Our kindergarteners just finished a fun paper cookie collage project. We used real cookie cutters as tracers to create our own paper cookies. Here’s one ‘cookie cutter art project’ you and your students will really enjoy.
Materials:
large colorful paper plates, one per person
paper doilies, one per person
manila paper, 9″x12″
construction paper, light brown and dark brown, 9″x12″
cookie cutters in simple shapes (star, heart, bell, gingerbread men)
circle tracers (old lids)
pencil
construction paper crayons
optional: metallic crayons
glue stick
scissors
Kindergarteners trace real cookie cutters onto brown paper, decorate with construction paper crayons, and glue onto a paper plate. Allow 60 minutes.
The Art Project
Pass out brown papers and a variety of cutters for each table. Students trace a cutter, then swap cutters with their neighbors. We were able to fit about five large ‘cookies’ on each sheet of paper.
Decorate with ‘frosting’ (color with construction paper crayons).
Now get the paper plate ready. Rub glue stick all over the front of the plate, place doily on glue and pat down. Cut out the cookies and use glue sick to attach them to the doily. Overlapping is fine.
We added a few final decorations with metallic crayons.
Mural project by Shirley Dieffenbach, art teacher, Williamsport High School, Williamsport, PA. School Arts Magazine, June 1965
Here is a write up of a BIG copper repousse group art project for high school. It was written by art teacher Shirley Dieffenbach and appeared in School Arts Magazine, June 1965.
“I had considered the idea for several years of using a craft project for a mural or wall hanging to enhance our school building.
I wanted this group project to be one where many students would have a chance to participate and display their combined yet individual artistic expression.
The students chose copper metal repousse for the medium and technique. Initially I motivated the students by demonstrating the process of tooling on copper and showing various completed pieces of work. After their enthusiasm had been brought to a high pitch I suggested that we all pool our efforts in both Art II classes of approximately 30 students, each of which included students with good, bad, or indifferent art ability. In several cases this craft demonstrated that students with limited art ability or talent could accomplish a successful work.
The subject we chose to illustrate, as a group, was the various phases of our high school life. After hours of research to make sure we had listed all the departments and activities of our school, we launched the project and each art students chose one activity to illustrate. The design could proceed from either one of an abstract nature or from a realistic approach, depending on how the student wished to work.
After a week or two some of the finished pieces were completed, including the oxidizing and polishing processes which definitely enhanced the finished projects. A coat of brushing lacquer was was brushed on each piece to preserved the polished luster.
We then chose the proper setting where we wanted the mural to hang and ordered the plywood and frame lumber on which the individual pieces of meal work were to be mounted.
Several students were chosen to lay out the various pieces so as to form a balanced and interesting arrangement. Between the individual pieces of work we nailed stripping of half round wood, which was stained a dull green to complement the color of the polished copper. This wood stripping was measured and cut to fit around the particular space and in such as way as to hold the metal piece in place. The students who had some carpentry experience fitted, mitered, cut and nailed the pieces together to give it a finished professional look.
As each student finished his individual piece of work, he was most interested in observing how the whole pattern would finnaly fall into place. They were beginning to visualize the finished copper mural as it might look hanging on the wall of the foyer of our school.
Our goal was to have it installed by commencement time, which we accomplished after a great deal of effort on everyone’s part. The end result has been a most rewarding teaching-learning experience. The combined expression of delight and interest form both faculty and students has brought the Art department a great deal of publicity, commendation, and support which is always welcome by both faculty and students. However, the greatest value to come from such a group endeavor is to hear the remarks of pride from the many students who contributed their individual artistic effort to a common esthetic goal.”
High school students create group art mural using individual copper repousse designs.
These black and white photos do not do the mural justice. I looked around the web for a color photo, hoping this mural was still hanging 50 years later.
Looks like the mural is no longer around, but guess what? The art teacher is!
On January 8, 2014, art teacher Shirley Dieffenbach turned 94 years old. She is the oldest living art teacher in Williamsport, PA. Click here to learn about her. I am honored to share her work so that others can benefit from it.
Enjoy!
Happy Throwback Thursday! Stop by on Thursdays to see what other cool things I’ve unearthed from my stash of vintage art ed magazines.
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!
Helen Shirk is a San Diego artist and Professor of Art known for her metalwork and jewelry. I recently had the pleasure of viewing necklaces from Shirk’s Traces series on exhibit at San Diego’s Mingei International Museum. Even better – I got to participate in a Shirk-inspired paper jewelry activity taught by the Museum’s Education Department. The art project is so much fun – I just have to share their lesson!
‘Crimson Glory’ necklace by Helen Shirk, 2011. Steel, oxidized silver and china paint.
We had two options for our silhouette necklace project: 1) a quick, 30-minute project using paper punches or 2) an hour-long project using real traced leaves. Both options focus on organic shapes and repetition.
Materials for both projects
black construction paper
card stock
glue sticks
yarn
scissors
tape
Project 1: 30-minute Punched Paper Silhouette Necklace
Additional material – paper punches in organic shapes (like these leaf , branch, butterfly, and dove punches).
We punched paper shapes from black and colored papers, then glued them to a background and added yarn to form a necklace. Click here and here for the lesson plan, written by the excellent Education Department of the Mingei International Museum.
Shirk-inspired necklace made with craft punches and card stock. Teacher example.
Here is my Shirk inspired design!
Project 2: Traced Silhouette Necklace
Additional material: natural materials such as leaves, twigs and flowers.
Shirk-inspired paper necklace made by tracing leaves onto black and white paper. Teacher example.
Helen Shirk’s Trace necklaces are on display at the Mingei Museum through January 5, 2014 as part of the Allied Craftsmen Today exhibit. For more examples of Helen Shirk’s jewelry, click here.
I wrote about the Mingei’s Chihuly chandelier – click here to see their fabulous 30-Minute Chihuly Chandelier project.
Special Notice for San Diego Teachers and Parents:
Teachers: Do you want to take your class to the Mingei Museum? The Mingei provides free admission for all K-12th grade tours as long as they’re scheduled in advance.
Parents: The Mingei is free to San Diego county residents and military the third Tuesday of the month. Monthly Family Sundays offer admission and fun activities for just $5/family. Go to www.mingei.org for more details.
Face Form for Mask Making – $1.99
