Are you looking for an easy weaving project to try with the kids? Well, look no further! Today's llama weaving craft is such an easy and cute way to introduce the art of weaving to kids. Plus, you won't need any special materials to try it out. Are you ready? Let's get weaving! How to Weave and Adorable Llama (with kids!) Materials Needed: Scissors Corrugated Cardboard Yarn Markers (We love Sharpies!) Masking Tape Optional: Print out my llama template Small Pom-Poms How to Weave a Cardboard Llama: Step 1: Draw out a llama on a piece of cardboard. Cut it out. (You can also use this template that I made.) Step 2: Cut out the same number of slits on the top and bottom of your llama to hold your warp threads. Make sure they're evenly spaced. (I cut out 5 slits on top and bottom.) Step 3: String your warp threads. Tape one end of a piece of yarn to the back of your llama. Then, go up and down around your llama until all of slits are filled with yarn. Tape the end of your yarn to the back. Want a step-by-step video showing how to do this? I'm giving you a super-fast overview of what we did. If you want more detailed directions on how to properly weave, check out this Met Kids Weaving Video. Front of the Llama: Back of the Llama: Step 4: Cut out a piece of yarn to weave. Tie one end to your warp (top of the right string.) Wrap the other end with masking tape (to help weave.) Alternatively, you could also use a yarn needle (but you don't really need one.) Step 5: Go over and under each warp thread (grey ones). When you reach the end of one row, do the opposite pattern of over and under for the next row. Keep alternating until you're done with your piece of yarn (or you decide to change colors.) To add another piece of yarn, simply tie on your new piece of yarn to your old piece of yarn. (Trim the excess.) Then, keep on weaving!* When you're finally done, just tie the end of your yarn to your warp.* (*Note: I realize that if you wish to properly add on yarn and change colors, you need to follow the directions in the above-mentioned Met Video. They don't tie knots. They leave their strings dangling. But I find that tying on knots works just fine since it's a kid's craft and we're not going to remove our woven bit off the cardboard.) Step 6: Optional: Hot glue on pom poms. Why? Because they're so cute! I really hope this weaving craft brings a smile to your kids' faces. :) If you're on IG and you share this craft, could you tag me @pinkstripeysocks so I can ooh and ahh over the cuteness? Thank you! Looking for more weaving and llama crafts? Then check out the links below! Fa la la la llama paper snowflakes Cute Gods Eye Turtle Weavings Weaving CD Dream Catchers Rainbow Paper Plate Weaving Boho Wall Hangings Happy creating and connecting, friends!
There are so many ways to approach self-portraits with children: observation, inspired by a particular artist, symbols of interests and activities, the list goes on. This time, I wanted to create an engaging, multi media
Students began this lesson with a week of watercolor painting. We learned four painting techniques and each student created an assortment of painted papers in each style using warm, cool and “free”…
Embroidery by Gimena Romero.
A round up of over 15 great STEAM projects – where math concepts are used to make pieces of art!
Sur l'air d'" En passant par la Lorraine ", ça le fait (comme on dit)....... mais je vais vous laisser inventer la suite :o))) Les montages " Humanimal " des élèves de Wimomz/Kari sur Flickr sont issus de découpages dans des revues et magazines. Les...
Earlier last week, fellow Rockin' Arts Mom Kristen from Art History Mom shared a really neat way to introduce young children to the artwork of Henri Matisse. I was so intrigued by her post that I did a shortened version of her lesson with my 2 1/2 year old son. Wow. I was so pleasantly surprised at how Chuck responded. He loved looking at the artwork, counting the figures, and finding different colors and shapes. Since Matisse's collages are so colorful and graphic looking, we then tried making our own Matisse inspired artwork at home. Kids Make Matisse Inspired Collages (This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for your support.) Aren't they beautiful? Now little did I know, Kristen (from Art History Mom) also had a similar idea in mind. She ended up making these lovely Playdough and Construction Paper Collages with her son. I think that using play dough to make collages is such a cool idea, so definitely check out her activity too! Materials Needed to Make Matisse Inspired Collages Construction Paper Scissors (Adult and Kid-friendly scissors) Glue (Glue Sticks and Elmer's Glue) Let's Make Matisse Inspired Collages! 1. I first did Art History Mom's Henri Matisse Lesson with Chuck. Then, we looked at some of Matisse's other collages online. (Note: If you're a book lover, you could also read one of these Matisse books for Kids.) 2. Then, I explained that we were going to make our own collages just like Matisse. So, we pulled out some construction paper and cut out shapes. I cut out the more complicated ones to resemble some of the shapes found in Matisse's artwork. 3. Then we glued our shapes on. (Chuck said this collage was supposed to be a bumble bee. Can you see the resemblance?) Once our artwork dried, we had some lovely Matisse-inspired artwork of our own. I enjoyed this activity because we got to talk about art, math (counting, shapes, and spatial relations), and colors. Chuck seemed to enjoy the activity because he got to use scissors (which always ups the coolness factor of any project) and glue (which he enjoyed wiping everywhere.) Let me know if you try this activity out with your kids! I think they'll have fun (and learn some things too.) (Side note: I learned about Matisse's personal history too... it was super inspiring.) And if you're looking for other fun ways to make art with your kids, try these three fun activities out! Melted Crayon Art Super Easy Abstract Art Edible Tortilla Art Happy making!
To go along with our Bauhaus inspired tablescape, we couldn’t leave you hanging without showing you how to create these beautiful mobiles! If you’re not familiar with Bauhaus design, it is characterized by primary colors and graphic shapes. These mobiles are such a fun interpretation and make a stunning focal point. Who needs a chandelier […]
This is SO easy, SO fun, SO fast and the results are always great! All you need is paper, paint and some old business/credit cards (or cardboard offcuts around that size). Josie and I had a bit of …
Another project in my big Art History unit with my students is finally all displayed and ready to be shared! The two above were chosen for Youth Art Month at the Portage County Library! I found this project via pinterest (which is the worst kind of pinterest post). JUST an image. However, this image was actually pretty useful for understanding the project. Day 1: Picasso intro! Short and sweet powerpoint with a YouTube video of Picasso in action. I did stop it a minute early because he paints a naked lady (and I wasn't ready to tackle that). They really seemed to enjoy this short clip, makes the artist a lot more real to them. If only we had video of Van Gogh! After the video we played "Roll a Picasso" here is a version on Teachers Pay Teachers but I made my own to add a view more parts to it. My students absolutely loved this. They did it for 30 minutes without getting bored! I told them there was no mistakes, they didn't need to erase, and they would take them with them when they left. If they got sick of drawing they could switch to coloring them. I really wish I would of taken some pictures. There was really great ones! Day 2: I show them a little poster that I put together reminding them of some things about Picasso and showing some of his other works. Then I demo drawing the different features on the paper scraps using oil pastels and finishing with a black crayon. I saw such a higher level of confidence of this project and I think it was because of the Roll a Picasso. They had come in knowing what their strengths were with what features, and I didn't limit them to the ones on the sheet either. If there was a way they wanted to draw a feature or knew how, they did it. Day 3: Showed the poster once again just to remind them of Picasso (seeing as we only see each other once every six school days)! And started with a short demo of creating the head shape and coloring and assembling it. Started with drawing the head, arranging the pieces, traced them, took them off and colored the sections of the face with oil pastels. If it didn't naturally break into sections they did it where they thought best. Last step was glue sticking them on and tracing the added paper and lines in black crayon. I am so excited to share these with you, I just LOVE how these turned out! McDill Elementary... Kennedy Elementary... Jefferson Elementary...
With just two ingredients, this fun bubble painting activity will have your children spellbound! Who doesn't love to blow bubbles!
Here is a fun printmaking project inspired by artist Paul Klee and his painting Castle and Sun. Do your kids watch Little Einsteins? My little girl loves them and was watching them the other day. If you do watch them, you know that they feature an artist and a composer each episode. Paul Klee was […]
