Christmas Crafting

Christmas Crafting
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

Can you spell delinquent forwards and backwards?
This blog has surely lost all of its tiny readership, but we're alive, if you're still reading. Ellen had a baby, Sally lost a dog, and her father- all in the last six months. Distraction doesn't begin to cover it. But I am slowly getting back to crafty goodness with Sophie and Christmas is inspiring. I have a few good links to share too. All in good time . . .

In the Act

in the act -day11
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

How I love this.

Recipe for Valentines

Valentines
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

Taken straight from Sally's post below- Sophie , John, and I made Valentines this weekend! These were stupidly easy and fun, great for last minute mass production if your kiddo needs four dozen for school parties. Simply draw hearts on any old paper with oil pastels (we recycled big pieces of old drawing paper). Red pastels seemed to be most vivid. Next year Sophie will be able to make her own hearts, but she helped me scribble nonetheless.

Paint all over the page with tempera cakes or watercolors. As a final fun touch, Sophie added a wash of silver glitter paint (the Prang variety is perfect). Cut roughly around the hearts, add messages on the back, and voila! Valentines that are beautiful and personal!!

ps- have you seen Sally's new pup, Maisie? So very cute.

dog art

I made several monoprints with our beloved Harlie shortly before she passed away. Her paws were beautiful to me. I painted india ink on her pad and pressed paper over it. Her paw pads were black, but for humans I suggest tempera mixed with a drop of liquid soap.

Handprints and footprints are timeless... think about the handprints made by early humans on cave walls. I'm reminded of a large scale variation. This is a fun activity for a small group.

Put a shallow layer of tempera in a big pan; a baking sheet works well. Add a spoonful of liquid soap for easy clean up. Roll out a big sheet of paper on the floor. Butcher or kraft paper works, or use pages of newspaper. Have the artist walk and dance across the paper. Hold onto both hands! The paint is very slippery. Have some big objects available to add more prints if you wish...toilet plungers, old shoes,sponges,toy cars to roll.

Mixed Media Experiments

Aren't oil pastels the best? I love to combine them with the tempera cakes and then put a layer of glitter paint over the top. This is an example from one of my kindergarten students, using all three media in a kind of Warholish design.
I'm still trying to figure out a recipe for a really transparent glitter paint. Any ideas?

Art Caddy

Art Caddy
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

Our new art caddy, ready for a year of making things. The top drawer is markers, crayons, oil pastels, and pencils. The middle holds brushes, stickers, glitter paints, Play-dough, cookie cutters, watercolors, Wiki Stix. The bottom drawer has all of our powdered tempera and paint pots. More fun to come . . .

Tempera Cakes

Tempera Cakes
Originally uploaded by ellenjohnrubicon

A second awesome Christmas gift from the beloved GreatAunt Sally- tempera cakes! They work like watercolors, but way more vibrant and fun. Sophie picked up the "water first, then touch your color" instructions quickly, and set to work "making purple, making brown, making brown an purple together!" I'm sure these are easily home-makeable with tempera powder and some other ingredients. I'm off to investigate.

Meanwhile, we're planning Sophie's birthday teapARTy to include glitter painting (outside) and maybe a mural with her friend's outlines traced on the wall. It should be fun. Much more to come- and Happy New Year!!