Arts & Crafts Activity: Art Paste Collage

I thought today would be a good morning to try a new art activity.  I had flipped through my book and came upon this really easy art paste recipe.  All I needed was flour, sugar, and water.

Then, you have to cook it all.  This was the hard part.  If you have ever made a roux, you know what I mean.  The constant stirring is killer on your arm.  The recipe said to cook and stir until it was clear.  It never turned clear.  So, this is what it looked like when I had had enough.

Prior to making the paste, Logan and I (it was mostly me because Logan would rip the paper in half and that was it--he didn't want to rip them smaller) ripped up some construction paper for his collage.  Once the paste was cool enough, I put Logan's apron on and he had some fun.

I loved watching him carefully dip the piece of paper in the paste before placing it on the page.  

I thought at some point he would dip his fingers in and use it more like finger paints, but he continued to dip in the paper and put them on his poster board in that fashion.

 

I think he had fun with this art process today.  I think he would have continued if I hadn't stopped him when he wanted to give the paste to Chico.  

Collage #1, Logan Barnett, paste and torn paper, 9"X11", 6/10/2011

Arts & Crafts Activity: Sand Painting

The son of a friend of mine takes all these cool classes near where he lives in Brooklyn.  Last night, Bari blogged about the art class Asher was taking.  I thought it looked very cool.  I told her I wished I had the time and money to send Logan to a class like that.  She replied--"Aren't you and art teacher?? :)"  Well, yes I am , I told her, but while at times it may seem like my students are in fact infants, teaching high school kids is not the same as teaching a 20-month-old.

But, it got me to thinking.   So, I did some Internet research.  I wanted to try my hand at something before our spring break was over.  Well, first I ordered a book, First Art : Art Experiences for Toddlers and Twos, which I hope to use this coming summer.  Next, I looked at some websites.  With ideas in hand, Logan and I headed to Target and to Michael's.  We loaded up on some supplies.  We came home, played for a bit, had lunch, then Logan went down for his nap.  I thought it would be best to wait until after nap time to try our first at-home arts & crafts "experiment."

I read about using contact paper as the base to put things on like cut paper, pom poms, and other things like that.  I remembered that I had some colored sand left over from a ceramic piece I did back at UT. 

From there, it was game on.  I set up a the colored sand in cupcake wrappers (not the best idea in hindsight) and taped down a piece of contact paper.  I gave him the sand and let him go.  He dumped the sand while picking up the "cups", but then he spread out the sand and moved it from place to place.  When he was finished, I mounted the contact paper to a large piece of white paper.   I then taped up all the edges, just so no sand could try and escape.

It was a fun activity and one that we will try again.

Today's Arts & Crafts activity:  sand painting.

Discovering the sand.

Removing the cups from the tin was easier for him.

I think I'll pour some yellow sand here.

Now let's rub it around.

I'm all done Ma.

Logan's Sand Painting Masterpiece.

Now if only I can muster the courage for finger paints.