Graphic Names

We missed co-op last Friday because about 1/2 of our families were out sick. This is the project from the week before that we finished today. The idea is from the excellent art blog artprojectsforkids.org.

This week we worked with watercolors again. We tried out watercolor crayons. These are like the watercolor colored pencils, but go on more smoothly before adding water. Regular watercolors would work too.

We did a lettering project with graphic impact. We used our names, spaced out on three lines and then outlined the lines and letters in regular crayons. We colored in each space of each letter with a different watercolor color, and then we "painted" them with water. Do each color separately. We talked about graphics, and positive/negative spaces in art. This project made use of the negative spaces between letters to create an abstract, graphic image.

Some kids were done early today, so I offered them other media and card stock paper cut in half and folded to greeting card size. They made cards in this project's style, using words appropriate for any holiday or occasion. Try it with your name and different media, or with the words "happy birthday", "Mom," Dad," or whatever you can imagine.

The first two pictures are the two examples I made to show the kids. The last two pictures are the cards. The great "BOO" card is by Joe W.

Tiny Snowman

Cousin Owen and W. made this cute , tiny snowman last Monday. Not too much snow, but enough for it. Now it's all rained away.

Baked Chicken Pieces

We like chicken this way. Nice for a Sunday dinner. Since you use corn flakes, it is fine for celiacs.

Baked Chicken Pieces

Chicken pieces-legs, thighs, breasts, as desired
Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip

Milk

Corn Flakes, crushed

Salt, Pepper

non-stick cooking spray

Spray pan with non-stick spray. Thin Mayo with milk and whisk until smooth into a cream-like consistency. Salt and pepper chicken pieces and dip individually into mayo/milk mix. Dip into crushed Corn Flakes on both sides and lay into pan. Cover and bake 25 min. at 350 degrees. Uncover and bake 20 min. more to crisp topping. You can also bake uncovered for one hour if you are going to be gone to church, etc.

More White

The low last night was 28 and it is 32 degrees now. Poor corn and beans. Note the leaves still on the deciduous trees.

Early Snow, Late Harvest

This would be a nice picture of snow in the yard, if it was not for all the beans and corn in the fields behind it. We got a few beans in yesterday afternoon before the snow started, but basically the whole crop is still out there. The news said this morning that this snow is about two months early.

Three-D Watercolor Leaves

These watercolor leaves are a great fall project. They make nice decorations or gifts.

We drew or traced a leaf shape on watercolor paper. Cut out two identical leaves. Cut a piece of wire long enough to run the length of the center of the leaf plus enough to make a nice stem. (Jewelry wire or florist's wire work fine. About 20 gauge is a good weight.) Glue the two leaves together, sandwiching the wire between them. Let dry.

We used watercolors to paint the leaves. Paint both sides. Curve the stem wire and wrap the very end in a curl. (See detail in picture.) The dark red and green leaf was splatter painted with white (acrylic) and dusted with clear glitter while paint was still wet.

Clay Pumpkins (Or Mint Pumpkins!)

This is a fun fall project. Very simple. Very impressive.

You need:
Marbles

orange Sculpey clay or similar

whole cloves (in your spice department)

toothpicks

Wrap a marble in orange clay and form it into a pumpkin shape. Flatten bottom a little so it stands firmly. Take a toothpick and put the tip of it in the middle of the top of the pumpkin and roll it vertically down the side. (See picture.) Repeat to make ribs around the pumpkin. Push the whole clove firmly (round end first) into the top to make the stem. The stems tend to break off, but can easily be glued back in after baking.

Check clay package for usage, safety and baking instructions. If you are making these with a group, place each one into a tiny paper (not waxed) cup with names on them, or on small pieces of note paper with names. Bake right in cups or paper on a cookie sheet.

This was actually a cooking project when I first ran across it. The plan was to make pumpkin mints for Thanksgiving. Use any mint recipe and tint it appropriately. Make pumpkins the same way, omitting the marbles step! Very fun, cute and delicious.

Tin Can Pumpkins

This is a craft we did several years ago when my big kids were little.

Here is what you do:

Save and clean tin cans. We used acrylic paints to paint them, or you could use orange spray paint for the outsides, and paint the faces on with acrylic. Look for spray paint that works on metal for best coverage. Mask the inside if you don't want it sprayed.

Punch holes on each side of the top of the can. We used florist wires or jewelry wire wrapped around a pencil, and then stretched out, for the handles. You can even get colored wire at craft stores.

SERVICE

We just got home from a service project with our homeschool group. About 17 of the youth and parents showed up with another group to pack food sent home with school children who are at risk for hunger. This program serves 2,552 students each week. It was a sobering number, and an amazing sight to see how quickly this number of bags were packed. (About two hours.) My girls chatted happily with their friends as they stuffed bags and kept the line moving. The kids all thought it was fun. I am so glad we have these opportunities to serve.

"Painted" Pumpkins 2

I did a couple more of the pumpkins. (See earlier post.) This time I tried the black Sharpie markers. Worked great. I still used a kids (non-permanent) marker to initially lay out the design, then wrote over it with the permanent marker. The kids marker wipes off with water. The Sharpie will not wash off, but take care to not touch it with your hand and smear it until it is dry. You can clean up Sharpie smudges with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Rub gently. No need for sealer with Sharpies unless you wish to. (See earlier post.)