WBCL arts & crafts frames for Diez y seis de Septiembre

We learned a little history this week and a couple of Spanish words then made a colorful frame / art project. The group learned about Mexican independence day (diez y seis de Septiembre). We took colorful cardstock, homemade confetti, beads and tissue paper to make the frame and add flowers to the frame. Running cardstock and construction paper through the paper shreader makes great confetti and at a price we could not match!

Everyone was able to make the twisted flowers from tissue paper and a bead. But putting out tissue and beads launched them on other design elements that I hadn't planned. One of the moms used the tissue, confetti and glue to create her own design paper then cut it into shapes to put onto the frame. Several of the group thought that lots more beads would make the project into just what they envisioned. It continues to amaze me that so many different projects can come out of the same supplies. Aren't imagination and creativity wonderful!

Making glass bugs is harder than it looks @WBCL

Armed with wire, drapery rings, glass florist beads, pony beads and a variety of pliers the group last night created some pretty special looking bugs. One dad was heard explaining that his bug had only 4 legs. One of the kids made a scorpion with a golden stinger. It took a lot of adult and kid participation to get the legs wrapped and mostly the same length but sudden sighs of "oh..." were heard as each group mastered the legs and moved on to assemble the bodies, add eyes, spots and other decorations. This is definately a project that we'll do again.

Making hidden secret compartments from old books at WBCL

This week the crafters took an old book that I had already cut a compartment into the middle of. Use of a super-sharp exacto knife is just not in the program for this group! They did pick out all kinds of fabrics and make a book cover with decorations cut from more fabrics. Finishing the project required the folding of a few pages over the edges of the cuts and more gluing. I heard suggestions of keeping money or jewelery or even a diary in the secret compartment. Should be fund to see what ends up in them. Maybe I'll ask?????

Fewer participants are attending now that school is back in session so there is plenty of room to streach out in the class. I am getting a lot of donations for recycled art projects again. Good to set of the planning part of the brain.