Me and My Shadow

Self-portraits are even more fun when something unexpected is added. Our older elementary students added shadows, and they loved the resulting 3-D illusion!

The technique is simple: the artist draws a picture of him or herself doing something they enjoy, and color it in (it's much easier to color in a picture prior to being cut out than after it is cut). Once completed, the picture is placed on top of a piece of black construction paper and taped along the edges on all four sides (just short pieces of tape, not the whole edge). Now the artist cuts himself (or herself) out of both sheets of paper at once, creating a mirror image out of black paper - a shadow!

Select a third sheet of construction paper in a contrasting color as the ground.

Arrange the portrait and its shadow on the ground with the shadow slightly to the left or the right of, and possible slightly above the figure.                                                                             

Move them around until you like the effect, and glue them down.

Pretty cool, especially with sparkly lipstick!

Must be a Rebel!                    Skateboard Dude

It's Wonderful Me!

This week we created self-portraits -- with personality! The idea was to add a surprise element to the artwork, something that would get the kids excited about who they are or what they like to do.

Kinders and 1st graders like to play! So, they portrayed themselves at play, using twine to indicate either swinging or jumping rope. Most of them chose the swing, for a fun 3-D effect.

Our 2nd graders created full body drawings of themselves, which they cut out and placed on a collage background of their choice.

Some chose lots of sparkle and color!

More Beautiful Animals

This is such a fun project -  I wanted to share just a couple more photos with you. This student is hard at work on her Toucan painting, using soft pastels. (Yes, pastel works are called paintings.)

Cats are a a favorite subject, as you can see. From kittens to tigers, I believe the intensity of the eyes and the variety of patterns and colors are especially appealing to young artists.

Katie's "Tiger"                            Kathy's "Kitten"

These cats are both rendered in oil pastels

Arty Animals

Children love to create ANIMAL art. Animals can be drawn, painted, cut and glued collage style, sculpted, or paper mache'd. It doesn't matter; animal art is fun!

This week we created a variety of animal art. Our youngest students glued fuzzy cotton "sheep" to lovely green meadows. You can find an example of this project at Artsonia. Our older elementary artists made beautiful tempera paintings of their favorite animals, such as those at Deep Space Sparkle (one of my FAVORITE art sites for great art ideas).

Our favorite animal art project, which we do every summer, is pastel on black paper. The children try both soft or oil pastels - each medium has its pros and cons. Some of our more experienced young artists have their preferences. Soft pastels are messy, but they can be wiped off and they can be smeared and softened, which can be lovely. Soft pastels must be sprayed with fixative when completed. Oil pastels are much less messy, bright and bold, and can be layered - but cannot blended or smeared or softened. They do not need fixative. Soft and oil pastels cannot be mixed.

We have done this pastel art with children as young a eight or so with surprisingly lovely results. You need only a few supplies: (very) black 9 x 12 heavy construction paper, drawing pencils or a charcoal pencil, a good set of soft pastels AND oil pastels (try both!) of 24 to 36 colors or more, and lots of good photos of animals to work from. We use mostly Zoo Books and old calendars. You might also have some tracing paper and carbon paper on hand. I allow kids to trace the basic shape of the animal, then transfer onto the black paper if the photo is the correct size (not too small) if the child gets too hung up on the drawing part. This is more of a lesson in selecting a good palette of colors and learning pastel techniques.

I am always amazed with these wonderful pastel art paintings! Some of these children have never tried pastels before. Wow!

More Drawing!

What should I draw?

I have found that one of the best subjects to help build your drawing skills is readily available in the refrigerator or on the kitchen counter.

Fruits and vegetables of all varieties make great subjects because they come in so many shapes and colors, and can be arranged and rearranged on the table in front of you. 

We have the convenience of a "grocery store" exhibit in our Children's Museum, so our middle school kids borrowed some items from the produce department, which was great because these fruits and veggies don't bruise or spoil!

This drawing was an original idea that caught on with the students. They using soft pastels to color in their pencil drawings, then outlined them with black pastels and smeared them in an outward "shadow-burst."

I love the unusual effect!

Ready, Set, Draw!

This week we focused on the basic skill of DRAWING. Fortunately, this is one of the skills that very young children are delighted to try from the time they can pick up a writing or drawing implement. Drawing is a great way to express oneself long before reading and writing come into play; and best of all, drawing is FUN!

 

Our first project was Object Studies. This art activity is great for anyone learning to draw. I have used it with preschoolers, adults, and all ages in between...

To create an object study, you'll need a variety of simple objects to draw, lots of white copy paper, pencils, erasers, and drawing boards if you will be moving to another area. Otherwise, the normal drawing table will work, just place the item on the table in front of you and draw. (It can help to place the item on top of a piece of blank white copy paper so that the edges can be more easily discerned.)

Our groups went to the Children's Museum, where there is a multitude of interesting things to draw. unusual objects can remove the inclination to draw a preconceived shape instead of the object as it actually appears.

Each child selected an object, found a comfortable place to sit, placed the item on his/her drawing board, and drew it carefully. Then, the young artist turned it around for a new view of the same object and drew it again, and then tried a third view. Children often don't realize that objects look differently when viewed at unusual angles - their young brains have constructed a specific shape for a given object - such as  a block or a cup, so the shape or form of the same objects from a 3-quarter view or from directly above can be surprising and difficult to acknowledge. TIP: Drawing unusual objects can remove the inclination to draw a preconceived form instead of the object as it actually appears.

Many of the children were excited to learn that they were able to draw "real" objects, and everyone had fun!

Abstract Canvas Painting

Art Camp 6th-9th graders painted Piet Mondrian style abstracts on canvas. 

First we divided up our canvases into geometric shapes using masking tape. Then we painted in the exposed spaces with acrylic paint. Oh, one more rule: we used only the three primaries. Any other colors had to be mixed. 


We practiced first - we filled in color wheels by mixing the primaries, secondaries, and analogous colors. This is an excellent exercise, by the way, which can and should be done with kinders on up (start with simpler color wheels with younger children using only the primaries and secondaries). 

Many of our young artists decided that complementary colors look really awesome together, meaning colors that are opposite one another on the color wheel. Others preferred analogous colors: those that touch or nearly touch on the color wheel, such as cool colors (blues, violets, greens) or warm colors (yellow, reds, and oranges). 

After the paint was completely dry, we removed the tape and - WOW!

MORE Awesome Abstract Art!

Art Campers going into 4th and 5th grade created assembled abstract art that incorporated four individual pieces of art and one common element: a circle. Students were encouraged to use one or more different media and techniques in each of the four sections. Then they arranged and assembled the final piece:

Success!

Awesome Abstract Art!

Abstract art is about play!

All of this week's art projects involved experimenting and playing with shape, pattern, color, form, and various media. Mostly, though, it was about having FUN with art!

on white paper

Our kinder / 1st grade Camp created large (3' x 4') collaborative prints. Each group planned and created two paintings, one on white paper and another on black (which they painted black with rollers first).

on black paper 

2nd grade Campers created these abstract prints.

They worked together, deciding which colors to use, which stamping shapes to use, where to put what, and when to stop. This was a lot of work for 5- and 6-year-olds! The artwork was pretty goopy and wet, so we decided to give it a whole week to dry!

During another session, the children colored heavily on white paper, then painted over their work with watery temperas (using cake temperas - like giant watercolor trays) for a crayon resist result. Again, these were non-objective, random shapes, colors, and patterns:

Children find great satisfaction in going back to the "scribbling" stage, with no pressure from themselves or others to create representational art. 

2014 Summer Art Camp

This year the Blackfoot Art Center is hosting a ten-week Summer Art Camp for kids entering Kindergarten through 5th grade. The art center is also hosting a middle school Art Camp for kids entering 6th through 9th grades. All camps will run June 9 through August 15, 2014 on Mondays and Thursdays starting at 1:00 pm;  specific days and times are shown below.*

K-1st grade       Thursday, 1-3 pm (two groups)
2nd grade         Monday, 3-4 pm
3rd grade          Monday, 2-3 pm
4th-5th grades   Monday, 1-2 pm
6th-9th grades   Thursday, 3-4:45 pm

* Subject to change without notice, please call 785-8022 to confirm days and times.

Weekly themes include lessons or projects unique to each age group. Sample themed artwork will be featured on this weblog as the summer progresses.

Children may be registered for Art Camps through the Blackfoot Community Center. Please see the BCC website for camp fees and other details. Other exciting summer camps are also available, and all are included with registration in the BCC's 10-week Summer Day Camp program. You can register at any time. Please call 785-8022 for more information.

New Blackfoot Art Center Facility

The Blackfoot Art Center now has its own facility at 157 W. Sexton (corner of Sexton and Ash). This facility is devoted entirely to art and crafts classes - to be utilized by the SHARK After School Club, SHARK Summer Day Camp, and community art classes.

SHARK Summer Day Camp begins June 11, 2012 and will include lots of fun art classes.

In addition, an ongoing home school studio art class is held every Wednesday morning 10:30-11:30 am, open to homeschoolers ages 5 through 14. Cost is only $20 per month ($5.00 per class).

An adult level studio art class is held every Thursday evening 6:30-8:30 pm. Students bring their own projects and focus on areas of their own interest with help from the instructor. Current projects include acrylic canvas painting, beginning drawing, and colored pencil projects. Cost is $10 per class or $40 per month. Community art classes  and workshops for all ages are being planned now for the summer months. Stay tuned!

2009 Winter / Spring Art Classes

This past winter has been an exciting time for the Blackfoot Art Center! Our classes have been very successful, with lots of fun projects and creative activities for everyone. Our popular SHARK Art class is especially suited to the youngsters attending the Community Center's SHARK after-school club, but other children are invited as well (space permitting). This class is held on Mondays, running 3-4:30 pm.

"Giraffe" by Mitchell (12) Oil Pastel on Paper

In addition to monthly drawing lessons, the children paint, sculpt, construct, and create in a variety of media. They have a great time while developing small muscle skills, creativity, good work habits, self awareness, and respect for individuality. SHARK Art is $25 monthly.

On Tuesdays, 4:00 to 5:30pm we have Drawing, Painting, and More... This class, for ages 8 to 12, is for students who have a solid interest in art and want to develop basic skills while trying new techniques and media along the way. We practice our drawing skills regularly, while working in a variety of drawing media such as graphite, charcoal, oil pastels, soft pastels, and colored pencil. We also paint, sculpt, and construct. This past month we created papier mache' animals, which the children found to be a lot of work: formulating an idea, constructing the underlying structure, layering the papier mache, painting, and sealing. However, each step was FUN, and now they have wonderful animal sculptures to take home!

Finally, our Tuesday evening Adult Art Class has been working in watercolor painting since summer. In February we reviewed basic drawing techniques, especially for the benefit of our newer students - but always a good idea for everyone! April 7, 6:30 to 8:30pm, we will begin painting, both in the studio and plein aire, throughout the summer months. The majority of our current students will be working with acrylics, but oil painters are welcome as well. After "brushing up" on color theory and color mixing, we will find ways to loosen up and learn how to find inspiration; and then try our hands at some "no-stress" abstract painting. Abstract??? Don't worry... it'll be great fun!

We are always open to new class ideas too. Does your homeschool group want to meet for weekly art classes? We can arrange it. Let us know your best time and day. Do you know a few preschoolers that would love to do some messy art projects? We can do it here (and nothing for you to clean up)!

Our summer art class schedule will be posted here soon. Special note: we will have weekly Summer Art Day Camps during the month of June 2009.

2008 Summer Art Classes

Following is the Blackfoot Art Center's 2008 Summer Class Schedule. You'll find all of our most popular classes plus an exciting new mosaic-making class! If you haven't taken classes with us since summer 2007, please note that our classroom / art studio is now located at the Blackfoot Community Center, 157 W. Sexton (at Ash). We have a spacious classroom and look forward to a terrific summer.

Summer classes begin the week of June 9 and continue through August. As always, click on the registration form link to the right to download your registration form, and mail to the Art Center at 146 S. Meridian Street; or bring it into the Community Center and take a look around!

Let’s Draw & Paint!
Monday 11:00 to 12:00 pm · $25 / Month
Kids ages 6 to 8 will improve their drawing skills while exploring and combining media such as tempera, watercolor, crayon, pastels, and more.

Craft it!
Monday 1:00 to 2:00 pm · $25 / Month
A hands-on arts & crafts class for young children ages 6 to 8. Kids will explore exciting techniques using interesting materials such as textiles, wire, string, wood, foam, & more.

Make a Mosaic (& Other Great Crafts)!
Monday 3:00 to 4:30 pm · $30 / Month
Your child will make a beautiful tile mosaic in this unique craft class for older kids, ages 8 and up. Later, participants may make additional mosaics or try another great craft project.

Art is Fun!
Tuesday 1:00 to 2:00 pm · $25 / Month
Unique, open-ended art exploration activities especially suited for 4- and 5-year-olds.

Let’s Paint!
Tuesday 3:00 to 4:30 pm · $35 / Month
Explore painting techniques and media including tempera, watercolor, & acrylics. For kids 7 to 12.

Teen Art Exploration
Wednesday 1:00 to 3:00 pm · $35 / Month
Teens 12 - 17 will improve drawing skills and explore a variety of art media including colored pencil, ink, pastels, tempera, watercolor, and acrylics.

Learn to Draw (June)
Nature Drawing (July)
Drawing in Color (Aug)
Wednesday 4:00 – 5:30 pm · $30 / Month
An introductory drawing class for kids 8 to 12. Learn a whole new way of seeing and thinking artistically. Participants will learn to access their creative side and discover their own unique drawing style.

Art Adventures!
Thursdays 11:00 to 12:00 pm · $25 / Month
Exciting, hands-on art exploration for kids ages 6 to 10. They’ll experience a variety of art forms, media, and techniques - something different every week!

Adult Art Class & Open Studio
Tuesday 6:30 to 8:30 pm · $40.00 / Month or $10.00 per class session
An open art studio / class for adults. Interact with other local artists while exploring a variety of exciting exercises, techniques, and media.
Ongoing class sessions, some out of doors, weather permitting. Attend whenever and as often as you wish. Jun-Aug: watercolor / acrylics.

Fall/Winter Classes

As the Blackfoot Art Center celebrates our spacious new classroom at Blackfoot's new community center, we are pleased to offer several popular art classes on an ongoing monthly basis. These include our children's painting and art exploration classes (now held during after-school hours); a preschool art exploration class, and art class/open studio times for homeschool groups and for adults:

Art is Fun! Ages 4-5
A preschool art class with unique, open-ended art exploration activities especially suited for 4- and 5-year-olds.
Mondays 11:00 am to 12:00 pm

$25.00/Month

Shark Art! Ages 5-12
A fun art exploration class for children K through 6th grade. This art class is included in The Center’s after-school SHARK program and is also open to non-SHARK participants depending upon space availability.

Tuesdays 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

$25.00/Month

Homeschool Art Exploration! Ages 7 & up
A hands-on art exploration class. Students, ages 7 and up, will learn the basic elements of design through painting, drawing, collage, and other fine art forms, media, and techniques. There will be plenty of studio time to work on projects while enjoying the company of other homeschoolers! Tuesdays or Wednesdays 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

$30.00 Month

Let’s Paint! Ages 7-12
Children will explore painting techniques & media including tempera, watercolor, and acrylics.

Wednesdays 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm

$35.00/Month

Art Adventures! Ages 7-12
Exciting, hands-on art exploration where kids will experience a variety of art forms, media, and techniques - something different every week!
Thursdays 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm

$25.00/Month

Adult Art Class & Open Studio
An open art studio for just for adults. Explore color theory, learn to draw, share ideas, and interact with other local artists while experiencing a variety of exciting exercises, techniques, and art media. Class sessions are ongoing, so you may attend whenever and as often as you wish.

Thursdays 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

$40.00/Month or $10.00 per class session

To register for a class, simply download the appropriate Registration Form by clicking on one of the links in the right side bar (just below Art Supplies, Books, and Magazines). Print and fill out the form, and mail or deliver with class fees to the Blackfoot Art Center at 146 S. Meridian St., Blackfoot, ID 83221 OR drop off at our classroom facility at The Center, 157 West Sexton in Blackfoot during after-school or class hours. By the way, you are welcome to come by for a tour of our new facility - come by during the above hours or give us a call first at 785-8022 or 785-0828.

. . .

The artwork shown above is a papier mache' sculpture, Cartoon Giraffe, by Ashley, age 8.

Art Center Update - We've Moved!

SO SORRY for my long absence!

The trouble with teaching art classes during the summer months is I get so busy planning and teaching classes that I rarely have time to even turn on my computer, much less post regularly on my blogs! (Maybe I have bitten off more than I can chew?)

Our summer art classes were so successful, I had to split a few of them into two or more classes due to my very limited space. I was thrilled that so many kids wanted to take art classes, but because I could teach only four or five students at a time in tiny little classroom, I spent many more hours teaching the same classes two and three times each week.

Guess what? All of that has changed!

As of October 1st 2007, the Blackfoot Art Center has relocated to The Center, a new community and recreation center in downtown Blackfoot. Our new classroom is spacious and roomy, with plenty of table space and elbow room. It is well lit, and has an attached restroom, lots of storage space for supplies and ongoing projects, and plenty of wallspace to display student artwork.

If you live in the Blackfoot area and have taken art classes with us or would like to do so, it's time to get excited! You will love our new facility, and we are excited about offering it to you. More great news: class tuitions for all classes will remain the same. How do we do it??? Well, just never mind about that. You'll still be getting terrific, fun art classes for all ages (4 and up), with most or all supplies and materials included; and now at a beautiful, centrally located facility -- and class fees are just as affordable as ever. Wow!

Take a look at our most current art class offerings at any time by clicking the Current Class Schedule link in the right sidebar of this page - just below Art Supplies, Books, and Magazines. You can also download class registration materials and instructions by using the appropriate links. (These are pdf files, so you need Adobe Reader to download them.) By the way, I'll post our Fall/Winter class descriptions in my next post.

The Center is located at 157 West Sexton in Blackfoot, Idaho. Phone is 208-785-8022. The Blackfoot Art Center contact phone is 208-785-0828. Note: private and semi-private art lessons will still be available at our original location at 146 S. Meridian Street in Blackfoot.

The artwork above, Snapdragons with Lemon, is tempera on paper, painted by 8-year-old Eden in our "Let's Paint!" summer art class.

Spring / Summer Art Classes - Sign Up Now!

Welcome to the Blackfoot Art Center's Spring and Summer 2007 Art Classes! We are celebrating our One Year Anniversary with three exciting new Art Classes, including a children's painting class, a color theory class for adults, and a homeschool art class just for teens! We are also continuing to offer our most popular children's art classes, and another basic drawing course for adults - now available online!

Upcoming class sessions are:

Spring Session: May 15 through June 2 (3 weeks)
Summer Session 1: June 4 through June 30 (4 weeks)
Summer Session 2: July 2 through July 28 (4 weeks)
Summer Session 3: July 30 through August 25 (4 weeks)

Here is a brief outline of what's coming up:

Art is Fun! Ages 4-6
Unique, open-ended art activities exclusively suited for 4, 5, and 6 year olds.
Mondays 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Sessions: 1-3
Tuesdays 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Sessions: Spring, 1-3
$25.00 (Spring - $19.00)
...
Let’s Paint! Ages 7 – 12
Explore painting techniques & media including tempera, watercolor, acrylics & more!
Tuesdays 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Sessions: Spring, 1-3
$30.00 / Session ($23.00 / Spring)
...
Art Adventures! Ages 7 - 12
Hands-on art exploration through a variety of art forms and fun art activities.
Wednesdays 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Sessions: 1-3
$35.00 / Session
Note: Session 2 for this class is three weeks in length due to the July 4 holiday.
$28.00 / Session 2
...
Art Exploration for Teens Ages 12 - up
Explore painting and drawing techniques and the basic elements of design – line, shape, space, form, texture, color, and value - through a variety of media and art forms.
Thursdays 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Sessions: Spring, 1-3
$35.00 / Session
($27.00 / Spring)
...
Homeschool Art Classes Ages 5 - up
Hands-on art exploration through a variety of art experiences, study of master artworks, and fun arts & crafts activities.
Fridays – openings after 1:00 pm - OR contact us for your best day and time. Sessions are ongoing monthly.
$25.00/ month
$35.00/ month - teens, ages 12 – up
...
All About Color! Adults 16 - up
An introduction to color theory through a variety of exciting exercises and art media,including paint, colored pencils, put paper, and pastels. Sign up for one or all sessions!
Thursdays 7:00 – 9:00 pm Sessions: 1-3
$40.00 / Session

You may download our Spring/Summer 2007 Class Schedule, print, and make copies to post or share. (pdf, one page.)

Current downloadable class registration materials can now be found in the right sidebar of this page - just below Art Supplies, Books, and Magazines. (These are pdf files, so you need Adobe Reader to download them.) Simply print and fill them out - then mail or bring to the Blackfoot Art Center with your payment. Be sure to ask about our Anniversary Discount! New students only - valid for May and June 2007 classes.

Classes are small, so to avoid disappointment, sign up now!

The artwork shown above is a short-line pen and ink drawing, Tree Squirrel, by Alicia B. at age 16.

Try Salt Dough Art

In the weeks leading up to Christmas, I had a great craft idea for my classes - salt dough art!

Dough art was very popular during the 1980's when I was raising my children. This very plain salt-and-flour, cookie colored dough is fun to manipulate and work with, and it dries rock-hard. We used to make all sorts of fun craft items, from Christmas ornaments to wall plaques to woven bread baskets (remember those?).

Dough art seems to have fallen by the wayside for polymer clay (like Sculpey). By the way, if you would like to learn more about polymer clay, you'll find plenty of ideas and resources here. But right now we're talkin' salt dough, which I like best for kids because you make it yourself and it's practically free! Here's the recipe:

Heirloom Ornament Salt Dough

4 cups white flour

1 cup plain salt

1 1/2 cups water

Mix with a wooden spoon, then knead until soft and plyable. Add more flour if too sticky, more water if too dry. Place creations on upside down cookie sheet and allow to dry at room temperature. For larger items or for quicker drying time, place in oven at 250 F and check often. Projects should be hard and golden - not brown!

My plan for this project was simple enough. We would make the salt dough together. I would show a few sample Christmas ornaments (shown above), demonstrate a few techniques, then set the kids loose so they could make their own ornaments. Some did just that, but a few little tykes had their own ideas!

We ended up with a beautiful mermaid (cookie sheet size) with strategically placed seashells, a handprint "in the sand" with more seashells, and a soaring eagle. We learned that tiny seashells make great accessories for salt dough projects.

Oh well, that's what open-ended art is all about.

The next week, after the projects were hard and dry, we painted them with CeramCoat acrylic craft paints, then applied an acrylic gloss finish. (Use brush-on or spray-on finish.)

A word of caution. Your canine friends will think these are wonderful, hand-made doggy treats and will EAT them. Keep out of pets' reach.

This recipe is just one of 75 craft recipes you can find in our ebook, 75 Craft Recipes for Kids: Crafty Concoctions Your Children Will Love! You'll also find recipes for making your own paints, crayons, chalk,bubbles, play dough, paste, silly slime, hand-made paper, and much more. Great fun!

December Craft Workshops

Here is our December workshop schedule.

After-School “Make-a-Gift” Workshop:
‘Naturally’ Framed Watercolor Painting
Monday, Dec. 4 – 2:30 to 5:30 pm ● Cost: $15.00
Create a watercolor painting, then place it in this clever picture frame made from all natural materials. A great gift for Dad, Grandpa, or a favorite uncle!

Traditional Folk Art Christmas Ornaments
Saturday, Dec. 9 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm ● Cost: $20.00
Get into the Christmas spirit! These traditional folk art ornaments were created in rural areas after the Civil War, using spare materials and a little ingenuity. Your child will re-create several of these homemade folk designs while learning about our early American folk art history.

Holiday-Themed Evergreen Wreath
Saturday, Dec. 16 – 1:00 to 4:00 pm ● Cost: $15.00
Choose a holiday theme (snow, nature, candy, stars, angels, etc.), and create a lovely embellished evergreen wreath, perfect for indoor or outdoor decorating. Bring your own evergreen cuttings and embellishments, or choose from ours.
(This workshop is for children and adults, ages 9 and up.)

Workshop fees include all supplies, materials, and a snack!For more information, contact the Blackfoot Art Center at 785-0828 or by email. You can download our Workshop Registration Form here.

Let It Snow!

We've had a bit of snow here in southeastern Idaho, but according to the kids, not enough! So, we made it snow indoors; we made these beautiful 3-D sparkly snowflakes and hung them from the ceiling. The children made more at home and hung them over their beds for a beautiful wintery snow storm.

Here's how to make your own lovely snowflakes. Start with a piece of regular white copy paper.


Cut it in half the long way. Fold up the end of one of the halves about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Continue to fold the paper accordian style to the other end. Hold the folded paper flat and fold in half. Unfold and cut two notches along the center fold, one on each side, as shown.

Cut your design into one side of the folded paper, using curvey, pointy, and rounded cuts. Don't be afraid to cut deeply for more interesting designs, and be sure to cut off one or both corners. Try using a hole punch too. When finished cutting, fold the paper over and, using your previous cuts as a guide or a pattern, cut the other half of your folded paper. Open, and tie one end of an 18-inch piece of string around the center notches of the paper, and knot tightly. Apply glue to one side of the paper (we use glue sticks), and lay the longer length of string over the glued side (so the snow flake won't hang horizantally like a flying saucer). Fold the opposite side over, and press down. Now simply glue the bottom two sides together, forming the completed snowflake, and hang from the ceiling!

To make them sparkly, we sprayed our flakes lightly with spray glue, then sprinkled with glitter. Be sure to do this in a shallow box so you can pour the extra glitter back into the bottle. Pretty messy business, and not really vital for this project.

Note: A much larger snowflake can be made in exactly the same way from two full sheets of paper that are taped together along the short ends to make one long sheet of paper.

November Children's Craft Workshops

We have scheduled Monday and Saturday Children's Craft Workshops throughout the month of November. Be sure to sign up early; classes are small and space is limited.

Handmade Greeting Cards
Saturday, Nov. 4 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm • Cost: $20
Learn to make uniquely personal greeting cards using a variety of materials and techniques.

Santa’s Workshop 1
Monday, Nov. 6 – 2:30 to 5:30 pm • Cost: $15
Make a unique gift for Mom, Auntie, or Grandma that she’s sure to love!

Dough Art Fun: 2-day Workshop
Saturday, Nov. 11 – 1:00 to 4:00 pm & Monday, Nov. 13 - 2:30 to 4:30 • Cost: $25
Salt dough creations will include Christmas ornaments and gifts. On Day 1 children will learn techniques and create dough art. On Day 2 they will paint and complete hardened dough art projects.

Thanksgiving Fun
Saturday, Nov. 18 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm • Cost: $20
Get your child involved in your holiday preparations! We’ll make an impressive Thanksgiving centerpiece, napkin rings, and unique place cards to dress up your holiday table.

Santa’s Workshop 2
Monday, Nov. 20 – 2:30 to 5:30 pm • Cost: $15
Decorated hinged wooden boxes – beautiful and fun to create.

Traditional Folk Art Christmas Ornaments
Saturday, Nov. 25 – 1:00 to 5:00 pm • Cost: $20
Get into the Christmas spirit! These traditional folk art ornaments were created in rural areas after the Civil War, using spare materials and a little ingenuity. Your children will re-create several of these homemade folk designs while learning about our early American folk art heritage.

Santa’s Workshop 3
Monday, Nov. 27 – 2:30 to 5:30 pm • Cost: $15
Create a watercolor painting, then frame in this clever picture frame, made from all natural materials. A great gift for Dad, an uncle, or Grandpa!

Workshop fees include all supplies, materials, and a snack!

For more information, contact the Blackfoot Art Center at 785-0828 or by email. You can download our Workshop Registration Form here.