Faberge Eggs -- Upper Elementary

So I wanted to do something for Easter that wasn't specifically "Easter" so I thought Faberge eggs would be nice since they incorporate some very famous art, some use of recycled materials and can be finished in any number of ways depending on how long you have to work on the project.

I was inspired for this idea by a book that I found at a local Used Book Superstore. The book pages are puzzles!

Faberge Treasures Jigsaw Puzzle Book from the Forbes Collection

Another great book resource is Faberge Fantasies and Treasures by Geza Von Harsburg:

The materials to start this project are very easy to find: newspaper (torn up), Elmer's art paste, larger plastic Easter eggs (found at the dollar store):

Step one: Cover the eggs with at least three or four layers of newspaper that has been dipped in the art paste. Since this will have to dry completely before the next step, you may want to allow students who work faster to make more than one egg.

Step two: When the paper mache is completely dry, use an x-acto blade to cut a seam around the middle. This is not safe for students to do on their own. The paper egg should easily come off the plastic one. If you want to save time you can leave the egg in the middle and go on to step four in the first class.

Step three: Then have students tape them closed again.

Step four: Add a layer or two of white paper over the newspaper. I used torn printer paper. Then add a few layers of white tissue paper over that for a nicer finish. Let dry again.

Step five: Decorating! For this step there are many options. Depending on how much time you have you can combine some of these with step four (if you are using tissue paper to decorate) or you can allow a full class time to complete the decorating.

Using tissue paper is a favorite option of mine because when applied with glossy Mod Podge it gives a jewel-like finish. Paint is another option: either tempera or watercolor. I really liked using the watercolor. I suppose you could all out glitter, but I didn't try that one. To get puffy gold paint I actually added gold paint to Elmer's white glue in the bottle so that the tip could be used as the applicator to get the line work. Glitter Mod Podge is nice (see the red egg). Prang makes a nice selection of metallic markers that look good over the painted eggs (see the dark purple egg). Embellishments up the bling factor (like sequin strands and rhinestones). The biggest thing, I think, is that the eggs be shiny, so they should all be coated with some type of gloss, either the Mod Podge that I used on all the eggs or some other gloss medium or varnish.

 This egg was drawn on with blue permanent marker, then layers of two shades of blue tissue paper were applied with glossy Mode Podge. Once that was dry (about 5 minutes), the gold was added with the glue bottle. That is the hardest part because it will drip and it is difficult to hold the egg while applying the decoration. It also takes a while for the thick gold glue to dry. Once it is dry hot glue the rhinestones on.

 This egg was painted with purple tempera (red and blue mixed together), allowed to dry (about 5 - 10 minutes), coated with glossy Mod Podge (dry again for about 5 - 10 minutes), and then drawn on with the metallic markers by Prang.

 This egg was painted with red tempera, allowed to dry (about 5 minutes), coated with glittery Mod Podge (dry again for 5 - 10 minutes), then the sequin strands and rhinestones are applied with hot glue.

 This egg was first drawn on with the gold glue to create sections for the colors, this had to dry and again was difficult to do. Also the egg has to be held while it dries unless you don't apply the gold to one of the tips. After about 20 minutes of drying time, the sections were painted using wet Q-tips and watercolors, which dried fairly quickly. Then apply a layer of gloss or glitter Mod Podge. The rhinestones were hot glued on.

This egg may be my favorite. It was decorated with dark blue tissue paper applied with Glossy Mod Podge. Shades of pink tissue paper were cut into diamond shapes and collaged over that. Tissue paper circles were collaged on the top and bottom. The gold glue was used to make the dots. The metallic markers were used to outline the shapes. The gold glue was also applied to the tip and a rhinestone was pressed into that.

Bitty Bugs -- Kindergarten

These bitty bugs are perfect as the warmer weather approaches and insects start to appear in gardens. The idea developed from one that I saw while doing my student teaching. It was October, near Halloween, and my supervising practitioner had the kindergarten students create a spider using white model magic that they painted with black tempera and pushed pipe cleaner legs into. Wiggle eyes were hot glued on after the paint dried. The students also drew a web with chalk on black paper. By the end of the class the paint was dry and the eyes were on so the spiders went home with their webs.

For my idea I wanted to experiment with other bugs. So I made a bee, a lady bug, a dragonfly, and a version of the inspirational spider.

To make the bee: roll a small amount of yellow model magic (about 2"square out of the pkg) into a ball; gently flatten the ball; press in the legs, stinger and antennae; color in the black stripes and head; press in the wings; let dry overnight; glue on eyes.

yellow model magic, black Sharpie, pipe cleaners, wiggle eyes

To make the lady bug: begin the same as the bee but with red; press in legs and antennae; color in spots and head; let dry overnight; glue on eyes.

red model magic, black Sharpie, pipe cleaners, wiggle eyes

To make the dragonfly: use about the same amount of model magic, but roll into a coil that tapers at the tail; press in legs, antennae and wings; let dry overnight; glitter by coating body with Elmer's glue, dropping into a baggie with chosen glitter color(s) and shake until coated; remove from baggie and glue on wiggle eyes.

any color model magic (I mixed yellow and black and got a mossy green), pipe cleaners, wiggle eyes, Elmer's glue, glitter

To make the spider: begin the same as the bee; snip a mouth with scissors; press in legs, antennae and fangs; add a bit of glue in the mouth; sprinkle red glitter on the glue; let dry overnight; glue on wiggle eyes.

black model magic, red glitter, pipe cleaners, Elmer's glue, wiggle eyes

Tips:

Remind students to handle the model magic gently when rolling and when pressing in the parts. Otherwise they'll end up with smooshed bugs.

Hot glue the eyes on. They'll stay attached better that way. And while you are at it, you may have to secure some of the pipe cleaner parts with hot glue as well.

Add to the menagerie with other creepy crawlies like segmented caterpillars, snails, ants, green-eyed flies, etc.

Extend the lesson even more with painting, drawing or collage to create flowers, plants, or habitats for the bugs to live on/in. Display with insect facts, a butterfly net, mosquito netting, etc.

Interdisciplinary potential: Link to a science unit in the regular classroom. Adapt to suit the grade that is studying insects (I think it might be grade 2 in Massachusetts). Have students learn the parts of their insects' anatomy.

Felt Heart Sachets -- Teens & Adults

This is a nice little sewing project for teens or adults. The sewing part makes it too complicated for younger students unless done in small groups like an after school art club where you can focus on teaching the stitches.


The materials are felt, ribbon, embroidery floss (and stitching needle), scissors, any heart shaped objects or tracers, felt scrap or fiber fill stuffing, and this one has dried lavender for scent.

Step 1: Trace 2 larger hearts onto felt and cut them out. Trace one smaller heart and add a scalloped edge if desired; cut that out too. Cut a few short lengths of ribbon (about 8 inches each).

Step 2: Use a running stitch and embroidery floss or thick thread to attach the smaller heart to one of the larger ones.

Step 3: Make a bow with one of the ribbons and use a few stitches to attach it to the front of the smaller heart.

Step 4: Place the second large heart under the one you've been working on, make sure the small heart and ribbon are now on the outside (not the inside) because you don't turn this project.

Step 5: Use a blanket stitch to attach the two large hearts together; start at the point on the bottom and work around. Make sure the hanging ribbon is inserted at the top and sewn into place at this stage. Leave about an inch to an inch and a half open with the thread still hanging.

Step 6: Put some dried lavender into the opening and finish stuffing with scraps or fiber fill. Complete stitching the opening closed. Tie off with a knot and back stitch through the other stitches before cutting the thread.

Project completed!

Gettin' Sticky! Duct Tape Creations Ages 10 and up

There are four weeks of art camp, and each week I ran a different mini-course. Week one and week two were soap carving and paper mache. Week three was DUCT TAPE! It was rolls of fun to make wallets, accessories and flowers from color duct tape. The students had fun trying to make their own things beyond the projects I demonstrated.

Here are just a few of the things that I managed to get them to let me hold onto for display; the others got taken home as fast as they were made:

Paper Mache Mini-Course Ages 10 and up

Another mini-course that I ran this summer at Art at Tower summer camp was a paper mache class where the students could make anything they chose, including bowls and animals, etc. Instead of using paint, however, I had them use torn color tissue paper to finish the pieces. I must say I really love the look of this technique!

Here are a few fabulous results from this summer's mini-course:

Sudsy! Soap Carvings Ages 10 and up

At Art at Tower I ran a one week mini-course on soap carving. While the first day ended up being more like a course on making piles of soap shavings, by bar number two the kids got the hang of it and crafted some pretty awesome creations. Some made seashells or their initials. Architectural elements were very popular, as were animals.

Here are just a few of the more successful carving attempts:

This Little Light Of Mine: Stained Glass Votives Levels 3 - 5

Here is the description from the wall label:

Jesus tells his followers to “Be Light and Salt.” In this project students thought about what this might mean to them. They also learned about different Christian symbols that have been used in art to represent this message. Then, they created their own luminous designs on clear acetate, which were later turned into beautiful votives.

Materials used:

• Acetate sheets
• Cardboard
• Gold paint
• Sharpies
• Pencils
• Sketch paper
• Tape
• Battery-powered tea lights

Communion of Saints Puppets Levels K, 1 & 2

Here is the description from the wall label:
Our youngest students were introduced to the lives of the saints in the creation of hand puppets. They carefully chose their puppets’ costumes, hair coloring and accessories. Then with the help of many parents and teachers they used scissors and glue to create unique puppets of many different saints who together form the communion of saints in heaven.

Materials used:

• Pre-made muslin hand puppets
• Fabrics
• Yarn
• Felt
• Wiggle Eyes
• Bead
• Misc. Items
• Elmer's glue
• Hot glue (teacher use)
• Scissors

Fruit of the Vine Mobiles Level 2

Here is the description from the wall label:

Students in the First Communion class learn about the sacrament of Eucharist and the consecration of the bread and the wine. During the Last Supper, Christ refers to the wine, symbolic of his blood, as the fruit of the vine. In this instance it is both the grapes that grow on a literal vine and it is Christ as the fruit with God as the vine. The mobiles themselves were created with paper the students hand-painted using a sponging technique. From this paper bunches of grapes were cut and assembled. Fishing line, chenille stems, and bamboo skewers were also used to finish off the mobiles design.

Materials used:

• Tempera Paints (yellow, green, blue, purple)
• Sponges
• Brushes
• Oak tag paper
• Pipe cleaners
• Bamboo skewers
• Fishing line
• Foam squares
• Grape and Leaf Tracers
• Scissors
• Pencils
• Black Sharpies

Fisher's Of Men Bottle Fish Levels K & 1

Here is the description from the wall label:

Jesus invites us to be fisher’s of men, just as He asked this of his apostles. We are all followers of Christ and compelled to share our faith through our words and our actions. In our missionary efforts we spread the word of Christ by talking about our beliefs. The early Christians, under the threat of persecution, did the same thing. However, they had a secret code that allowed them to know if the person to whom they were speaking was a Christian. Knowing that fish reappear in many of the gospels, they adopted the fish as a symbol of their beliefs. When meeting another person they would draw an arc in the dirt. If the other person drew a second arc, completing the fish symbol, then they could speak freely about their faith. Students were introduced to the Christian symbol of the fish in the making of their own fish using primarily recyclable materials.

Materials used:

• Empty water bottles
• Easter basket grass
• Wiggle eyes
• Fun Foam
• Fin & Tail tracers
• Scissors
• Pencils
• Hot glue (teacher use)