I've spent several days tapping into my inner child while shopping my stash and putting together some projects for Kelly's middle school art class. Most of the students she works with have autism, and all of them struggle in some way. Art is good therapy.
One of the projects I got ready (and played with) for her are crayon rubbings. This one was done over a stencil on mixed media paper.
I carefully sliced the paper on the crayons with an exacto knife to easily remove it. I broke the crayons in 1/2 so more students would have access to colors. The rubbings are done using the side of the crayon. When you paint over these with watercolors...the crayons act as a resist.
And recycled calendars all cut for the bottoms.
The white paper is mixed media paper...so could be decorated anyway using any media.
My inner child had fun doing all of this...and I'm just getting started.
Origami boxes! Haven't made any of those in awhile but they are SO satisfying to make! If Kelly's students get into making rubbings on paper and then boxes using the rubbings, they could go on to make nested boxes. I think if each piece of paper is 1/4" larger than the one before you get the right differential, e.g. if smallest box bottom starts with a 3" square, its lid will need to start with a 3.25" square; that box will fit into another made from a 3.5" square for its bottom and then a 3.75" square for its top, and so forth. (Test these directions out first!). THEN, students (and adults) can do one of or both of the following: 1. tuck a message or small candy or tiny trinket (etc) in the innermost box, 2. glue an image or photo into the inside of the bottom of the innermost box. With the 2nd option they can then nest all the boxes in the "open" position. They'll end up with a framed center box bottom and the nested layers of the frame will allow for the finished product to stand on its own with the art in the middle facing out for viewing. (feel free to give a holler if my hastily-written directions aren't clear!!!).
ReplyDeleteIn any case, what a magnificent gift your inner child is giving to Kelly and her students, MaryAnn. This project has major joy infused in it!
Thanks for sharing my enthusiasm Dotty! You are one of my best cheerleaders....and sources of inspiration! My inner child is smiling!
DeleteThese are all fabulous ideas....and Kelly and I talked about many of them. And I've done almost all of them in the past. I'm going to read through it again to make sure I've absorbed it all!
I may do a post revisiting some of my favorite box projects. There's quite a wonderful story about where I learned about these boxes.
Oh how fascinating! These little beauties stir the imagination and Dotty’s suggestion keeps the imagination expanding. Now I have to figure out how I can best use these in my Christmas gifts. Hmmm 🤔. Gets the old grey matter stirring!
ReplyDeleteI've been making these boxes for years. There are so many ways to use them...so if you need ideas let me know.
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