Preschool Art: Abstract Art, Line Drawing Necklaces with Shrinky Dinks!

This was a fun and easy project. It would be great for all ages. With my group of preschoolers I just had to take care of the tracing, cutting, hole punching, and of course, the shrinking in my toaster oven.

You will need:

• Shrink plastic (I used the original Shrinky Dinks brand, just like my childhood days in the 70's. You will want the Rough and Ready. It has a slightly rough side) I purchased mine at Michael's.
• Black Sharpie markers (fine point) and (extra fine point)
• Colored Pencils
• A hole punch (medium size)
• A playing card (for tracing)
• Parchment paper or a piece of a brown paper bag
• Thin yarn for the necklace
• A toaster oven, or conventional oven
• Oven mitt 
• A large flat lid or something similar to flatten piece when it comes out of oven
• Optional - small jump rings. Or just tie a slip knot. (I used jump rings because I am also a jewelry maker and I had them handy) 

Let's get started:

 Use a sharpie marker to trace around a playing card, on to shrink plastic paper. This image shows the difference in size after the piece has been shrunk.

Cut out, keeping the tracing line visible. (I did the cutting) Instruct children to do a little line drawing on their piece and then color in the spaces with vibrant colored pencils. Have them sign their masterpieces. (or you write their name) 

Punch a hole in the center.

Here's a shot of a few of them all together before shrinking. Aren't they fun?

Place on a piece of parchment paper or brown paper bag, one at a time in the toaster oven. In a conventional oven, you could do a few at a time. Follow manufacturers instructions for oven temperature.

Set timer for 3 minutes. They are really fun to watch! They twist and curl a bit as they shrink. If supervised, kids love to watch this part!

Remove from oven. They cool and set hard really fast. Have a large, flat, metal lid handy to gently press flat if it appears that it is kind of bent looking. Work quickly.

String a piece of colorful yarn through and tie a not. Wear proudly! 

For more fun projects for children of all ages, see my Preschool Art Page. 

Preschool Art: Coffee Filter Snails

This is a fun, colorful and fairly easy art project for children of all ages. My preschoolers loved it!

You will need:

• Coffee filters
• Construction paper (choose colors that markers will show up on)
• Black construction paper (for mounting)
• White construction paper or other paper (to lay wet coffee filters on to dry)
• Markers (non-permanent ink)
• Black Sharpie (fine point)
• White or light-colored crayon (to add the tentacles at the very end of the project)
• Glitter Glue
• White sticker labels (for artist signature)
• Spray bottle filled with water
• Glue (to glue the pieces to the black construction paper)
• White poster board or card stock (to create the snail body template)
• Scissors (for cutting out the snail bodies)

Let's Get Started:

Step one: Create a snail body template from white poster board or card stock. If the class is large, create several. Size it to fit on a standard sheet of construction paper. (as shown above)

Have children trace the snail body onto their choice of construction paper.

Step two: Cut out the snail bodies and have the children color them with markers. Don't forget to add a cute little face. (younger children may need assistance with cutting)

Step three: Instruct children to draw a swirl on the flattened coffee filters with the black Sharpie. Use the colored (non-permanent) markers to decorate the snail's coffee filter shell.

Step four: Give each child a piece of white paper and write their name in the corner with the Sharpie. Lay the decorated coffee filters on the paper and spray lightly with water; watch how the marker colors blend. The children loved this part! 

Step five: Gently lift the coffee filters up and move them every few minutes to prevent sticking while they are still quite wet. The other fun thing about this part is that they make a beautiful print. The kids loved this part, as well and were thrilled to take their print home as a piece of art too! Allow to dry. (may take overnight)

Step six: When decorated coffee filters are dry, place several dots of glitter glue of your choice on a sheet of scrap paper. (I used a 3x5 index card) Instruct children to dip a finger in the glitter glue and dab it on their snail bodies and shells. The glitter adds a beautiful, sparkling finishing touch.

Step seven: Glue the snail body to the black construction paper. Then glue the coffee filter shell on, as shown above. Have the children make two little tentacles on top of the snails head with a light-colored crayon. Add their name tags, as well. 

For more Preschool age (or older) art projects see my Preschool Art page. 

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DIY: Repurpose Art Project - A Great Way to Create Beauty Out of Garbage - Scripture Cubes

My very favorite way to create continues to be making something beautiful out of something otherwise destined for the garbage or recycling bin. It feels so darn good! It's both challenging and thrifty, which appeals to me on so many levels. I've found that boxes that once held products or crackers, cereal, and more are a great way to create free (or almost free) canvases for painting or mixed-media collage. If I'm not recycling it, I'm saving it to create with. You can too!

For this project you will need

• Face cream or other small box
• Masking tape
• White Acrylic Gesso (I use Liquitex brand)
• Acrylic craft paints
• Paint brushes
• Stylist (for tiny dots)
• Pencil and high quality eraser (I love a white graphic eraser)

A small face cream box makes the perfect cube for short Bible verses or quotes.

Cover entire the box with masking tape, being sure to cover the box openings and seams.

Paint with one coat of gesso to prepare the surface to paint.

Choose your colors of acrylic craft paints. I use plastic lids from yogurt and cream cheese containers as great little pallets.

Paint the box in an abstract way, blending and adding color. Tip: always use a bit of white when painting in this style.

 Paint entire cube

Lightly pencil in your verse.

Use black paint and a thin liner brush to write your verse.  I also added flourishes and vines, leaves, little berries, etc... Get creative. The stylist is a tool I am never without. It's a perfect little dot maker.

On my first box, I used a Sharpie. That proved to be a mistake. The surface of the cube is bumpy and the Sharpie also was not consistent with the darkness of the ink. So, I went back to what I love the most - a good old paint brush!

Here are the Bible verses I chose

Be still and know that I am God. ~Psalm 46:10

Joy comes in the morning. ~Psalm 30:5

For nothing is impossible with God. ~Luke 1:37

For we walk by faith not by sight. ~2 Corinthians 5:7

A cheerful heart is good medicine. ~Proverbs 17:22

Trust in Him at all times. ~Psalm 62:8

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. ~Psalm 118:24

In quietness and trust are your strength. ~Isaiah 30:15

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you Hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

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Toilet Paper Roll Owls - A Quick Peek at how I Create Mine!

These little guys are my very favorite fill-in art project for when I am waiting for paint to dry. Truly! I love to have one going when I am painting glassware. The glass paint has to dry before another layer or detail can be added and I am... impatient! So, these little owls are a simple, fun fill-in. I just free-hand and have fun. You can too. Look up owls online to get inspiration.

I love creating owls out of toilet paper rolls!

Pinch one end of roll

Fold one side of pinched end in

Fold the other side over it

Ta Da! Now get colorful with it!

I start adding colors and features. Each owl is different

And then I add a bunch of fun details

They sit on the shelf above my writing desk and computer until one sells or flies away as a gift to a friend

Sometimes I move them around

This couple looked cute together. My tiny vintage chick likes hanging out with them because these owls are colorful, cute, and friendly.Your small animals are safe with them!

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