Spring Bird Lanterns

These fun lanterns are made using tissue paper, glue (typical washable white liquid school glue), yarn, a hole punch, and a balloon.  You will also need scissors, a bowl you don't mind filling with glue, a little water, double stick tape, a stapler, and a strip of cardstock or heavy paper.   
This can be a messy project so either place some paper or a plastic table cloth on your work space.  This will also need to dry over night so plan on a place to keep this project where it can be left alone to dry.
Now get the supplies ready.  take one end of your strip of heavy paper and bring it to the other end, making a circle.  Staple or tape it together.  This will be your stand for your balloon.  Using the scissors cut or tear your tissue paper into strips about 2"X 3 or 4" (or whatever size you want).  In your bowl pour in a little glue and stir (I just use my finger) in a little water until it's thinned, but still looks like glue.  The amount you need will depend on how many bird lanterns you are making and doesn't take as much as you might think- you can always mix more if you run out.  Keep in mind it will need to enough to dip your tissue paper rectangles.  Blow up your balloon to size you would like your bird and tie the end in a knot.  Now with the knot end facing down towards the table, set the balloon on the paper ring you made for a stand.  The knot should be inside the ring. 
Once you have your workspace set up you can get started.  Take one of your rectangles and crumple it into a ball.  Now squish that ball into a cone shape for a beak.  Stick some double stick tape on the flat side of the "cone" and then stick the beak to the balloon (remember your bird is upside down).

 Next take a strip of tissue paper, set it flat in the bowl, and then as you lift it out of the bowl with one hand use your fingers of the other hand to slide the paper in between two fingers to remove excess glue, and then set the paper on the balloon.  Repeat this step a few times and then once you get a layer done it is easier to take strips of paper, set them on the balloon, dip your fingers in the bowl and spread the glue over the paper gluing and smoothing the paper strips at the same time.  Continue to do this until you have about three layers of paper that cover the balloon about 3/4 the way to the bottom.  You will also need to make sure you are wrapping and gluing some strips to the beak so the beak is connected to the bird. 

 Now you can clean up and let your project dry overnight. 
Once your bird is dry pop the balloon.  The balloon might stick a little to the tissue paper so you may need to gently pull the balloon away from the paper as it is deflating.  It might start to invert the paper too, but you can easily push the paper back out to it's regular shape if this starts to happen.  Once you have the balloon separated from the bird use the hole punch to punch three holes approximately equal distance to keep it balanced when you add string and hang it. 

Cut three equal lengths of yarn and tie one to each hole and the tie the three strings together at the top.  Place a small light inside and you have a fun lantern. 

 If you prefer not to hang it that is always an option too (like the girl above).
You can buy battery operated tea lights to put inside or also at craft stores you can buy even smaller battery operated lights made to fit inside balloons or floral arrangements.
Also to note it is possible to buy paste and glues specifically for paper mache projects if you prefer, but I have regular glue already and it does the trick.

Corot Spring

My favorite thing about spring is the dark trunks of trees spotted with tiny bits of lime green, white, or pink. 
Even though his paintings aren't necessarily of this, they remind me of it and he captures the mood and magic I love about speckled trees.  He is Jean Baptiste Camille Corot. 
My favorite paintings by him are:  The Boatman of Mortefontaine, Ville d'Avray, and L'eglise de Marissel pres de Beauvais.
In March I did a set of art lessons for a variety of ages with a spring theme.  One of the projects we did was to remake the Ville d'Avray using either chalk pastels, oil pastels, watercolors, or charcoal.  Here's some samples of the art work:

Window shapes

This morning it was raining and it inspired me to post this art project that's great for rainy days.
A year ago we cut out geometric shapes from cling vinyl we bought at a craft store.  What I bought was Grafix ClingVinyl in 9"X12" sheets.  I cut various colors using a paper cutter into strips.  I then cut the strips into rectangles, squares, triangles, and circles.  Then I peeled the back paper off and stuck them to the window. 
If you know me and don't want to go through that process you can email me and I'll send you some of my extras.  
You can cut any shapes you want really, but I thought sticking to geometric would be fun for a couple of reasons.  One reason is to recognize that all things are made up of the basic geometric shapes to start with- so what can you make using just the basic geometric shapes?  Another reason is I think it encourages more creativity- if you already have shapes of actual objects what more can you do with them than stick them on the window? 
I love watching my kids stand at the window on a rainy day making pictures and talking about what they are putting together to create a whole story.