Project #30 Water colour resist painting

This project allows the resist of the crayon to stand out as a linear element

What you will need:
*watercolour paper or heavy stock paper 8 x 10 in.
*crayon (white is nice – I used grey)
*watercolour paints and brushes
*cup for water

Step one:
..Take the crayon and do a drawing on the paper
Step two:
..Cover the entire paper with just water (this is a wet on wet method)
Step three:
..Take the watercolour and paint over the entire surface – the crayon will resist the paint and stand out nicely showing the drawing.

Let stand to dry.

Project #29 Puppet

...this is a great project to create a special character for your puppet show

What you will need:
*plaster bandages (or paper mache)
*newspaper
*scissors, hot glue, masking tape
*fabric 20 x 20 in.
*wood dowel or stick 12 in. long
*thread spool or (toilet paper roll – cut a slit and tape so that it’s tapered)
*acrylic or tempera paint
*small soda bottle and bowl for water

step one:
..take the newspaper and crumple in a ball to create head of animal – attach with masking tape.  Add any other details like ears, snout etc.
step two:
..once you’ve created the general shape of the animal you will cover it with plaster bandages.  I find it’s easier to place the head and cone on a soda bottle so that you have both hands free. 
..when using the plaster bandages use lukewarm water and it’s important to smooth out the surface so that you don’t see the holes in the gauze.

Let this stand to dry – you can use a fan or hairdryer to speed up the process

step three:
..take paint and paint the entire surface with one colour – and then put in the details
step four:
..once the paint dries – take the fabric and cut a hole in the center.  Place the fabric around the neck of the cone and hot glue it tight around the neck.  Glue the dowel to one of the corners of the fabric.  If you like you
can choose to put a hand or food on the end of the dowel.

Make more characters and have a great puppet show.

Project #28 Texture collage

This is part craft project and a treasure hunt – this is a fun project to get your child to find textures all around the house and outside

What you will need:
*7 sheets of bond paper 8.5 x 11 in.
*crayons various colours
*scissors, gluestick
*heavy stock paper 9 x 12 in.

Step one:
..take the bond paper and crayons and hunt around the house for surfaces with
interesting textures and rub on the paper with the crayon over the texture
surface.  Do as many as you can and in a variety of colours
Step two:
..once your done rubbing – decide on an image you want to create.  We did a
flower with a butterfly.
..Cut out the different shapes – you can tear the paper as an option. 
Step three:
..glue down all the different shapes.

Project #27 Animal Portrait

..By taking their own photo – they can create a hybrid image of themselves a their favorite animal

What you will need:
*printed out image of yourself approx. 8 x 10 in.
*glue stick, scissors, pencil and permanent marker
*wate colour paint  and brushes
*watercolour paper  11 x 14 in.

step one:
..Take the photo and cut around the head and cut the photo in half and glue one half to the watercolour paper
step two:
..take a pencil and draw your favourite animal – try to keep the size similar to your original photo.  Trace the pencil lines with a permanent marker.
step three:
..take the watercolour and paint in the animal drawing.

You can try a different animal with the other half

Project #26 Frame art

By using the frame as a border  and using scraps of wood and found objects – a fun abstract image is created.

What you will need:
*4 pieces 10 in. canvas stretchers – or use an old frame without the glass
*scraps of wood, wire and found objects
*tempera paint various colours
*hot glue gun and glue sticks, scissors and wire cutters, brushes
*white glue

step one:
..put the glue on the corners of the canvas stretchers and assemble the frame
step two:
..take white paint and paint the frame
..begin assembling the pieces and use hot glue to glue the pieces together –
feel free to go beyond the frame and make the pieces 3-D
step three:
..take the paint and paint the surface – I think it’s nice to leave some of
the wood exposed

Allow the paint to dry and hang it on your wall and enjoy!

Project #25 Stencil shapes on wood veneer

...this project is a fun way to practice your shapes and playing with colour on the nice contrast of the wood veneer

What you will need:
*stencil brush (medium size)
*mylar or acetate paper to cut out stencils (paper tends to get soggy)
*silk screen ink (or paint of any kind)
*wood veneer (or found wood-if you don’t have any wood coloured
construction paper would also work)
*pencil, exacto knife, cutting matte, plate and spatula

step one:
..For my pattern I decided on abstract and geometric shapes.  You can draw out the shapes on the mylar and cut out with an exacto knife (mylar is also easy enough to cut with scissors).  Take the paint or ink and spread out on a plate and use your stencil brush to even out the ink/paint and make it an
even consistency.  I find it works best when your ink/paint is a bit thinned out and not too thick.
step two:
..Lay your stencil on the spot you want it and dab with your stencil brush on the entire space of your cut   out  (It’s good to do a test on paper to get the feel of the dabbing) It’s great to use mylar paper because it allows you to wash the ink/paint and also you can see what’s underneath – helping with the placement of your sencil.
..Continue this process and layer different shapes and colours on top of each
other till you get the desired effect.
..It’s important to let the ink/paint dry in between – you can use a hair
dryer to speed up the process.

Project #24 Paint Textures

...inspired by one of Arounna's son (Lliam) favorite authors Eric Carle

...this project is about creating textures from the paint giving the collage a
lot of interesting tones and surfaces

What you will need:
*tempera or acrylic paint (I used tones of black - colour would also work)
*flat large brushes
*large sheets of poster paper (poster paper have a bit of sheen to it -
*similar to finger paint paper)
*scissors, glue stick
*1 sheet of white bristol board

step one:
..take tempera paint and water it down and paint on the poster paper in dry
manner - creating brush strokes and texture. (allow to thoroughly dry)
step two:
..the first part of the still life I created a table giving it slight angles
to give a perspective feel.  The cut out shapes are glued down
..I than began to cut out various shapes like a bowl and bottle and plate
with some food.
..try to look at the different textures and tones to give contrast to your
collage.

..It would be fun to also set-up your own still life and use as an
inspiration or you can build the still life from your imagination.

Project #23 Styrofoam prints

..this project is a good way to capture your childs line drawings 

What you need:
*styrofoam sheets (you can also use meat trays - make sure to cut the edges)
*block printing ink, plexi for ink, roller, and large spoon, pencil
*coloured construction paper

step1:
..draw your image on the styrofoam with a pencil - cover the entire surface
step 2:
..take the block printing ink and roller and roll the ink over the surface of
the styrofoam
..feel free to use other colours other than black
step 3:
..flip the ink side down onto the construction paper and flip over and rub
the back with the back of the spoon
step 4:
..peel off the paper and reveal your print - make more and you can rinse the
styrofoam and do it in other colours.

Project #22 Oil pastel drawing

...this is a good way to use an existing photo as a reference to do an abstract drawing

What you will need:
*Oil pastels various colours
*Black construction paper
*Magazine or photographs
*Scissors and tape

step one:
..take the black construction paper and create a small view finder – cut the opening to 2 x2 inches
step two:
..find an image that has interesting lines and shapes and select a section of that image by using your view finder – secure it in place by placing tape on the back
step three:
..draw out the outlines with white oil pastel
step four:
..and proceed to colour it in – you can either copy the colours or make up your own – this project is also good for painting

Project#21 Plaster cast

...a great way to create forms for your budding sculptors or architects

What you will need:
*Styrofoam inserts from packaging
*Plaster of Paris
*Duct tape, xacto knife (or steak knife)
*Garbage bag or drop sheet to work on
*Plastic container for plaster mixture
*Sandpaper various grits

{click to see larger image}
step one:
..the Styrofoam pieces and start creating the perimeter of the shape – make sure to not create undercuts.  The fun part is the not knowing what exactly the shape will look like
you can use the knife to cut up the Styrofoam and attach the pieces together with the duct tape. 
*As an option you can make multiple shapes at the same time big and small and you can create a little city.
step two:
..once all the pieces are taped together you can poor a small amount of water and see if you have any leaks – cover the leaks with the duct tape.
..Mix the plaster by filling the container with lukewarm water and then slowly poor the plaster in the container until the plaster of Paris absorbs the water.
..Mix the plaster  to a mixture that is similar to a milkshake consistency and poor a small amount in the form and swish it around so it gets all the details
step three:
..once you’ve done that create a plaster mixture that is a bit thicker and pour the rest into the shape.
..Let stand to dry for approx. 1hr
Step four:
..It’s important that the plaster is dry and hard before removing the Styrofoam
Step five:
..Once all of the Styrofoam is removed you can clean up the edges and sand the surface if desired.  I prefer the texture of the Styrofoam and also the white of the plaster.  If you like you can paint the surface.

{click to see larger image}