Little Island Art Department

Thursday, August 29, 2019

PAPER MACHE ICE CREAM CONES KIDS CRAFT

SIMPLE AND FUN FOR ALL AGES. A HELPER CAN MAKE CONES FOR KIDS OR KIDS CAN MAKE THEM WITH A LITTLE HELP. PROVIDE PAINT AND SPRINKLES (BEADS AND GLITTER) FOR KIDS TO PAINT ANY WAY THEY CHOOSE. THIS IS A NICE GROUP PROJECT AS IT IS VERY EASY SO IF KIDS ARE NOT ABLE OR TIME IS LIMITED, AN ADULT CAN MAKE CONES AHEAD OF TIME.

A PAPER CONE OR BIRTHDAY HAT WORKS GREAT FOR BASE CONE, OR YOU CAN MAKE ONE OUT OF CARD STOCK. BLOW UP BALLOONS TO FIT AND PUSH INTO CONES. COVER WITH A LAYER OF PAPER MACHE, LET DRY AND ADD A SECOND LAYER. I PREFER LIQUID STARCH AND NEWSPAPER BUT YOU CAN USE ANY TYPE OF PAPER MACHE.

IF DOING A 2 SCOOP CONE, YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE A SINGLE SCOOP CONE FIRST AND A SINGLE BALLOON SIZED TO FIT THE FIRST SCOOP. COVER SECOND SCOOP IN 2 LAYERS OF PAPER MACHE (LETTING DRY BETWEEN LAYERS), AND WHEN DRY, WITH SCISSORS, CUT BOTTOM EDGE OF SECOND SCOOP TO FIT FIRST AND GLUE IN PLACE. THEN ADD A BIT OF PAPER MACHE TO COVER UP YOUR GLUE LINES.

WHEN CONES ARE DRY, ADD A WHITE PRIMER COAT OF GESSO OR ANY WHITE ACRYLIC PAINT. USE A VARIETY OF COLORS (ACRYLICS) FOR CONES IN ICE CREAM AND SNO CONE COLORS. ADD BEADS AND GLITTER IF DESIRED OR SKIP. TO GIVE CONES SHINE, PAINT ON A COAT OF ACRYLIC CLEAR GLOSS FINISH.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

SUMMER BEACH HUT PAPER MACHE CRAFT

LITTLE BEACH HUT MADE FROM CARDBOARD AND 4 STICKS, COVERED WITH PAPER MACHE, CAN BE PAINTED ANY WAY A CHILD LIKES. KIDS CAN PLAY WITH THEIR 'HUT' BY MAKING A LITTLE BEACH SCENE OR ADDING SMALL TOYS.

CARDBOARD IS GREAT FOR MAKING CRAFTS OF ALL KINDS. I LIKE IT COVERED WITH A LAYER OF PAPER MACHE TO SMOOTH OUT ALL EDGES, ADD A BIT OF STRENGTH, AND MAKE A NICE PAINTING SURFACE BUT YOU CAN LEAVE CARDBOARD AS IS AND PAINT IT.
YOU CAN USE CARDBOARD SCRAPS OR IF YOU PREFER YOU CAN USE BOXES. FOR THIS HUT A 6X6X6 BOX WAS USED WHICH WAS CUT IN HALF SO THAT 2 HUTS COULD BE MADE. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR HUT ANY SIZE YOU LIKE, EVEN EXTRA LARGE! THE ROOF IS MADE FROM A PIECE OF CARDBOARD CUT TO FIT. CRAFT STICKS FROM THE CRAFT STORE WERE USED FOR THE POLES BUT YOU CAN ALSO USE ACTUAL TWIGS OR BRANCHES.

1. CUT HUT BASE FROM A BOX OR PIECES OF CARDBOARD, ANY SIZE YOU LIKE. OURS IS 6X6 AND SIDES ARE 3' HIGH. CUT A DOOR OPENING AND POKE HOLES IN CORNER OF HUT FLOOR FOR YOUR STICKS. POKE STICKS THROUGH AND GLUE THEM TO CORNERS WITH HOT GLUE GUN OR REGULAR GLUE. CUT THE ROOF RECTANGLE PIECE TO FIT HUT, SCORE AND FOLD DOWN CENTER. CUT 2 SMALL TRIANGLES TO FIT INSIDE THE ROOF WHEN IT IS IN THE CORRECT POSITION, TO REINFORCE IT AND MAKE IT STAY IN POSITION.
2. LADDER IS CUT FROM CARDBOARD SCRAPS. SEE PICTURE. MAKE A PATTERN FOR PALM TREES AND SURFBOARDS, TRACE AND CUT.
3. USING LIQUID STARCH OR WHATEVER YOU PREFER, TEAR SOME NEWSPAPER STRIPS AND COVER THE HUT AND AND ALL PIECES. TREE AND SURFBOARDS ARE A LITTLE TEDIOUS SO KIDS CAN USE HELP IF MAKING HUT ON THEIR OWN. WHEN ALL PIECES ARE DRY, PAINT WITH A COAT OF WHITE ACRYLIC PAINT OR GESSO.
4. HUT IS READY TO PAINT. ACRYLICS WORK BEST AND THE LITTLE JARS FROM THE CRAFT STORE ARE PERFECT. YOU CAN USE TEMPERA OR POSTER PAINT BUT THEY ARE A BIT CHALKY. WHEN PAINT IS DRY YOU CAN ADD A COAT OF CLEAR ACRYLIC GLOSS COAT. IT LOOKS GREAT AND MAKES PIECE A BIT STRONGER.
5. KIDS CAN ADD MORE THINGS TO THEIR HUT IF THEY CHOOSE, LIKE FLAGS, AND CLOTHES LINES WITH LITTLE BATHING SUITS AND BEACH TOWELS. HUT CAN BE PAINTED IN A FOLK ART STYLE WITH SUNS AND CLOUDS AND FISH OR WITH DIFFERENT PATTERNS.

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Paper Mache Hearts

Fun and easy for kids and adults. For ideas and instructions see January 30, 2017 blog

Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Valentine Craft Night

Everyone likes crafting and with friends it's even better. Be the planner and make it easy for everyone to jump in and have a fun time creating something they love while spending time together. Tips and ideas below.