About a year ago, we were having a huge party for my husband’s circle of high school friends and their families, and I was looking for some kind of project that would keep the kids entertained (and that would require minimal assistance from the adults).
I don’t remember how I stumbled upon this idea, but it was great!
Glueless Collages from FamilyFun.com:
CRAFT MATERIALS:
Clear Con-Tact paper
Masking tape
Flat stickables, such as felt scraps, tissue paper squares, crepe paper streamers, ribbon pieces, cut-up calendars and magazines, and feathers
Time needed: About 2 to 3 Hours
1. Begin by taping a piece of Con-Tact paper, sticky side facing out, to a wall or a low table. Set out bowls of small, flat stickables nearby (see the materials list).
2. Now let your child explore the sticky feeling of the paper first with his hands, then by placing the items against the paper. Once he gets the hang of it, just sit back and enjoy the show.
3. Preserve the collage with a second piece of Con-Tact paper. Frame the artwork with colored masking tape around the edges.
4. Keep the fun going! Make a theme collage, such as a nature collage with flowers and leaves or a color collage of all things blue.
Tips:
Getting Started with Creative Projects for Little Hands
1. Keep it safe. Make sure supplies are labeled nontoxic and are not choking hazards. Discourage kids from putting supplies in their mouths.
2. Set it up. Designate an art area in your home with an easel or a low table where young artists can stand to work (this is usually easier for them).
3. Don’t rush. Make sure you allow plenty of time for setup, exploration, and cleanup.
4. Don’t stress over mess. Set things up so cleanup is easier for you, then try to relax and let your child have fun.
5. Write it down. Before you forget, write the date on your child’s creation and, if she’s talking, what she said about it.
I got everything set up before the guests arrived. I taped a piece of contact paper on the wall for each child, and wrote his or her name on it. It was a great project for kids of various ages, and really it required very little adult intervention. When they were ready to leave, I put the second piece of contact paper on and the kids had something fun to take home with them.
I’m actually planning to do this again at Kate’s birthday party next month. I am going to have a new baby on my hands and I’ll need a super-easy activity for the party.
That Works for Me! For other great WFMW tips, check out Rocks in my Dryer.
That is an awesome idea – thanks!! 🙂
That is a FANTASTIC idea and I’m going to suggest it to the lady that does our storytimes at the library I work at! I’ll be doing it at home, too! We are all about collages…also, a great website for kids (when you’re sick of Dora or Thomas or pbskids.org…is nga.gov (National Gallery of Art) and go to the “Kids Zone”…virtual collages, Dutch Master dollhouses….it works for me (oh that’s corny!)….
Great idea. I can’t wait to try this with my toddler! I stumbled it and saved to del.icio.us.
Absolutely marvellous!! Thanks!
You can find my tip at:
Laane on the World
Have a great week and an amazing spring!!!