Upcycled Picasso Masks

Much to my husbands chagrin, I can't seem to trash the bits and pieces that are left over from other craft projects. Even the shortest length of ribbon makes it into a bin marked "save do not through out". Not only do I feel better for not throwing out perfectly "good stuff" into the garbage, it helps keep my art projects cost low.

A really great project for making use of all the bits and pieces is African masks. Not only can you teach students about recycling, it is a fun way to teach about the famous abstract artist, Pablo Picasso. They will also learn how to use recyclables to make simple lines to create faces and then rearrange them to appear like abstract faces in the style of Pablo Picasso.

It's a fun mixed media  project that involves several techniques and can be tied to literacy when you include West African Folklore.

It is also great for integrating math by discussing how geometric shapes are in elements of art.

Supplies:

Cardboard boxes
Hot Glue
Tacky Glue
Paint of your choice
Assorted Ribbons, Pipe Cleaners, Buttons and Jewelry Pieces, etc...

First, you will want to pre-cut the corners of a sturdy corrugated box and punch/drill out holes for hanging your finished mask.

Next, have students paint the cardboard masks and let dry.

Now for the fun part...using Tacky Glue have students embellish with buttons, ribbons, bits of jewelry, etc...There' no right or wrong, just let that imaginations take over. Have an adult use hot glue for heavier pieces.

TIP: For additional texture and dimension, prime your corrugated box corner with Plaster-of-Paris before painting. (Take plaster-of-Paris and add water until it looks like the consistency of glue.) 

We made the masks above as part of a school wide fundraiser two years ago. By incorporating recyclables into our projects it kept our supply cost at $300 for school of 550 students.

 How about you? Any upcycled projects to share?

DIY Christmas Advent Wreath

I love this time of year, the holidays - not the cold weather. I remember my first Christmas in the U.S. like it was yesterday. The real extra fat tree covered with silver tinsel, fell everywhere on the floor. These days prefer a faux (pre-lit and slender) Christmas tree - displayed in an cute urn, of course.

I've also started a new tradition of lighting an advent wreath, which I made at my church. This wreath is made of a wooden disc covered in evergreen and has four candles.You can read more about the meaning of the Advent Wreath here.  It's an easy DIY project make and inexpensive too.  

You'll need a small wooden 18 inches in diameter (or larger, it's up to you) disc that you'll want to cut to a donut whole shape and pre-drill 4 holes for candle.

Greenery (recycle an older wreath)

Pine cones or or Christmas ornaments.

Candles (3 purple and 1 pink), wired ribbon and glue gun.

Advent Wreath Instructions in Pictures

Assemble and hot glue greenery to wreath, (up-cycle an older wreath). Fill in with pine cones and berries and got glue to wreath, insert candles then glue a cute ribbon to wreath.

Advent Wreath using up-cycled ornaments

Instead of pine cones, I decided to add some up-cycled ornaments. As an after thought the wooden base should have been painted in green. I guess I'll have to make another one next year :-)