Archive → March, 2009
Editorial Calendar
Home and Family Ezine will be looking for articles and recipes for each theme below:
January 2011 - Need to be submitted to Editor Here by December 15, 2010
- Ways to Make Your Home Comfy this Winter
- Soup Recipes
- Casserole Recipes
- New Year’s Eve and Day Recipes and Activities
- Crafts to Do with Kids
- Snowman crafts, recipes and activities
- Anything about Organizing
February 2011- Need to be submitted to Editor Here by January 15, 2010
- Valentines Day Recipes and Crafts
- Heart Healthy Recipes
- Decorating the home for Valentines Day
- Kids Valentines Day Crafts
- Chocolate Recipes
- Money Saving Tips
Tissue Paper Art for Preschoolers
How to Make Tissue Paper Art with Young Children
Toddlers and preschoolers can be such a joy to watch. They enjoy learning new things and they aren’t afraid of getting a little bit messy. If you teach them about making tissue paper pictures, they’ll have so much fun and will make comical pictures you’re sure to love.
To make tissue paper pictures you will need:
* Colored tissue paper (use ‘art’ tissue paper from a craft store for the best results; you can buy it in the wrapping paper sections of the store but it just doesn’t work as well)
* Card stock or paper
* Glue
* Bowl of water
* Paint brushes
* Pencils
Children can make a picture of nearly anything with these simple materials. Their only limitation is what they can imagine. Of course, since they’re still little, you may have to help them, but you’ll be amazed at what they come up with.
If your child loves the books by children’s author Eric Carle, you can use the images in those books to give your child some ideas of what they can create. Remember the skill level of your child and help them think of simple images such as caterpillars, fruits and vegetables, or large items like hot air balloons.
Start by having your toddler or preschooler decide what they want to make a picture of. They (or you) can draw a simple picture on a piece of card stock or paper. You could also use simple coloring book pictures if you or your child is artistically challenged.
Once your child knows what they want to do, they can start tearing pieces of tissue paper to make the picture. They can lay the pieces on the paper and glue them down or they can crumple the pieces up and glue the small balls of paper onto their picture. This is art; there is no right or wrong way to do it.
Make the suggestion that your child lay out the pieces on the paper before gluing items on. This will ensure they have the right size paper and can get the image composed the way they want it. They can then use a second paper to begin gluing the pieces down when they’re ready.
Mix a little bit of water (one-third) with glue (two-thirds) to give it the right consistency. Then use the paintbrush to brush the mixture onto a small section of the base paper. Your child can then take the pieces from the ‘dry run’ and lay the tissue paper on the glue, being sure to smooth it out as they go.
Your child will see how overlapping the different pieces of tissue paper will create new colors. They may also decide they want to have some areas darker, which can be accomplished by over-layering more paper and gluing it down. Continue brushing the glue mixture on the base paper in sections and placing the tissue paper until the picture is complete.
When the picture is complete, add a final light coat of watered down glue over the entire paper. This will even out the glue and seal any edges which didn’t get glued well. Then allow the picture to dry completely.
When their artwork is dry, your child may notice the paper is warped. You can place the dry picture under several heavy books to flatten it out some, but it’s unlikely it will flatten completely. Your toddler or preschooler can either hang their work of art or give it to a loved one to enjoy.