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Mural
Craft Idea
Most craft ideas are geared to
individuals, whether kids or adults. Sometimes you'd like to have a
craft idea that works for a group of kids working together. Making a
mural together is an idea that works for a group.
By working together, you are creating
something to decorate a shared area. Individual crafts can be
displayed, but one unique item is often more effective than a group of
items that are almost identical. In addition, sometimes kids' crafts,
like it or not, just become clutter when they are taken home, and it
isn't long before Mom throws it out. This craft idea of making a group
mural can be displayed for several weeks and will not become clutter
in anyone's home.
The basic materials for a kids' group
mural is freezer paper. Freezer paper is about 18 inches wide, and it
is very tough. One side is plastic coated. That is the side that is
designed to be placed against the food. You will have better luck
drawing on and gluing things onto the other side.
Class or group murals can feature a
number of different design elements. You can mix up some finger paint
and let the children make hand prints (or even foot prints!) on the
paper. You can let them scour old cast-off magazines and color
catalogs for pictures they like and let them cut the pictures out and
glue them on. They can add scribbles, designs, signatures, slogans, or
pictures using markers, crayons, or gel pens. They can attach stickers
to the mural as well. This craft idea is very flexible!
For making the mural, choose a topic that relates to the group in some
way. If the group are girl scouts, for instance, and have been
learning to camp, the mural can feature pictures of items related to
camping. If you've been learning about dinosaurs, you can use them as
a theme.
If you want a really messy project that
makes a cute mural for fall, mix up finger paint in fall colors. The
children can each make a tree by first laying their forearm in brown
paint. Then they lay their arm on the paper to make the trunk of the
tree. They should spread out their fingers so their arm print has five
short branches at the top. To make the leaves, the children make
fingerprints all around the top of the tree using paints in other fall
colors. If you add a few drops of dishwashing detergent to finger
paint when mixing it up, it will be easier to clean off the children's
arms. Do make sure they have old clothes or smocks for this craft
idea.
Little preschoolers will like making a mural with an animal theme. You
should probably find and cut out animal magazine pictures to start
with, and then let the children choose the ones they like for gluing
down. Glue sticks are neat to use with small children. They will paste
some of the pictures upside down. Expect it and do not scold them. It
is the process that is important in this craft idea. The children can
also use animal cookie cutters dipped in finger paint to stamp animals
on the mural, too. You may need to tape the paper to the table so it
doesn't slide around while the children work.
An elaborate form of this craft idea that adults often make is a quilt
around a theme. Each person in the group creates a quilt square to
represent some aspect of what the group stands for. These quilt
squares can be colored with fabric pens or crafted of patchwork or
applique. Again, the craft idea is to build group solidarity and not
to highlight one artist's skills over another. When the quilt top is
completed, it can be a group project to tie it or quilt it. It can be
hung in a special central location or given to an appreciated leader
or member.
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iRepNetwork.com
Lead Generation
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