| Four Winter Art Projects
White projects:
1) Take all sorts of found materials in white, and make a collage on a colored piece of construction paper. Look for ribbon, fabric, white glitter, pipe cleaners, coffee filters, packing peanuts, salt, sugar, white beans. Point out the different colors of white, that there are always lots of shades of one color.
2) Take a white crayon and color a design on white paper. Use a colored water color and paint over your invisible design, covering the whole page. Magically, the design made by the white crayon will appear.
Rainy or Snowy Day Projects:
Put some powdered tempera paint in a shaker. On a rainy or snowy day, shake colored, powdered tempera paint onto a heavy piece of paper, like card stock. Carry the paper outside, keeping it flat, so the powder won’t move. Place it in the rain or snow. Remove it from the precipitation after just a few minutes, the paint will become liquid and make a beautiful design. (If you don’t have tempera paint, you can try this with shaved colored chalk dust. The colors will NOT be as vibrant, but it will work.
Treasure box:
These make great holiday presents. Take an empty cigar box. Glue different shaped macaroni and pasta on the box. Let glue dry. Spray paint (outside!) the box with gold or silver paint. You can line the inside of the box with felt, if you want. A great gift treasure box!
Hint:
When you do an art project, make a sample of the project to keep. Type up instructions, gather materials, and the sample and store all together in a zip-lock bag. Next time you want a project, everything will be together and waiting. These can be hung on a hanger in a closet, or stored in a big bin. Record your comments as well. Great for babysitters
Marsha Loeb received her BFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition to being the mother of four and grandmother of two, she taught Mommy & Me art classes for 15 years at the Jewish Community Center in Milwaukee. Ms. Loeb held the position of JCC Day Camp Director and Children & Youth Director at the JCC Milwaukee. She also contributed to the book: Taste of Jewish Traditions, (arts and crafts section) published by the Milwaukee JCC.
Fancy February Art Projects
Crayon muffins
Here is a way to use all those old crayon pieces that are just taking up space.
Break stubs into little pieces.
Mix colors and put pieces in muffin tins.
Place in a 200 degree oven that has been turned off.
Let melt, then cool muffins. Pop out of tins.
Ta Da! Children will have multicolored, easy-to-hold crayons!
Golf ball painting
Supplies:
golf ball(s)
paper
sturdy box top or box bigger than the paper
tempera paint
paper cups
plastic spoons
Choose three colors of paint. Put about one inch of each color in a paper cup. Place paper in box. Put golf ball in one color, then remove and place on paper in box. Roll the ball all around box. Now repeat with other colors. This can also be done with a closed box, so child can really move the ball. In this case, the design will be more of a surprise!
Jewelry
Supplies
tube shaped pastas
large beads
washers
straws cut in one inch pieces
length of yarn
Have your child string a necklace in any order they want. You can try coloring the pasta as well. (Soak pasta in a little cold water that has been dyed with STRONG colors.)
Marsha Loeb received her BFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition to being the mother of four and grandmother of two, she taught mommy and me art classes for 15 years at the Jewish Community Center in Milwaukee. Ms. Loeb held the position of JCC Day Camp Director and Children & Youth Director at the JCC Milwaukee. She also contributed to the book: Taste of Jewish Traditions, (arts and crafts section) published by the Milwaukee JCC. |
