Nature File Folder Book: Part 1

Last year I needed to come up with a project for a Grade5/6 split.

Tying it into the science curriculum we made these file folder books. (trees and forests, wetlands).





After getting a few questions recently on how to make it I thought I would post it.  It's a great Autumn project.


The dragonfly is a clothespin that holds the book closed.

This is the back when open.


These are great to display as they stand up.

These are the first 2 inner pages…..I'm sure the tree looks familiar.

The next 2 inner pages.  I love these file folder books.  The pockets give you lots of room to stuff with handouts, index cards with info, study flash cards, etc.



When I make these in a residency we do all the book construction and art work. We usually do the book mark and then I hand over a bunch of blank cards, tabs, and tags to the teacher so he or she can customize what info the students will put into the book.

My sample is missing this extra info but I think you get the idea.

I'm going to split it into 2 posts as there are a lot of steps.





MATERIALS NEEDED:

- blank file folder book, I've posted the directions on how to make these a few times, check out this post  for the 'how to'
- acrylic or tempera paint 
- white acrylic paint or gesso
- thin cardboard like a cereal or cracker box
- dragonfly template, use the small one
- dragonfly names
- glitter glue
- pony beads
- clothespins
- tacky glue
- drywall filler/medium
- small round object (2" diameter)
- black pencil crayon, white crayon or pencil crayon
- squirrel template
- a few leaves from outside
- scrap of felt and black sticky foam, optional
- alphabet stamps, ink pad


PROCEDURE:
When I do these books at school we work on different parts throughout a session, maximizing our time. But it's easier for me to explain each component from start to finish.

Dragonfly Clothespin:

The dragonfly template is from another project. Use the small one. This is a picture of the larger one, same technique though.

Trace around the template on to the thin cardboard and cut out.

Paint a layer of white acrylic or gesso on the cardboard.




While it's drying work on another part of the book.

Paint in the body of the dragonfly. We used craft acrylic paint.




Paint the clothespin at the same time.

I printed off some sheets that had all the names of all the different types of dragonflies.  There are some great ones!

The kids selected a few (I asked for  at least 4) and glued them on the wings.

Trim if needed.

You can add a little diluted paint to give them a wash if you want.

Add a coat of glitter glue to the wings for that sparkle.

Glue on 2 beads for eyes.

Glue onto clothespin.

Open up your file folder book and paint the back. We used acrylic paint.  The 2 middle panels will have the squirrel so they both need to be the same colour.

The kids could pick what colours they wanted except for the from cover.  In order to get it too work we needed it yellow.




Front Cover:

Trace out a goose shape on some thin cardboard, mine is about 4".


I had templates for the kids to use but also encouraged them to create their own.

Cover one side with a thin coat of drywall medium.

Pounce your finger where the wings would be to make some feather texture.

Let dry.

Using watery disk tempera paint the upper 2/3rds of the from cover orangey red.

You need a round flat object about 2" in diameter.  I'm using a little plastic container I use for salad dressing in my lunch.

Cover top with a kleenex.

While the tempera is still wet press this down into the paint.  You are lifting away the paint, getting a nice circle to be your sun.

Add some watery green disk tempera to the ground on the cover.

Using a touch of black acrylic paint in the neck and head leaving that white patch in the cheek.

With some watery brown acrylic paint in the feathers.  You want to leave the belly white.


Add a tiny goggly eye.


If you want to seal the goose you can a little mod podge once the paint dries.

With a black pencil crayon add some grass to the cover.


Glue the goose into position.

Use the black pencil crayon to make the legs.





Middle Section of Back:

So this is based on an earlier project.  I just adapted it for the book.

Collect some leaves from outside.

Paint the back of the leaf with some fall colours and print.  I get the kids to practice first by making the bookmark.  When ready they make the tail for the squirrel by making a curved stack.



Let dry.

My squirrel template is here.

Trace onto brown paper.  I encourage the kids to make their own squirrel shape but have the template as a back up.

Cut out.

Using a white crayon and black marker (could be a pencil crayon) add some details to your squirrel.

For the eye we punched some black sticky foam.

Cut an ear out of felt and glue on.

Cut tail out of stamped paper.  Glue squirrel onto back of file folder book.

We added a list of the type of squirrels, painted with some watery tempera.

We also stamped a big S from my multitude of alphabet stamps and added the text "is for squirrel".

We'll finish the rest tomorrow.



So I offered this extra book of mine up for giveaway and I had 266 entries!

Wow, thanks everyone for all the comments and support. I wish you all could win. :)

The winner by random draw is Beverly Pastore.  Congratulations Beverly!


Here is the link to this book on Amazon if you need further info and you never know it could be in the local library.

Take care everyone and I'll be back…..

Gail

Making Autumn Trees: Printmaking

I love making autumn trees.  This time I changed the way the trunks are made using a printmaking technique.




P.S. I have a great giveaway at the end of this post so please read on.

I also used this idea for an art journal page and an inchie.














MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- sticky backed craft foam
- paper towel roll
- paper
- disk tempera or watercolour paint for background
- black liquid tempera or acrylic paint
- paint in fall colours (acrylic or liquid tempera)
- small brush
- cotton swabs (Q-tips)

PROCEDURE:

I took some craft foam and cut strips in irregular lines, curves, some jagged.


Remove paper backing and stick to paper roll.  Start from the centre out leaving the ends free.  This way you can roll it easier like a rolling pin.

Now there are few ways to load paint onto your roll.  You can spread some out on wax paper and then roll in to it.

You can also paint it directly on to the foam.  This will give you a very precise print but you have to work fast so the paint doesn't dry before you paint all the strips.

Place on your paper and roll out your tree trunks.  This is my first go.  Too many trunks I thought so I removed a few.

To make my background I painted in a sky and a strip of ground on my paper.

Roll on your trunks.  If you get a few smudges, no worries, it's a print that happens and we will use some of these smudges when we make branches.

With a small brush add a few branches.

Time to make the leaves.  Take a few cotton swabs.  I like to cut mine in half.  This gives me 2 sizes of circles, one on each end.

Dip ends into Fall coloured paint and stamp on your leaves.  Clusters work best and don't forget a few on the ground.

I made an inchie as well.  Instead of a paper roll I used a paint dauber but a thick pencil, marker, or piece of dowel would work.

I get a lot of inquiries for ideas to use in art journals.


Here is a journal page using this technique.  You could make a page for each of the 4 seasons using the same technique just changing up the leaves or lack of them.



I hope you give this a try.

I bought this book in the spring.  It was on pre-order and when it didn't arrive on time (did they forget me) I ordered it again.



I was going to return the extra but it's a great book so why not a giveaway.

So why do I like this book:

- smaller size, only 9"x7" so you can have it beside you as you work
- coil binding, pages will stay open to where you want
- heavy weight pages that have a shiny finish, made to hold up to any messes or stray paint

- lots of great techniques with pictures of different projects to inspire you
- artist tips on most pages with helpful advice.

If you are interested in winning my extra copy:
- comment on this post
- send me an email at thatartistwoman@shaw.ca
- or like/comment on my Facebook page


I'll do the draw Thursday.  Good luck everyone and I hope you end up with some paint on your hands today!
Gail

Fall Puzzle Trees

Well the trees are starting to change colour even though the weather is still amazing.

Time for another great Fall art project.

I've been thinking about these trees for awhile.  They even made an appearance in my wacky skyline a couple of months ago.













MATERIALS REQUIRED:

- old puzzle pieces
- paint in fall colours, acrylic or tempera
- wc paper
- painter's tape 
- disk tempera paint
- kleenex
- tacky glue


PROCEDURE:

Find some old puzzle pieces.  Try to find 2 different sizes if you can to give your leaves some variety.

Turn the pieces over to the plain side.
Paint in fall colours.  I used acrylic put you could also use liquid tempera.


Let dry.

Place your wc paper on an art board and tape around the edges.  This will give you a nice border at the end.

Paint in a blue sky taking the paint down to about 2 inches or so from the bottom.

I use these big brushes at school.

  
While the paint is still wet left a few clouds using a crumpled kleenex.

When the sky has dried you can paint in the ground.

I used green, yellow and brown.

When background has dried paint in a tree.  I used black paint.

You could also cut out a tree from black paper and glue in place or use pencil crayons and draw one in.




Let dry.

Arrange puzzle pieces and then glue into place.  You want to plan it out.  Smaller pieces look good at the top.

That's it.


See you next time.