Clay Wall Pockets

Here is a clay project Grade 5 completed in time to be wrapped and placed under the Christmas tree.

The kids decided on a theme of Totem Poles in keeping with their First Nations Social Studies unit.

I brought in a lot of reference material for the kids to look through before starting on their projects.

We discussed basic forms and shapes and what they might want to add to their Totem Poles to personalize them.

Roll out a slab of clay to approximately 1/2 an inch thick.

As you can see I have the kids work on pieces of fabric or canvas.  This stops the clay from sticking to their desks.  Fabric placemats also work great.

From the slab you want to cut a shape like this, I told the kids it's kinda like a shoe or sneaker shape, we used penny nails to cut our shape with but you can also use a wooden skewer or plastic knife.

Score the edge all around except the top of the longer edge, rub with some water.

Fold over and smoosh the edge together.  Add some crunched up newspaper into the pocket to help hold the shape while drying.

Make sure you can easily remove the newspaper without disturbing the pocket.

Trim off any excess and make sure to add a hole at the top for hanging.

You can use a nail, wooden skewer, or a plastic knife to help cut the clay.

With scraps of clay cut out shapes and add to the front to form your totem pole.  Make sure to score and rub water on the two surfaces you want to stick together.

When finished set the clay aside to dry out undisturbed for about 2 weeks.

Remove newspaper and bisque fire at cone 04 in the kiln.

Glaze with at least 3 coats. We used Mayco Stroke and Coat which I finally got to work for me....in past projects I had been adding a clear topcoat to the projects which caused hardly any pigment to show...this time I only added the clear to any unglazed areas and it turned out perfectly.

After your glazes have dried cone fire 06 in the kiln and enjoy.

Great work Grade 5!!

This Year's Nativity Projects

Well I'm neck deep in preparations for Christmas Craft Day but I had to show you the photos of this year's Nativity Projects.

Here are Grade 2's Silhouettes.

You can find full directions from my post HERE.

Stunning work Grade 2!!

And here is the Nativity plates that Kindergarten did this year.  I changed the color concept a bit using a blue wash, yellow metallic for the star, and sparkle varnish on the Nativity scene.

The full directions for this project are in my post located here.  Too late for this year but this would be a great project to plan ahead for next year!

 Awesome work Kinders!

The Snowman Portraits that Grade 2 are finishing are fabulous but for privacy reasons I can't show you them (all those last names!) but anyone walking down the hall gets stopped in their tracks by them.


Hopefully I'll have time after the big day Friday to post some last minute crafts from Christmas Craft Day....
hope everyone is holding up under the holiday rush!
Take care.

How To Make an Alphabet Block Elf Christmas Ornament

Here is an oldie but a goodie....another craft for Christmas Craft Day, an alphabet block elf.

These can hang on your tree or sit on your mantle...you can make several and have them spell out a word like JOY, NOEL, MERRY.

Easy to make so follow along.....


MATERIALS REQUIRED:


- alphabet blocks, I get mine from the dollar store for $2.00 for 15 blocks
- red, green, blue, white, and yellow felt
- tacky glue
- 1 inch Styrofoam balls or wood beads
- small googly eyes
- small pompoms
- little bells (optional)
- acrylic paint in flesh and pink
- glue gun (optional)
- templates if needed

For Christmas Craft day we are using Styrofoam balls (more economical for 150 kids). 

Due to this we have to paint our head with flesh color paint in any tone that fits for you.

If you are using wood beads you can skip this step.

Using the end of a pencil dab on some rosy cheeks with pink acrylic paint.

Using tacky glue add some googly eyes and a pompom nose.

Using a red sharpie give your elf a smile!

Now we need to cut out some bits and bobs from our felt.  We are starting with the hat as it takes the longest to dry.

The easiest way to cut a hat is on the fold.  You can find a template here.

Add some tacky glue down one side.

Fold over and use some clothespins to hold together while glue is setting up.

Next I took a small cup and traced out a circle on white felt.  Cut out.  (you can use my template here).

Next we have to cut out the arms.  You need a strip that is approximately 4.5 inches or 11 cm long.

Round the edges a bit.

Now we have to cut out the legs which are about 3 inches or 8 cm long.

I cut out a shape like this. (see template if needed)

Then I cut out a narrow triangle out of the center.

Round your corners at the bottom.

Now we will put our elf together.

Put some glue on the top of your legs and place your block on top.  Make sure you have the side you want facing forward.

Put some glue on the top of the block and lay your arms on top, try to center it the best you can.

Put some more glue on top of the arms and stick on your white circle.

Now we will put on the hat.  Put some glue inside the felt hat.

Place hat on top of head and then add a pompom to the tip.  Initially I was going to tacky glue the head to the block but this didn't work so good so.......

So now I will have a few Mom volunteers manning the glue guns to stick on the heads.  We will also add these little bells I found at the dollar store to the feet with the glue gun as well.

When finished you can add a string for hanging if needed.

That's it...so easy and so cute.  I know you are just dying to make one or 3 or 6.


See you next time.

Snowy Owl Ornaments

This little Snowy Owl is one of the crafts for Christmas Craft Day 2010 which is taking place on Friday Dec 17th.


I couldn't resist making an Owl themed ornament so here is the How To:




MATERIALS REQUIRED:
- white felt
- yogurt container for tracing
- tacky glue
- old book pages
- gold colored felt
- tan colored felt
- large googly eyes
- gold and silver sequins and gems
- feathers
- gold thread for hanging

Using the yogurt container or some other round object trace out a circle on your white felt and cut out.

Find some old book pages.  I usually pick up some old books for crafting at garage sales or the library discard sale.

I especially like old kid's books like this Bobbsey Twins.

You need to cut a small triangle for the Owl's forehead and flower pot shape for the belly.  For Christmas Craft Day I will have templates.

Glue your flower pot shape onto the white felt slightly down from the middle.

Put some glue on the felt on either side of the shape.

Fold the felt over and hold for a few seconds while the glue sets up.  You can use some clothespins to help you out.

Put a dab of glue at the top of your flower pot shape and fold the felt down.  You want to keep the ends open.

Place a little bit of glue into the open corner and add a feather.

Repeat on other side.

Glue the little triangle onto the forehead.

Cut 2 circles from the tan felt that are larger than your googly eyes.

Glue into place on the owl.

Cut a little beak triangle from the gold felt and glue into place.

Add some bling!

Using a needle thread some gold thread thru the top of your Owl and make a loop for hanging.

If you want you can gently fold it in a bit to add a little shape so it isn't so flat.

That's it!

Why not make a pair of Snowy Owls for your Christmas tree.

I'll see you soon with more Christmas Crafts for Craft Day we just got a bit sidetracked this week by the stomach flu(the kids).