Collages
Exploring nature doesn’t have to be in a far off place, a neighborhood park , school yard or your own backyard will work just great. Explore , talk about what you see, hear and smell. Touch things even they aren’t going into your bag for the collage, explore and take note of how the garden, forrest or park you are in has changed since the spring or summer. I love when I can do an activity with both kids seemlessly and this one was super easy .
- Gather your materials. You will need 1-2 paper grocery bags, scissors,crayons, glue and a yard , park or forrest to explore.
- Start by handing each child a bag and heading outside. Can I just say that my little paint covered point and shoot camera works great for inside crafts when movements around too big or fast, but getting a good shot of either child was next to impossible. Especially a wobbly 15 month old.
- Explore- let your child lead the way. Hopefully the other child( or 5) agree and go the same way, or at least in the same general vicinity.
- Put everything they find and want to glue to the collage in the bag . Don’t say no to little things yet, let them discover later of it won’t glue.
- Huge sticks are totaly ok to refuse, but let them figure it out by asking how it will fit in the bag. Offer scissors to cut a small piece off.
- Head back inside and prepare for part two.
I did this while they played in the playroom around me, but don’t feel like you have to do this all in one go. Do this after bed time and continue with part two in the morning if that works best for your family. You will want to empty out the contents and place them on a table – or even a shallow box. Using the bag cut it open and draw an acorn. Tape it to the table to stay steady. - Now invite the children to chose from their treasures and glue them to the acorn.
- Hmm the pine branch is too big to glue down… what could we do?
- Cut it!
- I helped my daughter add the glue and she happily banged the leaves she gathered down.
I was so surprised to see she remembered exactly which leaves she found and used them in her collage. - Gluing is my son’s favorite part of most art because he pretends it’s a bomb ( yes this stage is still driving me batty but I am trying to roll with it)- his sound effects surprised his unamused little sister…
- Let everything dry overnight.
- Cut out. Display if possible – kids love seeing their own creations displayed with pride.
More Acorn Crafts!
If a nature walk isn’t possible for you try another one of our acorn crafts .
Click the images for the original posts
Now that school is out for most of you I have been brainstorming crafts that are a little more challenging but that can be adapted for younger kids as well. This was fun to make and by no means do you or your child have to make flowers, the sky is the limit with these fun vibrant colors. Also you can take this opportunity to talk about shades and hues ! Don’t miss the matching activity after the craft for younger kids either!
- Gather your materials. You will need some paint samples, scissors, paper and glue.
- Start by deciding what to create, or deciding to make an abstract creation.
- I started with some grass and glued it on my paper.
- Next I made flower stems and leaves, and added them.
- Time for some pretty colors, I chose to make pink and purple flowers.
- Cut out the petals and glued them on.
- Now was the more creative part – the “extras” I decided to make some clouds with a dusty blue.
- Then my favorite a butterfly!
- As it dries the glue will stick but the paint samples will pull away some. I personally LOVE this, I like how 3 dimensional it makes the craft. If you don’t like this just pop a piece of wax peper over it and lay a heavy book on top for a few hours.
Paint Color Match
This activity is not just a color match it’s also a wonderful fine motor challenge for toddlers and preschoolers.
Here are the instructions.
Collage Heart
My son was aching to use this crinkly red paper that came in a gift basket last week. So I gathered it and some other random red materials for some “messy art” which is my son’s name for a collage. He loves pretending he is a garbage truck dumping the materials into the landfill. I am all for pretend play during art time! Collages are a fun way to use up scraps, and make beautiful art.
- Gather your materials. You will need some cardboard, scissors, a marker, glue , red paint and /or glitter glue, and a mix of red materials like tissue paper, foam, construction paper and fun red paper like these fillers.
- Start by having your child if they are able to cut the paper into smaller pieces. Scissor skills are very important so working it into a project like this is easy , logical and saves you step!
- While they do that cut open the cardboard and draw a heart.
- Paint it red!
- Add glitter.
- Add glue. I wiggled the paper as he held the glue, which he thought was hilarious and it prevented big globs.
- Add your materials. This step took 3o seconds- he drizzled a few then he dumped them on and smashed them down.
- Let dry and cut out.
My son liked doing this so much when I took his heart to dry he grabbed the extra materials and made one all by himself! Both are proudly displayed !
I love art, I specifically love Henri Matisse. My love affair with his work started many years ago now my son has a Matisse print in his room and I look at it every night as I snuggle him to bed. I think exposing our kids to fine art at a young age is a great idea, if they can find Dora in a busy toy store, why not appreciate Matisse, Klimt or Picasso? Matisse is a great artist to try to copy because in his final years he didn’t paint, instead he used painted cut outs. It’s easy to collage in his style for a great tribute. We made our version of Matisse’s masterpiece
“The Snail”.
- Gather your materials. You will need multicolor scrap paper, plain white paper, scissors and glue.
- Look at the masterpiece you want to pay homage to. I love this painting and when I showed my son a few different ones he liked this the best.
- Cut the paper needed. I tried to copy the shapes and colors best I could but there really is no need to be exact. If your child is able to cut let them cut it out.
- Add glue to the edges.
- Add the frame pieces.
- Have your child ad some glue and start placing pieces.
At first I was directing it and things were fine, but then I heard ” I do it!” so I conceded. If I am going to preach allowing your child to do it, I best practice that too. - Add the rest.
- Let dry .
