Tag Archives: arts and crafts materials

Jun21

Summer Camp: Sgrafitto

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Summer Camp: Sgrafitto
Sgrafitto

Sgrafitto

Sgrafitto is an etching technique that uses a pointed tool to scratch through a covered surface to show the art work beneath it.

Materials:

Wax crayons (Do not use black)

India ink or back poster paint

Pointed tool for etching such as a knitting needle or a toothpick

Cardboard or mat board

Brush

  1. Draw and color various abstract shapes on the cardboard or mat board. Make sure to use a heavy hand and leave a thick layer of wax crayon.
  2. Paint the cardboard or mat board with India ink or black poster paint. Allow the surface to dry completely. If the wax crayons show through, you need a second coat of paint or ink. Allow this coat to dry.
  3. Select the pointed tool you will use. You can experiment with different tools on a scrap of cardboard and then decide which one is best for your work of art.
  4. Have an image or design in mind or draw one on sketch paper first. Etch the design directly on the painted cardboard or mat board using various strokes: long, short, or circular going in various directions: horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Etch deeply enough to penetrate the first layer of ink or poster paint.
  5. Frame the sgrafitto and don’t forget to etch your name in the lower right-hand corner.

Inspired by: All-Around-the-House Art and Craft Book by Patricia Z, Wirtenberg

Art Work by Jeffrey J. Bennett

 

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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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May3

Our Imaginations! Part 1: A Tale of Two Umbrellas!

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Our Imaginations! Part 1: A Tale of Two Umbrellas!

 

Umbreall

Blue, Green, and Chartreuse Umbrella

 

Read: The Umbrella by Ingrid and Dieter Schubert

A family dog finds a red umbrella on a windy day in the yard. When the dog opens up the umbrella, the wind carries them over the clouds and around the world. They go to Africa where the dog confronts elephants, alligators, hippos, zebras and storks; the oceans and their inhabitants; the tropics; the North Pole and finally, back home.

Project: Decorate an old umbrella and if you want to challenge yourself, give the design a theme: animals, fairies, sports, etc.

Materials:

An old umbrella

Glue

Beads

Markers

Sequins

Buttons

Silk flowers

Ribbons

Stencils

Paint in squeeze bottles

Stickers 

Additional Reading:

The Umbrella by Jan Brett

The Umbrella Day by Nancy Evans

Umbrella by Taro Yashima

*Copyright Art work by Marion Constantinides 2015

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Mar30

Art That Flies: Fall Mobile!

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Art That Flies: Fall Mobile!

HOW TO MAKE MOBILES:

What is a mobile? A mobile is a construction made up of lightweight parts suspended by threads that are attached 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 Fall 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.

 

Fall Mobile

Fall Mobile

 

FALL MOBILE

Ages: 5 – 12 years

Time: ½ hour – 1 hour

MATERIALS:

Construction paper or Fun Foam in 5 colors for fall: red, yellow, orange, brown, green

2 dowel rods cut to 12” each

Ball of jute or string or wire

Eraser/ Pencil

Hole puncher (optional)

Scissors

Tacky glue or glue stick

Or preserve and use real leaves: http://www.ehow.com/how_2068272_preserve-fall-leaf.html

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. Cut another piece to tie on each end when hanging the mobile. Lay aside.

2. Select Fun Foam or construction paper in fall colors: orange, yellow and brown. Dark red, purple and dark green also work well for autumn themes. Trace and cut the leaf patterns from the fall banner project. Cut two leaves for each leaf shape. Vary the sizes for more interesting results.

3. Cut pieces of thread 12” long and even longer depending on how many leaves you will hang. If you are using thread, double it. Lay the thread on the leaves leaving space between them. Vary the amount of space between the leaves or arrange the leaves so that they point in different directions. Apply glue to the back of the leaves.

4. Take the second leaf and attach it to the back of the first leaf hiding the string or wire. Or thread the needle through a single leaf with the needle and make a loop. Tie the ends.

5. Hang the leaves from the dowel rods balancing the mobile. Tie a piece of string, jute or wire and tie to the ends of the dowel rods. Hang it up and see the mobile move.

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?

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 bend 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. Close the loops when finishing the mobile.. 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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May11

Kid’s Crafts: Accordion Mini-Album for Father’s Day

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Kid’s Crafts: Accordion Mini-Album for Father’s Day

*Materials:

Cardboard for the cover of the mini-album

Rice paper or wrapping paper or any light-weight paper to cover the mini-album

White glue, rubber cement, glue stick

Bond, construction, scrapbook paper, wrapping paper to mount the photos

Double-sided mounting squares or corners

Materials for decorating mini-album: sequins, glitter, paper, stickers, rubber stamps/stamp pad, markers, colored pencils

*Refer to the photos when necessary . Variation of the craft below the How-to.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.  Measure the photos you selected for the album. Using those measurements, measure and cut two pieces of cardboard. If you are using thin cardboard, measure and cut four pieces. Glue two together and glue the other two together. This will make the cover of the album stronger. If you are using matt board or similar thick board, you do not have to do this. Allow to dry.
2.  If you are using 2 – 4 photos, measure four sections the height and width of the photos along the length of the bond, construction, wrapping paper or scrapbook paper of your choice. In other words, if your photos are 3 1/2” x 5”, you will measure four continuous sections each measuring 3 ½” x 5”. Cut the length of the paper (do not cut the individual sections) and fold in four. This will be the accordion or inside of the album.
3.  Select the paper you will use to cover the cardboard. If your cover measures 3 ½” x 5” add ½” to all four sides of the paper. Cut. You will fold the excess paper and glue it to the backside of the cover.  (The excess paper will be hidden by the accordion. This will become clearer in the next step.)
4.  Fold down and glue the corners first. Then fold down and glue the sides. Apply thicker glue when using thicker paper. Allow to dry. Use pressure so that the paper sticks firmly to the cardboard.
5.  Check the accordion paper against the cover and trim paper if necessary. Glue one folded section of the accordion to the inside of one of the covers. Glue the other end to the other cover.  Apply pressure and allow the glue to dry.
6.  Mount the photos using double-sided mounting squares. Decorate the cover with stickers, stamped art, markers, cut paper, sequins, and more.
Happy Father’s Day!

VARIATION: Don’t want to download photos? Sketch a self-portrait of you and family members instead!

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Jan12

Kid’s Crafts: HOLIDAY BANNERS! Introduction

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Kid’s Crafts: HOLIDAY BANNERS! Introduction

HOLIDAY BANNERS! 

INTRODUCTION

The Seasons, the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars

In the ancient world, people were fearful and ignorant of the ways of the sun, moon and stars, but they sought to understand nature and its power over their lives. They did not know how to read or write so they drew pictures when they wanted to express their fears, thoughts and feelings.

Ancient people lived and worked in groups or communities and hunted, fished and lived off the land. They planted crops, and at the end of the year, they held a festival to celebrate the results of their hard work. The ancient people called this festival the Harvest.  Festivals became a way for the community to express their appreciation of their heritage, to honor the dead, or to recognize important historical events and their national leaders as well as enjoy the bounty of their hard work. It was a time for the community’s leaders to pass on their wisdom and knowledge to the young. These are some of the reasons why we still hold festivals.

We still celebrate the Harvest every autumn with Oktoberfest celebrations and other similar events. Today, most people know how to read and write, but many continue to express themselves through art like our ancestors who lived long ago. We use art to express our celebration of a special holiday or season. Making banners are one way of doing this. We use them to decorate our homes, businesses and schools. We can make these banners large or small and as colorful as we want to make them. Now you, too, can make these banners, just follow the easy directions provided below. Children and adults can make them together or individually at home, school, place of worship, or community center.

BASIC SUPPLIES

Here are some basic supplies that you will need on hand for all the banner designs (some of which are found at home, at the office or school):

Yardstick/ruler

Iron/ironing board

String

Pen or marker

Scissors

Tacky glue

Dowel rods

Popsicle sticks

Pencil/eraser

Paper towels

Felt**

Craft foam sheets**

Poster board

Flexible curve

Templates or stencils

Drawn shapes free-hand or use household products used instead of stencils or templates: round or square plates (large or small), pieces of cardboard and cookie cutters. Use rulers for measuring or use the width of a ruler to draw a wide stripe. The edge of a frame can serve as a triangle. Three hearts whose points meet in the center and stem form a shamrock. Look around you and see the shapes that exist in your home, office or school. Use your imagination.

**Felt squares and craft foam sheets come in various colors and sizes. You can buy them at craft stores as well as online. If you are going to create all the banners in this e-book, see how many foam sheets of each color you will need. For example, if you need a lot of red, it makes sense to buy a large sheet of red instead of one or two small sheets. Do your research first.

 PATTERNS

If you do not want to use the patterns provided at the end of the e-book, feel free to draw freehand or to find objects that you can trace. Clip art, picture encyclopedias, and photographs all give visual information about the objects mentioned in this book. The Internet has websites that offer free clip art, photographs and more. Check the information on the website before using. Use these options or none and instead rely on your imagination to create ideas.

 

STUFF TO KNOW

Feel free to change the measurements. It’s okay to make mistakes. Use your imagination when making those mistakes and include them in the design of the banner. Change colors, combine designs or use your own ideas and you will see that your banner is as beautiful as the original designs in this e-book.

All banners take about one hour to make but that depends on how fast you work. The point is to have fun making them.

COMING SOON: ST. VALENTINE’S DAY CRAFT

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