Tag Archives: arts and crafts for kids

Jun7

Intro to Summer Camp: Paper Garland Sign

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Intro to Summer Camp: Paper Garland Sign

Materials:

Paper in various colors

Scissors

Pencil/eraser

Ruler or yard stick

Markers

Glue stick

Hole puncher

Pipe cleaners, string, paper twists or similar material

Number stencils or templates (optional)

One chain link fence

  1. Make a sign for your clubhouse or to celebrate the beginning of summer and the end of school. Make a loop for every letter of your sign and for the space between the words. Make a loop at the beginning of your sign which will be blank and a loop for the end of your sign which will also be blank. For example, a sign that says “School is out!” will have 11 loops for the words, one for the exclamation mark, two for the spaces between words and an extra loop at each end. That would be a total of sixteen loops.
  2. Use four or five different colored papers. Measure and cut the colored papers into six or more 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. Use the photograph for reference.
  4. Next, cut paper rectangles in various colors about 1 1/2” by 3.” Make enough to spell out your message.
  5. Trace a letter on each paper rectangle by using a template, stencil or free hand. Trace any exclamation, question mark or symbol, too.
  6. Punch a hole at the top of each paper rectangle. Punch a hole in the loops. Do not punch holes in the first and last loops and the loops that represent spaces between words.
  7. Cut string or pipe cleaners or similar material and loop it through the holes.
  8. Or use your imagination and glue seeds, glitter, sequins and other decorative objects!
  9. Tie a string through the first and last loops and tie them on to the fence. Don’t forget to add extra loops when you change the message!
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May31

Coloring Pages from the Pittsburgh Folk Festival

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Coloring Pages from the Pittsburgh Folk Festival
Dolls

Dolls

Decorated Eggs

Decorated Eggs

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Apr26

Our Imaginations! Groovy Buttons!

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Our Imaginations! Groovy Buttons!
Groovy Buttons

Groovy Buttons in different shapes and sizes

 

Read: Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin.

“Pete the Cat puts on his favorite shirt with four, big, colorful, round, groovy buttons.”

But one by one, the buttons pop off and roll away. He realizes that he doesn’t have any buttons on his favorite shirt:

4 – 1 = 3

3 – 1 = 2

2 – 1 =1

1 – 1 = 0

Pete the Cat’s button less shirt opens up and what does he see? His belly button!

What can you do with your buttons?

Project:

Use buttons to decorate…anything! Use your imagination!

List of things to decorate with buttons:

Journal cover

T-shirt

Sneakers

Picture frame

Sunglasses

Book bag or any kind of bag

Materials:

Glue

Lots of buttons

Needle and thread (if you know how to sew)

 

Alternative Project: Make your own buttons

Materials:

Modeling clay in different colors

Pencil

Make small balls and flatten them. Poke four holes in the center with the pencil. What will you do with your handmade buttons?

 

*copyright Art work by Marion Constantinides 2015

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Apr5

Art That Flies: Winter Mobile

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Art That Flies: Winter Mobile

HOW TO MAKE MOBILES:

What is a mobile? A mobile is a construction made up of lightweight parts suspended by threads to fine wires.

Now take the banner designs and use them to make mobiles. See how they change when you go from a flat design to a three-dimensional design.

Scroll down to the Winter Banner tutorial below this info.

MATERIALS

Here are some basic supplies that you will need on hand for all the mobile designs:

Scissors

Wire, sticks, pencils, etc for arms

Compass

Thread, light and heavy weight

Poster board

Colored pencils and pens

Glue

Felt

Pencil and ruler

Recyclable materials

Tracing paper

Whole puncher (optional)

ADDITIONAL STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

Making a circle and a cone:

Technique #1: use a round object and trace.

Technique #2: Use a pencil compass to allow you to make a large or small circle. To find the diameter, measure circle from one edge through the center to the opposite side.

Technique #3: Cut out a circle. Cut out a section like a slice of a pie, from the edge to the center. Remove the section. Bring one edge over to the other side. Glue the overlapped edge. The larger the section you cut out, the taller and thinner to cone.

Technique #4: How to attach a thread: Thread objects by using a large needle. Push the needle through the shape at the balancing point and pull the thread until a small length is left. Then make a knot at the top of the shape. Cut off excess thread. When attaching the thread to the wire, tie it tightly.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holz, Loretta. Mobiles You Can Make. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Company, 1965.

Zubrowski, Bernie. Mobiles: Building and Experimenting with Balancing Toys. New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1993

Winter Mobile

Winter Mobile

 

Ages: 5 – 12 years

Time: ½ hour – 1 hour

MATERIALS:

Construction paper or Fun Foam in 6 colors

Silver glitter pen

Ball of jute or string or wire

2 dowel rods cut to 12” each Scissors

Tacky glue or glue sticks

Pencil/eraser

Whole puncher

1. Ask an adult to cut the dowel rods so that you have two. Cross them in the middle and tie them tightly with a piece of string or jute or wire. Lay aside.

2. Select the paper or Fun Foam. You can use craft papers or Fun Foam or both. Trace and cut shapes from the patterns used for the winter banner: Mr. Snow Man and Mrs. Snow Woman. Adorn them with scarves, hats/berets, noses that look like carrots, buttons, and a pipe for Mr. Snow Man. On a separate sheet of fun foam or construction paper, draw snowflakes with the glitter pen. Cut them along with the Snow Man and Woman. Draw eyes and mouth with a black marker.

3. Poke a hole towards the top of the paper or Fun Foam shapes with a pencil or use a hole puncher.

4. Then, lace a piece of string, thread, jute, or wire 6” to 8” in length through the hole at the top of each shape. Tie the shapes to the dowel rods. To balance the mobile, place two or more shapes to each dowel rod and be sure that some of the shapes hang lower (or higher) than some of the others.  Ask an adult for help.

5. Tie a piece of string on the ends of the dowel rods and hang it up. Does your sculpture move? What makes it move? How is this design different from the banner design? What are the differences? What are the similarities?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR MAKING ADVANCED MOBILES

How to make wire arms: Make loops on the ends. This will make it easier to tie on shapes. Use needle-nose pliers and wire with a gauge of 14, 1, 18 or 20.  Cut the wire to the desired length and bent until it is slightly curved. This will make the objects look more graceful as they balance from the wire. The curve also makes them look more graceful as they move in the air.

How to make a smooth curve: Grip one end of the wire with one hand and gently pull its length between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, bending as you pull.

How to make a loop: Grasp the end or the wire with the needle-nose pliers. Hold the wire as you twist to form a circle. If you are tying on the objects, close the circle completely. If you are slipping on a loop into the circle, leave it barely open. Close the loops when the mobile is complete. Hold the wire so that the eyelets or circles are on the under side of the arm when attaching the shapes to the mobile.

 

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Mar22

Art That Flies: Summer is Fun! Mobile

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Art That Flies: Summer is Fun! Mobile

HOW TO MAKE MOBILES

What is a mobile? A mobile is a construction whose lightweight parts are suspended by threads attached to fine wires or rods.

Now take the banner designs and use them to make mobiles. See how they change when you go from a flat design to a three-dimensional design.

Follow the tutorial below and try your hand at making mobiles!

MATERIALS

Here are some basic supplies that you will need on hand for all the mobile designs:

Scissors

Wire, sticks, pencils, and the like, for arms

Compass

Thread, light and heavy weight

Poster board

Colored pencils and pens

Glue

Felt

Pencil and ruler

Recyclable materials

Tracing paper

Whole puncher (optional)

ADDITIONAL STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW

Making a circle and a cone:

Technique #1: use a round object and trace.

Technique #2: Use a pencil compass to allow you to make a large or small circle. To find the diameter, measure circle from one edge through the center to the opposite side.

Technique #3: Cut out a circle. Cut out a section like a slice of a pie, from the edge to the center. Remove the section. Bring one edge over to the other side. Glue the overlapped edge. The larger the section you cut out, the taller and thinner to cone.

Technique #4: How to attach a thread: Thread objects by using a large needle. Push the needle through the shape at the balancing point and pull the thread until a small length is left. Then make a knot at the top of the shape. Cut off excess thread. When attaching the thread to the wire, tie it tightly.

 

Summer Moblie

Summer Mobile

 

Ages: 5 – 12 years

Time: ½ hour – 1 hour

MATERIALS:

White felt square 36”x 36”

Orange Fun Foam

Yellow Fun Foam

White Fun Foam

Beige Fun Foam

Turquoise Fun Foam

Black Fun Foam

Moss

Black marker

 

1. Using the patterns provided, trace and cut the sun from the yellow Fun Foam, the pail from the orange Fun Foam, the shell from the beige fun Foam, the shovel from the turquoise Fun Foam, and all four colors of Fun Foam for the ball. Finally, cut the sunglasses from the black Fun Foam. You don’t have to use all the patterns from the banners project.

2. Take a small amount of moss and glue it on the top of the pail. Press down firmly while it dries.

3. Use a black marker to draw the sun’s cheeks, smile and nose. If you are using the shell pattern, sketch a few lines on it to make it look three-dimensional. Also, spell out “Summer Is Fun!”

4. Cut two dowel rods. Tie a piece of string, jute or wire around the middle of the two dowel rods to secure them. Then, lace a piece of string, thread, jute, or wire 6” to 8” in length through the hole at the top of each shape. Tie the shapes to the dowel rods.

5. To balance the mobile, place two or more shapes to each dowel rod and be sure that some of the shapes hang lower (or higher) than some of the others. Cut a string long enough to tie on either end of the dowel rods for hanging.

6. Does your sculpture move? What makes it move? How is this design different from the banner design? Can you list the differences? Can you list the similarities? What is the difference between attaching the leaves on the mobile and attaching the leaves on the banner? What makes the leaves on the mobile three-dimensional and the leaves on the banner two-dimensional?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR MAKING ADVANCED MOBILES

How to make wire arms: Make loops on the ends. This will make it easier to tie on shapes. Use needle-nose pliers and wire with a gauge of 14, 1, 18 or 20. Cut the wire to the desired length and bent until it is slightly curved. This will make the objects look more graceful as they balance from the wire. The curve also makes them look more graceful as they move in the air.

How to make a smooth curve: Grip one end of the wire with one hand and gently pull its length between the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, bending as you pull.

How to make a loop: Grasp the end or the wire with the needle-nose pliers. Hold the wire as you twist to form a circle. If you are tying on the objects, close the circle completely. If you are slipping on a loop into the circle, leave it slightly open. Complete the mobile and close the loops.  Hold the wire so that the eyelets or circles are on the under side of the arm when attaching the shapes to the mobile.

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Feb16

Banner Designs: Spring is Here!

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Banner Designs: Spring is Here!

WHAT IS A BANNER?

A banner is a piece of cloth suspended between two poles and often bearing a design, symbol or slogan. Banners can celebrate the seasons, holidays or bear slogans. The designs in this series of Art Tutorials celebrate summer, spring, winter and fall.

(For the first tutorial, the Spring is Here! Banner, scroll down.)

MATERIALS

Here are some basic supplies that you will need on hand for all the banner designs:

Yardstick

Iron/ironing board (optional)

String

Ball point pen or marker

Scissors

Tacky glue

Dowel rods

Fun Foam

Pencil/eraser

*Unless indicated otherwise, all felt squares should measure 9” x 12” and all sheets of Fun Foam measure 12’ x 18”.

STUFF TO KNOW

How to copy a pattern:

Trace a pattern or object by placing tracing paper on its surface and tracing the design with a pencil. Turn the tracing paper over and blacken the reverse side. Then flip the tracing paper original side up again. Lay the tracing paper on the surface you want the design to transfer on to and trace the outline of the design.

Cutting a Square:

Technique #1: Measure with a ruler the desired size of the square. Draw the outline of the square.

Technique #2: Hold the paper flat and bring the top right corner down to the left edge. Then fold the paper and line up the edges on the left so that they are straight. Cut off the extra strip of paper and unfold the square.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Holz, Loretta. Mobiles You Can Make. New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Company, 1965

Zubrowski, Bernie. Mobiles: Building and Experimenting with Balancing Toys. New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1993.

Constantinides, Marion. Banners! (Unpublished)

 

SPRING BANNER

Spring Banner Design

Ages: 5 – 12 years

Time: ½ hour – 1 hour

MATERIALS:

White felt 36” x 36”

Green Fun Foam

Pink Fun Foam Pink Fun Foam

Blue Fun Foam

1. Measure and trim white felt to 14” x 20”. Place the piece vertically in front of you. Measure and fold a 1” seam at the top and iron. Fold another 1” seam. Iron and glue the second fold. The dowel rod will go through this loop.

2. Trace and cut the flower shapes using the patterns provided: yellow Fun Foam for one tulip and one daisy; pink for the second tulip and daisy; blue for the three morning glories; pink for the butterfly and green for the stems and leaves. (NOTE: The daisy and the tulip have different leaves.)

3. Cut one small yellow circle for the center of the pink daisy and one small pink circle for the yellow daisy.

4. Glue all the pieces, scattering the shapes randomly to create a cascading effect. Avoid placing two flowers of the same color next to each other.

5. Draw the centers of the morning glories with a black marker. Add antennae to the butterfly and dots in its center.

6. Cut the dowel rod like the other ones, insert, tie the string to the ends of the dowel rod and hang!

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Jan4

Our Imaginations! Paper Cut-outs: Summer/The Four Seasons Mural

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Our Imaginations! Paper Cut-outs: Summer/The Four Seasons Mural
Summer/Four Seasons Paper Mural

Summer/Four Seasons Paper Mural

MATERIALS:

Paper

Scissors

Pencil/eraser

Tracing paper

Glue Stick

  1. Research the paper cutouts of Henri Matisse which are a mix of symbolic and abstract shapes. “I have attained a form, filtered to the essentials,” Matisse once said and this sums up his philosophy as an artist. Study the paper cutouts for color and form; www.henri-matisse.net/cut_outs.html.
  2. There will be four panels or sections for the Four Seasons Mural. The third section will be summer. Plan the design for the season. The sample shown features the sun. There are other symbols for summer: the beach, the ocean, sailboats, swimmers, bathing suits, sunglasses, sand castles, etc. Sketch your design on tracing paper.
  3. The sample features three like colors: orange, yellow, dark red, and a patterned paper of orange leaves on a white background. Bright colors evoke summer like yellow, white, blue, green, red, orange, etc. Limit the palette to three to five colors as in the sample. Use patterned paper if it compliments the design.
  4. Decide the size of the paper cutout. The sample shown is 4” x 6.” Cut the background paper to the size you want for the paper cutout. The sample shows the patterned paper as the background color. Orange, yellow and dark red are the color choices for the sun and the sun’s rays.
  5. Sketch the design on tracing paper. Decide the colors for each part of the design. Blacken the back of the design and flip it over on to the papers you will use. Trace the outline of the shapes.
  6. Use embroidery scissors to cut out the shapes. Embroidery scissors enable you to cut inside larger shapes.
  7. Glue the shapes down and you have the third section of the Four Seasons Mural: Summer!

 

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Jul7

Our Imaginations! Camp for Kids: Weaving with a Simple Frame

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Our Imaginations! Camp for Kids: Weaving with a Simple Frame

The craft WEAVING WITH A SIMPLE FRAME is an updated adaption of the project “A Simple Weaving Frame” found in The Reinhold Book of Arts and Crafts Techniques published by Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., a division of Litton Education Publishing Inc. in 1976. Many important events happened in 1976.

Challenge yourself and always use your imagination!

Materials: Cardboard

String

Ruler

Pencil/eraser

Scissors

Yarn

Large-eyed tapestry needle (optional)

Ribbon, feathers,  wool and other strips of fabric, leaves, twigs, string

* At all times refer to the photo illustrations.

  1. Weaving consists of a warp and a weft. The warp comprises the vertical strings of the loom while the weft consists of the yarn interlaced through the weft. Take a piece of strong cardboard. Measure and cut ¼” incisions at regular intervals of ¼” to 1/8” on both ends of the cardboard.
  2. To make the warp: Take heavy string (i.e., kite string) and make a knot at one end. Loop the string from one end of the cardboard to the other and back up again. When finished, cut and make a knot in the back or tape the end of the string to the back of the cardboard. (Always leave a little extra string at either end.)
  3. To make the weft: Think of a theme or a design for the weaving. The design is up to you! Use a variety of materials to weave in and out as you did with the paper weaving. (The weaving below was woven with pipe cleaners and kite string but almost anything goes!)
  4. Start with about an inch and a half of warp at the bottom. Make sure strips of material alternate with each row. Roll the material into a ball if possible and pass it through the warp back and forth for several rows depending on the design. Tuck the end in the back of the warp. Do not tie a knot.
  5. Tips: Consider using a the tapestry needle to weave the yarn and string. A ruler will help you lift the warp so you can pass material through easily but you must lift every other string (see step 4.)
  6. When the weaving is finished, cut any loose thread in the back of the warp but don’t cut too close to the weft.
Frame for weaving

Frame for weaving

Preparing the frame

Preparing the frame

 

Beginning to weave

Beginning to weave

 

The finished weaving

The finished weaving

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Jun15

Our Imaginations! Camp for Kids: Fence Weaving

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Our Imaginations! Camp for Kids: Fence Weaving

The craft Fence Weaving was adapted from the project “From the Yard/Fence Weaving” found in All-Around-the-House Art and Craft Book by Patricia Z. Wirtenberg and published by Houghton Mifflin Company in1968.

Materials:

One fence preferably a chain link fence

Ribbon, yarn, pipe cleaners, tassels, string, rope, feathers, strips of fabric or paper, and anything else that easily woven through or tied on a chain link fence

Pompoms, beads, tiny shells, paper dessert cups, and anything else  glued to ribbon, yarn, strips of fabric or paper, etc. and attached to the links in the fence. Bits of drawings or photographs can also be used.

Scissors

Glue

1)      Weave, loop or tie materials such as pipe cleaners, ribbon, yarn, rope, strips of fabric or paper and string diagonally, vertically or horizontally through the links in the fence.

2)      Weave or loop or tie the ends of fabric, ribbon or paper through the links in the fence and secured with glue. The more you material you use, the more festive the fence looks.

3)      Glue artificial flowers, beads, tiny shells, and similar items to ribbon, strips of fabric or paper, etc. Weave the ends through the links in the fence.

4)      Make a garland of paper or similar material and attach the ends to the fence. Celebrate the Fourth of July with a red, white and blue garland!

5)      Cut paper letters and/or numbers and glue to a long strip of paper or ribbon and attach to the links in the fence at each end. Anything goes! The signs can say “Happy Summer!”  “Enjoy Summer Camp!” “Hooray for Summer!”

6)      Another idea: decorate the fence according to themes: nature; summer/seashells; art; Disney; cars/trains/airplanes; sports, etc.

Fence Weaving Nature Theme

Fence Weaving Nature Theme

Fence Weaving

Fence Weaving

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Jun2

Our Imaginations! Camp for Kids: Nature Prints

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Our Imaginations! Camp for Kids: Nature Prints

The craft NATURE PRINTS was adapted from the project “From the Yard/Nature Prints” found in All-Around-the-House Art and Craft Book by Patricia Z. Wirtenberg and published by Houghton Mifflin Company in1968

Materials:

Leaves, bark, twigs

Printer’s inks or poster or acrylic paints in various colors (cheaper to use)

Drawing pencils (optional)

Rice or bond paper in white or various light colors (works best with poster/acrylic paints)

Brown wrapping paper or construction paper for use with printer’s inks

Brayer (or roller)

Piece of glass

Newspaper

Solvent for cleaning brayer and glass if using printer’s inks unless using water-soluble printer’s inks

  1. Collect fresh leaves from the trees or bushes in your neighborhood or yard. You will need some to experiment with and some for the last print. Other objects such as tree bark (if it’s easy to peel off) and even some twigs will work along with the leaves, too.
  2. Cover your work surface with newspaper. Lay down the glass and brayer on the work surface. Select the paints or inks that you will use. Acrylic or poster paints are less expensive than oil-based printer’s inks and easier to clean up after use.
  3. You can squeeze one color for each leaf or squeeze two or three colors side-by-side on the glass. The leaves in the samples shown used one or two or three colors at one time.
  4. Roll the paint or inks on the glass until the pigment covers the brayer. If you are using more than one color, let the colors run into each other. Roll the brayer over the leaf several times and turning the leaf over, lay it on a piece of paper like rice paper or bond paper. Use your hand to press the leaf so that it prints on the paper. Paper that is not too thick or too thin is the best to use if using acrylic or poster paints. Printer’s inks can use a slightly heavier paper like construction or brown wrapping paper.
  5. Remove the leaf and see how it printed on the paper. Experiment until you have a print that you like. Experiment with other materials from nature combined with the leaves.
  6. To create a mixed media design, color the whites of the leaves or the background paper or outline the printed leaves with colored pencils. See the two samples below.
  7. Frame the print or using old note card stationery, make note cards or poster cards of the printed leaves. They make a thoughtful gift for people who still write notes!
Nature Prints

Nature Prints

 

Nature Prints

Nature Prints

 

Nature Prints

Nature Prints

 

VARIATION:

Make a sun print! Make sure you do this on a sunny day! Choose the objects you will use as the main design of the print. Objects like leaves, twigs, bark, seashells, and pebbles work well. Lay the objects that you choose on photographic, construction or drawing paper on a surface in a sunny location. The longer you leave it there, the deeper an impression your objects will make on the paper. Leave the objects and paper in the sun for four hours minimum. Remove the objects. You now have a sun print! Use the sun print for the nature collage tutorial or frame it and hang the print on your bedroom wall.

 

Sun Print

Sun Print

 

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