Got old CD cases? Here’s a great way to use them: create greeting cards using oil pastels and Sharpie. Our 5th and 6th graders made Valentines, birthday cards and more during a single 40-minute class.
Materials:
CD jewel cases (trays removed)
oil pastels
Sharpies
rubbing alcohol
baby oil
baby wipes for clean up
Several students made birthday cards. One made a farewell card. Another made a card consoling his father on the Bronco’s loss in the Superbowl.
Sharpie on the Outside, Oil Pastel on the inside
Students start by drawing a design on the front of the CD case using a black Sharpie. Then they open up the case and color the inside with oil pastel. The process is repeated on the back of the case. A lot of students wrote personal messages on the back of the case.
Correcting Mistakes:
It’s easy to fix mistakes. Rubbing alcohol will remove Sharpie. Baby oil will remove oil pastel. Our 5th and 6th graders fixed their own mistakes.
Keep it neat:
CD cases trap the oil pastel-mess on the inside of the case. These greeting cards can travel home without making a mess in the backpack.
At clean up time, wipe down the tables with baby wipes.
EASY! Plus you are keeping those old CD cases out of the dump!
In honor of Valentine’s Day, our fourth graders created iPad LOVE stamps using the free Face on Stamp Booth app.
What are Love Stamps?
For 40 years, the U.S.Postal Service LOVE stamp series has featured a wide range of subjects, including flowers, Victorian lace, cherubs, swans, candy hearts, and abstract designs. I showed our students the U.S. Postal Service love stamp slide show. Then I told them we would be creating our own LOVE stamps!
The U.S. Postal Service issues an annual Love Stamp. The program began in 1973.
Step 1: Create heart art
Fourth graders used oil pastels to create these hearts.
We started with a fine art project. We used oil pastels to create these hearts. Instructions in my free Jim Dine heart art Keynote. This step took two 40-minute sessions.
Step 2: Use iPads and Face on Stamp app
After the students finished their heart drawings, they photographed their art using the Face on Stamp Booth app. Next they added text. I encouraged students to add text found on real postage stamps, such as USA, Forever, Love, date, and stamp price. A lot of kids added their favorite activities (soccer, archery, golf, cheer, basketball etc.) Click here to see even more iPad Love Stamps in our Artsonia gallery.
Step 3: Create a collage (‘sheet of stamps’)
After completing their iPad love stamps, students emailed them to me. I created a grid of the photos using my computer and the free Pic Monkey collage maker. You could also use an iPad and the free Pic Collage app.
Students uses fine art, free Face on Stamp Booth app plus iPads to create individual ‘Love Stamps’.
End result: wow! Students were very pleased both with their heart art and with their iPad love stamps.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite art project for Valentine’s Day project?
Thinking about a Winter Olympic art project? Why not make your own sport trophy for your favorite Olympic event? Our fifth graders created these sport trophies using floral wire, foil, and plaster wrap. Accessories were made from toothpicks and popsicle sticks. We used acrylic paint or metallic spray paint (everyone can ‘get a gold’ if you use gold spray paint!). Everything was attached to a wooden base. You’ll need reference photos as well.
Click here to see all my links to my favorite sculpture supplies. You can also find the floral wire at Michael’s and my favorite pop-up pre-cut foil at Costco and Smart and Final.
Click here, here, and here to see more examples and the complete lesson plan.
I taught this project to adults as well – they were able to create the unpainted trophies in about an hour. At the elementary level, this took us 6-8 sessions at 40 minutes per class. Middle and high school students with NICE LONG CLASS PERIODS (envy envy envy) should be able to do this in a couple of weeks.
Our students look forward to this project for years. They treasure their trophies for years after. A lot of work, but worth it.
What’s the most popular, most anticipated project in the entire art program? Our plaster masks! Every year the 5th graders create masks using nothing more than plaster wrap and foil (and maybe a few yogurt cups). Painted and embellished with yarn and glitter, they hang in the art room until they star in the spring art show.
5th graders used plaster wrap and foil to create fanciful masks.
Plaster wrap is plaster-coated cotton gauze. It is similar to the material used to cast broken bones. Dip it in water, and it hardens within minutes.
Learning about masks
The week before the art project, we learn about masks. Masks can be used for plays and dances, for rituals, for protection, for celebrations (such as Halloween), or just for decoration. I bring in my entire mask collection from around the world. I distribute the masks between the tables, and we do a rotation so that everyone can try on all the masks. I show the kids all the students photos of the student masks from 2012. I also posted a link to all the masks at the Mingei Museum in San Diego, just in case they wanted to do some research at home.
Start by covering the outside of the plastic armature or face form with foil (this keeps the armature clean so we can re-use it next year). Next, cover the outside of the armature with three layers of plaster wrap (dipped in water). After applying the wet plaster, students should smooth it with their fingers. Let dry overnight.
Warning! Don’t Pour the Plaster Water Down the Drain!
At the end of class, DO NOT DUMP THE PLASTER WATER DOWN THE DRAIN (Never. That plaster will harden in the drain and cause a nasty, expensive clog). Instead, pour all the plaster water into the 5-gallon bucket and put it in a corner. By morning, the heavy plaster will have settled to the bottom of the bucket, leaving clear water at the top. Pour off the clear water. Don’t dump the plaster residue. Stick the bucket back in the corner until the next class.
Days 2-4: Add facial features and horns
Prep as you did for the last class. Pass out scissors.
Most facial features such as eyes, nose and lips can be made by adding wadded or rolled wet plaster strips. For a snout, use an inverted yogurt cup covered with plaster strips. Students can cut plaster into smaller strips if desired.
Horns can be made using twisted foil. Just shape the foil, and ‘tape’ it to the face using strips of plaster. Then wrap the horn in plaster strips, starting at the base of the horn. You can use this technique to make tusks, arms, etc.
Horns are made from twisted foil covered with plaster wrap. Snout is an inverted yogurt cup covered with plaster wrap.
M’s mammoth mask has ears made from paper plates covered with two layers of plaster wrap. Trunk was made from yogurt cups, foil and plaster wrap. B’s villain mask has horns made from foil covered in plaster wrap.
Big elephant ears (and bird wings) were made using cut paper plates covered in two layers of plaster wrap.
Remove the armature and throw away the foil covering. Paint mask with acrylic paint. (Note: I have had bad results painting plaster with tempera. It cracked and flaked off. If you absolutely must use tempera, put some white glue in the paint).
Day 6: Decorate
Decorate the masks with yarn, glitter, etc. White glue works really well with yarn. Use hot glue to add heavier decorations.
Attach a binder clip to the top of the mask and pin to the wall.
Reflection:
I’m not going to lie – this is the most challenging project I offer to any grade any year, both for me and for the students. It is completely open-ended – they can make any sort of mask, and use any decoration I have in the art room. I have two parent volunteers most weeks for this project. It would be easier if I had more than 40 minutes per class, especially because I have to allow 7 minutes for clean up.
End of project plaster clean up
What to do with a bucket of plaster goo? After you have poured off all the clear water, scoop all the remaining plaster goo from the bottom of the bucket into an old cardboard box and throw the box away.
Vintage ad for Pariscraft plaster bandage fish sculpture. School Arts magazine, February 1972.
Check out these instructions for a plaster fish made on a balloon armature. This is an ad for Pariscraft plaster wrap I found in the February 1972 issue of School Arts magazine.
You’ll need the following materials :
Pariscraft or other plaster wrap
Balloon, 7-8″
Scissors
Old cereal box or light cardboard
Tape
Dowel
Wooden base
Acrylic paint
Old bowl for dipping
Doesn’t it look amazing? Can you imagine a display of these at the art show?
You can still get Paris Craft at Amazon. I have never used this brand – I’ve had great success with Pacon Plast’r Craft plaster wrap. Click here to read my tips for handling plaster wrap in class.
Happy throwback Thursday! Stop by on Thursdays and see what else I’ve found in my stash of vintage art Ed magazines.
Enjoy!
p.s. Remember – never pour plaster water down the drain!
Face Form for Mask Making – $1.99
