.  If it is only decorative, paper would be fine.

We made one kite out of Tyvec or house wrap which you can get at the hardware store (a bit pricey and the smallest roll is 100ft)...some courier envelopes are made of Tyvec these days so check your stash of recyclables.
For the second one I fused 2 plastic shopping bags.

I cut the handles off and sandwiched it between 2 pieces of parchment paper.

Set my iron on med and ironed over the paper.  The parchment is transparent enough so you can see the bags as you iron and you will see them shrink up a bit.
 When it has fused together you are good to go.

I cut out a kite pattern out of some old poster paper.

My width was 10 inches  and the length was 12.

Trace pattern onto your material and cut out.

Now the Tyvec painted up great even with tempera...if you find the paint beading up a bit give the kite a rub with a little sandpaper.

The fused plastic seemed to paint up just fine with acrylics BUT don't be fooled.  The paint will flake off with use so I recommend that you either give it one thin coat of paper mache and then paint or use paper, stickers, etc...glued onto it to decorate.

Cut your sticks.  I use natural bamboo plant stakes from the garden store...cheap and pretty straight.

The best way to attach your sticks is with tape....duct tape, metal tape, hockey tape, bookbinding tape.....

Add your string tying and knotting it several times in the center of your kite and then take a good length and wrap around a stick for your handle.

Add a tail with bits of fabric or ribbon.  I tied it to the stick at the bottom and then added...you guessed it...another piece of tape to secure.

and that's it.  Wouldn't you know it when we finished..no wind!


See you next time.

Basket Weaving using Recycled Containers

I'm always looking for good weaving projects for little hands.  I was going thru the storage room and was overwhelmed with just how many recycled plastic containers I had.  You know the ones from yogurt or sour cream...the ones you hold on to thinking..... "one day I'll need it for a project".

Inspiration strikes and I realized "Hey you could use it as the base for a basket weaving project"........

and that's where it started.





















MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- recycled containers
- scissors
- yarn, string, embroidery floss,  and/or fabric strips
- glue
- old book pages, newspaper, maps

Now the problem with recycled containers is they have logos plastered all over them so I decided we would paper mache them over with strips of paper.  I thought about painting them but was worried the paint would get scratched off during the weaving.

I use old books that I get from the discard rack at the library or old maps.  Newspaper also works well.  Cut into little strips and a glue/water mix in a 1 to 1 ratio.  You could also use Mod Podge.

Leave to dry overnight.

Now find out the diameter of your container.  In order to get a woven basket you need an odd number of cuts in your container.  An odd number allows you to cover the basket fully like the one holding the paintbrushes above.  I also used an odd number of cuts on the basket holding the branch with leaves.

The other basket was done with an even # but I had to alternate woven sections.

Using your scissors make cuts down the container.  Now you can make them all the same size, you could make them random sizes or you can make a pattern like one narrow strip and then one wide....lots of possibilities it's up to you.  Just remember to have an odd # if you want the fully woven look.

Select the material you want to weave with and tie it on on one of the sections in the inside.

I put a bit of tape on the section I start with so if I'm making a specific pattern I can keep count of the rows.

Then start weaving in and out of the different sections.  With an odd number of sections on the first pass you will have your yarn/string on every second one and then on the second pass the string will be on the other ones.

On this one I decided to do extra weaving on the narrow strips.....because I had to cut an odd number to get the fully woven look on the first part I need to skip a strip to get the weaving on the narrow part....that means 2 strips look exactly the same side by side but you just have that part in the back...it still looks terrific.

When it's time to switch colors or material just knot the 2 ends together on the inside.

This is great for teaching patterns in Kindergarten and Grade 1.

Continue right up to the rim...the string just settles in nicely below it.  You also could trim the container down if you wanted a smaller basket.

Knot off the end onto one of the strings on the inside and then stuff the end in behind the strings.

The kids found the weaving easy and were planning all sorts of patterns...I have some basket weaving books and we are seeing how we can adapt those patterns...we are also looking at using different containers like a ice cream pail for a larger basket or cutting the top off a milk jug and then weaving that.

Give it a try... and if you're like me you have lots of containers waiting to be woven.






See you next time.