This is a fun card to make for any occasion... just vary the colors you use and the shapes you cut to suit the holiday or theme! The pop-out feature inside (see below) is an added bonus!Front of Card: 9” x 12” construction paper (this will form the “base” of your card)3” x 9” paper in a contrasting colorscissors and glue Fold the 9” x 12” paper in half horizontally, to form … [Read more...]
“Hide-a-Heart” Valentines
This lesson is adapted from Karen Card, my children's middle school Art teacher. You can do this versatile project with any grade level, scaling it up or down as needed. It's fun to give kids a little structure and a lot of freedom to be creative.... then watch as all the great ideas start flowing out!1. Talk about how the elements in a design can be obvious or more subtle. … [Read more...]
“Box Fold” Pop-Up Cards
The variations are endless for creating cards with a fun pop-up feature! You can easily change the “heart” element in this design to make cards for any holiday or special occasion. Try putting several pages together to make your own pop-up book! To Make a Box Fold Pop-Up:Begin with two sheets of 9” x 12” construction paper, one for the inside of your card and one for the … [Read more...]
Valentine Card with Negative Space Resist
Use contact paper and masking tape to create a resist for a beautiful watercolor wash background!Materials:Contact paper, 4 pieces 3" x 4"Masking tape or painter's tape (Lessen the tackiness by sticking the tape onto your clothes first, that way it won't tear your paper when you remove it.)ScissorsWatercolor paper, 9”x 12” (the Strathmore “Kids Paint Pad” is a good low-cost … [Read more...]
Kindergarten Stars
Try these simple instructions to teach your kinders how to draw stars. As adults, we make these designs automatically, almost without thinking, but for a five year old drawing their very first star, it's nothing short of magical! Once it "clicks" for them, they will be drawing stars everywhere!First talk about types of lines, concentrating on "diagonal" and "horizontal". … [Read more...]
Origami Crane Ornaments
"An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury.... In Asia, it is commonly said that folding 1000 paper origami cranes makes a person's wish come true. This makes them popular gifts for special friends and family." (from Wikipedia)Origami cranes make … [Read more...]
“Stained Glass” Ornaments
Don't miss this FUN project.... it's a hit year after year!! Students in grade 3 and up will love spreading Christmas cheer when they hang these glowing ornaments on their tree or tie them on packages to give as gifts. All you need is black construction paper, tissue paper in bright colors, scissors and glue sticks.... and the school laminating machine! 1. Take two … [Read more...]
Candy Cane-O-Grams
This "Candy Cane-O-Gram" is a favorite project year after year. It may look like an ordinary paper candy cane, but it contains a special hidden message for it's recipient. Once kids make their first one, they'll be "hooked" and they won't want to stop! 1. Use a ruler to draw parallel lines in holiday colors along the edges of your paper. Make some lines thick and others … [Read more...]
My Good Shepherd
Painting by Sydney, grade 1 When I taught Art at a private Christian School, I would do this lesson every year just before Easter with my first graders. This is one of those projects where the results are totally charming and everyone feels successful.... and the parents love them!! The idea for these adorable watercolor sheep came from a set of Usborne Activity Cards - "50 … [Read more...]
Kids’ Art Gift Wrap
One of my awesome parent volunteers recently shared a great idea with me that I wanted to pass along.... "Kids' Art Gift Wrap"! She was so enthusiastic about it, I couldn't wait to try it myself. Here's how you do it:Roll out a long piece of butcher paper (down a hallway, sidewalk, or wherever you have room) and provide paints, brushes, glitter, etc. for your students to … [Read more...]