Monthly Archives: January 2016

VALENTINE PAPER GARLAND

VALENTINE PAPER GARLAND

Materials:

Paper in shades of pink, red, white and/or purple

Scissors

Pencil/eraser

Ruler or yard stick

Markers

Glue stick

Puncher for holes

Ribbon, paper twists or similar material

Heart-shaped stencils or templates (optional)

One chain link fence or interior wall (optional)

Project:

  1. Make a sign to celebrate Valentine’s Day or just make a string of hearts. Make a loop for every letter or heart and for the space between the words if you are making a sign. Make a loop at the beginning of your garland which will be blank and a loop for the end of your garland which will also be blank. For example, a sign that says “Happy Valentine’s Day!” will have 20 loops for the words (including the apostrophe and the exclamation mark), two for the spaces between words and an extra loop at each end. That would be a total of 24 loops.
  2. Use as many colored papers as you choose or use the suggested list of colors (above). Measure and cut the colored papers into ½” x 8” strips.
  3. Glue one strip of paper measuring ½” x 8” overlapping the ends. Then glue a strip of paper measuring ½” x 8” through the first loop. Alternate the colors of the paper strips until you have the required number of paper loops forming a garland.
  4. If you ae making a sign, cut paper rectangles in various colors about 1 1/2” by 3.” Make enough to spell out your message.
  5. Or cut out hearts using templates or stencils. Vary the design by cutting out small, medium and large hearts or overlap a small heart of one color over a larger heart of another color. See the examples provided.
  6. If you are sending a message, trace a letter on each paper rectangle by using a template, stencil or draw the letters free-hand. Trace or write free-hand any exclamation, question mark or symbol, too. Decorate the squares with paper hearts.
  7. Punch a hole at the top of each paper rectangle or heart. Punch a hole in the loops. Do not punch holes in the first and last loops and the loops that represent spaces between words.
  8. Cut string or pipe cleaners or similar material and loop it through the holes.
  9. VARIATION: Cut a slit in the hearts and loop it through the next loop. Close the loop.
  10. Use your imagination and glue seeds, glitter, sequins and other decorative objects! Dangle ribbon from the bottom of the hearts!
  11. Tie a string through the first and last loops and tie them on to the fence.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Share Button

Sketchbook Project 2013

Sketchbook Project 2013

 

The Art House Co-op sponsors the Sketchbook Project. The Project consists of a library of artists’ sketchbooks which tour the U. S. and abroad.

All sketchbooks will stay in the permanent collection of the Brooklyn Art Library.

The theme of my Sketchbook “Calligraphy,” or the “Art of Beautiful Writing”.

Click on the link to open Marion’s Sketchbook Project for 2013:

http:/www.arthousecoop.com

 

Share Button

Sketchbook Project 2012

Sketchbook Project 2012

 

BASE ON MY TRIP TO CYPRUS IN 1965 (WITH A LOT OF FICTION THROWN IN):

The Art House Co-op sponsors the Sketchbook Project which consists of a library of artists’ sketchbooks which tour the U. S. and abroad.

The Brooklyn Art Library houses all participating sketchbooks in its permanent collection.

The theme of my Sketchbook was “Storytelling.” Based on my unpublished Young Adult novel, Anastasia’s Odyssey, it highlights the story of a teen who moves to Cyprus from Brooklyn, NY in the 1960s. Talk about culture shock.

http://www.arthousecoop.com

 

 

Share Button

The Double-Headed Serpent: Paper Mosaic Design

The Double-Headed Serpent: Paper Mosaic Design
Paper Mosaic Design

Double-Headed Serpent Paper Mosaic Design

Materials:

White pencil (optional)

Poster board or matt board

Construction or similar paper in four colors

Scissors

Pencil/eraser

Ruler

Double stick tape

Glue stick

Utility knife

White paper (optional)

Paper Clips (optional)

Project:

  1. Select a design like the double-headed serpent in this project. (Double-headed serpents were popular cultural and religious symbols among the Aztec and Mayan people.)
  2. Draw the object on poster or matt board. Or draw it on a piece of white paper. Turn the paper over and blacken the back of the design with pencil. Turn it over to the front, place it on the matt or poster board and secure the paper on the board with paper clips or tape. Trace.
  3. Design a border around all four sides of the design.
  4. Select three or four colors of the construction or similar paper. Decide where to place the paper mosaic tiles. Measure and cut these paper tiles no smaller than 1/ 4” x 1/ 4.” The smaller the size of the tiles, the longer it will take to complete the project.
  5. Decide the color pattern. Lay down strips of double-stick tape on the area, one strip at a time, and place the paper tiles side by side, forming a mosaic pattern. In the sample, the colors of tile form a random design. Repeat until the area finished. Use a utility knife to shape round corners, etc.
  6. Following step #2, trace the central design on the construction paper and cut and glue this cut-out to the poster or matt board. If you are using the double-headed serpent as the central design, use a white pencil to highlight the eyes and teeth.
  7. Cover the other areas of the design including the border.

Bibliography

Morris, Ting. The Arts and Crafts of the Aztecs and Maya. North Mankato, MN: Smart Apple Media, 2007.

Robinson, Fay. Hispanic-American Crafts Kids Can Do! Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Elementary, 2006.

Share Button