Art Attack - Pull String Art

We're switching up the focus of this blog, and moving away from Boredom Busters and into Art Attack projects. Some of these projects we will have done before at the library, some are new to us. We will feature two or three art projects per week for you to try at home. See which ones you can do, and if you get the chance, share the results with us on any of our social media platforms, which will be listed at the bottom of this blog.

Today's project is Pull String Art!

This is a really great project to do with minimal materials. All you need is: 

- Paper
- String/yarn
- Paint (liquid watercolours work great too!)

First you want to cut some long sections of string/yarn. You want them long enough that you can create some curls/swirls on the paper, and have enough hanging off the paper to pull through. 

Next, choose your colours. If you have black paper/cardstock, try using some bright colours that will really pop! Coat your string in paint (except for the part at the end you'll be holding on to), then remove the excess paint by pinching the string between your fingers and sliding them down to the end. This can be a very messy project!

Once you have the excess paint off, lay your string out on the paper in whichever design you like. Check out this rainbow pull string art, or this one done with liquid watercolours! You can fold your paper in half to have your design on both sides, or grab a second piece of paper to press down over top of it - then you'll have two designs that are the mirror image of each other! 

Experiment with different colours and different designs, until you have your masterpiece (or many of them!). Grab a canvas, paint a background, and experiment with some different techniques. The only limit is your imagination!

Hopefully this project helps break up the day, and gets your family engaged in Pull String Art!

If your kids love these art projects, feel free to send us feedback or pictures on any of our social media platforms, linked below.

Library staff are available by phone (403-887-2130) or email Monday-Friday, 9:00 am 5:00 pm.

You can access all of our digital materials (eBooks, eAudiobooks, and more) through our website
 
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Art Attack - Bubble Art

We're switching up the focus of this blog, and moving away from Boredom Busters and into Art Attack projects. Some of these projects we will have done before at the library, some are new to us. We will feature two or three art projects per week for you to try at home. See which ones you can do, and if you get the chance, share the results with us on any of our social media platforms, which will be listed at the bottom of this blog.

Today's project: Bubble Art!

This is a project we've done for Art Attack and in Story Time. While we normally use food colouring to add colour to our bubbles, we recently discovered that liquid watercolours work phenomenally well in making the colour really POP! off the canvas. 

What you'll need: 

- Bubbles (store-bought works fine, or you can try one of these homemade recipes)
- Bubble wands (you can make your own with a pipe cleaner too!)
- Liquid watercolours (food colouring will work as well, you'll just need to use a lot of it)
- Paper/canvas

Whether you're using food colouring or liquid water colours, you'll want to separate cups or small containers to mix your different colours of bubbles. You can use a stirring stick to mix the bubbles (gently, if you agitate the bubbles too much they're difficult to blow) or just whichever bubble wand you want to use for each colour. A little bit of bubble mix goes a long way, you can always create more. But once you've mixed the colour in, you're pretty much stuck with it unless you want to mix some of them together to create a new colour. Be careful not to over-mix, or you'll end up with brown (unless that was your goal).

This is a perfect project to do outside when the weather in nice. If you don't have table space outdoors, just lay out a mat or a blanket (make sure it's one you don't mind getting messy). 

 

There are a couple different ways to create your bubble art. You can blow the bubbles directly onto the paper and allow them to POP!, creating random and unique patterns. This would be a great project for a banner, which could be placed on the ground or hung on a fence to catch the bubbles in the wind.

You can also try stamping with your bubble wand to create fun shapes! Just load up the wand with bubbles and then gently press them onto your paper/canvas.

 

Another great way to paint with bubbles is the splatter effect! Dip your bubble wand in the colour of your choice, then flick, shake, or whip the bubble wand at the paper/canvas to create a great splatter pattern! You'll definitely get messy for this one, so make sure you're wearing paint clothes and watch out for those around you.  

Hopefully this project helps break up the day, and gets your family engaged in Bubble Art!

If your kids love these art projects, feel free to send us feedback or pictures on any of our social media platforms, linked below.

Library staff are available by phone (403-887-2130) or email Monday-Friday, 9:00 am 5:00 pm.

You can access all of our digital materials (eBooks, eAudiobooks, and more) through our website
 
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Boredom Busters: Summer Poetry

We are temporarily reviving our Children's Blog to provide some resources for families who are stuck at home during this period of social distancing due to COVID-19. We will put together a variety of activities for you and your families - see which ones you can do, and if you get the chance, share the results with us on any of our social media platforms, which will be listed at the bottom of this blog.

Today's theme is Summer Poetry!

River of Words: http://madebyjoel.com/2011/07/poetry-river-craft.html

Get inspired to create your own poetry river craft with this example by Made By Joel. Have the kids set the scene with some found items and some crafted ones. Draw from your own outdoor experiences and tweak this poetry project however you like!

Craft Poetry Monster: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/2017/crafts-poetry-monster/

This is a super cute poetry project! Follow the instructions linked above to create your own Monster Poetry Box, and see what creativity it inspires! Let your imagination run loose, and see if you can create your own unique "Sylvan Lake Monster" craft box/poems.

Poem Petals: https://blog.readingeggs.com/2016/04/15/3-fun-craft-ideas-to-celebrate-poetry-with-your-kids/

This is a fun and easy project for kids of any age. Help your kids come up with words following a specific theme (like Summer or Sylvan Lake), or let them freestyle their own words for this fun petal poem. Make it even more unique by using found objects for the base of the craft!

Poetry Books for Kids: https://imaginationsoup.net/reading-poetry-with-kids-new-and-favorite-books/

Getting into poetry can be a hard sell for some kids. Check out some of these titles linked above, then check out some of the titles in our collection. Shel Silverstein is a tried and true classic, and Martin Rising: Requiem for a King is one of my personal favourite poetry collections.

Hopefully these activities help break up the day, and get your family engaged in creating summer poetry!

If your kids loved these activities, feel free to send us feedback or pictures on any of our social media platforms, linked below.

Library staff are available by phone (403-887-2130) or email Monday-Friday, 9:00 am 5:00 pm.

You can access all of our digital materials (eBooks, eAudiobooks, and more) through our website
 
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