Art To Wear

Art hangs on walls in museums and galleries, but that's not all. The ceramic mug you sip your hot chocolate from may also be an example of art.
Try the activities below and develop your own artistic abilities.

#1. T-Shirt Art

Turn a plain T-Shirt or sweatshirt into your own art work.

You will need:

1. Place the cardboard inside the T-Shirt or sweatshirt. Clip it in place with the clothespins or paper clips. This will make it easier for your to draw or paint your design.

2. Use your pencil to sketch a picture on the T-Shirt or sweatshirt.

3. Use the fabric paints to add color to your drawing. You can simply paint over the outline or color it in.

If you prefer, you can create a design instead of a picture or use foam stencils to "stencil paint" shapes & designs on your shirt.

#2. Decorate Your Clothes

With heavy thread, sew small, colorful beads or buttons on the edges of your socks or around the neck of a T-Shirt or sweatshirt. Use fabric paints to design your shoelaces with polka dots and stripes. You can decorate dolls' clothes or make a special color for a pet.

#3. Face Paint

Have a face-painting party. Make certain an adult is present. Be sure to use makeup and paints that are made just for the face. You can find these in toy or craft stores. Or you can make your very own face paint right in your kitchen!

To Make Face Paint you will need:

1. Mix the shortening and cornstarch together until they are creamy. Put some in each of the bowls.
2. Add food coloring to each of the bowls.
3. Start with painting each other's faces. Try different patterns, designs, and colors. Create animals, clowns, scary creatures, or any other figures your imagination can come up with.
4. Clean up when you are done. Use plenty of water on your face and don't rub too hard with towels.

Face Paints Recipe #2:
Ingredients
1 tsp corn starch
1/2 tsp water
1/2 tsp cold cream
2 drops food coloring
Mix ingredients well

If possible, invite a makeup artist to your troop to demonstrate different kinds of face painting.

#4. Papier-Mâché

Donna's Day papier-Mâché: Simple instructions for papier-mâché

Papier-mâché is made from paper and glue. It's a lot of fun to make and shape! Use the instructions that follow to make a papier-mâché' bracelet.

You will need:

1. Cut the cardboard tube to the width you want for your bracelet.
2. Tear or cut the scrap paper and the tissue paper into strips.
3. Make a paste in the pan by mixing flour and water. Use a cup of flour with 1 cup of water. Or, instead of flour and water, you can pour liquid starch into the pan and use it for paste.
4. Dip the scrap of paper strips into your paste, and pull them out one at a time. Layer the strips. Use your fingers to mold and shape the strips. Don't worry about lumps or bumps.
5. For the last layers use strips of colored tissue paper. Create patterns or a solid surface. Place the bracelet in a warm, dry place. The thicker your bracelet is, the longer it will take to dry.

#5. Mask Making

Many people around the world make masks for ceremonies, holidays, or dramatic events. Some masks are used to tell stories. Choose a holiday or special event and make a mask, hat, etc. to celebrate it.

From the Encarta Encyclopedia Online
http://encarta.msn.com/introedition/default.asp?vs=x97&la=na&ty=1&vo=31&ti=05f3e000

http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/bears/bear.html Bear Mask

You will need:

You can use a heavy cardboard as the base to make a mask that you hold to your face by a handle (chopsticks, popsicle sticks or pencils make good handles). Decorate in any manner you'd like and use it for a fun time!

#6 Knots

Use string, ribbon, rope, or cord to tie knots to make bracelets, necklaces, belts, and other things. This craft is called Macramé. Follow the directions to learn how to tie knots. Using color make your project more exciting!

Overhand Knot
The Overhand Knot or Half Knot

This is the simplest knot. Therefore probably the most used. The knot is very useful to support knots in yarns. The loose ends become a bit thicker. When this support makes the total bend too bulky you have to look for another bend. The overhand knot is not strong, so it is not used in situations where you might expect great force. It also reduces the strength of the rope or yarn by about 50%. But as an "anti-slip-knot" it does not have to withstand a lot.
 

Square Knot
The Square Knot

The reef-knot is only useful in simple applications. Ashley says "it is a true Binder Knot, for which it is admirable, but under no circumstances should it be used as a bend." It is easy tied and will not jam, so it is always easy to untie. It is used to tie packages, and as a base for he shoe-bow. Sailors used it for binding rolled sails or better reefed sails. And that is where it got its English name from. Americans call it the square knot. Probably because it looks square, or because it was much used on square-rigged-ships, but that is a total guess of me.
Its relatives, the granny, the thief-knot and the what-knot all have their purposes, but not as a trustful knot. 
 

ART TO WEAR LINKS:
 60 Second Hats
Beaded Tiara
Marvelous Masks - Enchanted Learning Software
Paper mache
Roper's Knots Page
Tie Dye Socks
Tie Dye in Cold Water!

Brownie Try-Its Page