tea light candle holders

I love this: all we said was 'make a tea light holder' and the children come up with ideas that you'd never have thought of! Using air dry clay, this butterfly is just lovely!

recycled WRAPPING PAPER

Using only newspaper and metalic paints, groups of 6 at a time made sheets of trendy wrapping paper by painting on newspaper. Metalic prints and glitter paints created different effects. When used, tying with a bow or raffia (which should always be saved and reused) will mean more ethical and responsible paper use!

recycled FASHION at BOSCAPS

Budding fashion designers hit the textiles room this morning at BOSCAPS to create distinctive and stylish outfits from donated scraps of material! I couldn't believe how well they were doing, working in small groups with no instructions but the patient encouragement of Jane, one of our helpers.

cuddly butterflies!

Using felt and wool, children as young as 5 were creating some fabulously girly and gorgeous butterflies to cuddle at BOSCAPS this week! Cut a butterfly shape, sew round the outside, stuff lightly, and decorate at will.

what's up duck?

paper plate 'change-an-expression' face

1. cut 4 slits into a paper plate
2. cut a strip of white paper and thread through the plate so that 2 'eyes' can be seen
3. draw the eyes, and a face
4. move the strip up and draw some more eyes, ensuring that they express a different emotion, or are closed this time
(this example was created by my daughter Mia!)

clay heads

This activity is GREAT FUN! You need air dry or crank mix clay and the children get a good handful each. They form a ball and create eyes, nose and mouth with fingers. So far so good, but, the fun part is when they gently SQUISH the face, creating unexpected and odd expressions! Finally, add details like spots, freckles, hair, warts, and use WIRE to make piercings etc. You end up with a really funny face..though it won't be a beauty!!!

mask making

Always popular: somehow we all love to create another face..a second identity or disguise. This activity is so simple and all ages LOVE it. The masks are pre-bough paper ones (from ESPO) with a wealth os extra materials: felts, tissue, feathers and sequins.

summer 2010

WOW...it's over half way through the summer holidays already and I haven't told you anything!! So far, we have had 3 weeks of ART WEEK and are in the middle of BOSCAPS (which is Barrow's annual playscheme). Hundreds of children have been attending (both events being busier than EVER) making this a very exciting summer! I will make sure I start adding photos and details very soon!

Happy summer holidays all!