Abstract Cardboard Masks

Ella, 2nd grade

Raya, kindergarten

 Charlize, 2nd grade

 Kiran, 1st grade

(This shape reminds me of Keith Haring's dogs - Love it!)

 Harper, kindergarten

 Kate, kindergarten

 Thalia, 3rd grade

Katherine, kindergarten

(My kinder girls were very adamant about wanting their masks to be "cute")

Love the blond locks

Mira, 3rd grade

Scott, 5th grade

 Got cardboard? Here's a fun project to utilize any scrap Amazon or pizza boxes. Parents can help younger children cut out the base or face shape of these masks. Since these are abstract, get creative with your shape. Have your children divide their face into sections with a permanent marker and paint with different colors. Facial features can be cut with scissors using thin cardboard using leftover cereal, soda or cracker boxes. Encourage them to be creative with their shapes for eyes, nose, mouth and ears. These can be colored with markers, oil pastels or paint. 

Once their facial features are cut out, they can play around with where they'll be placed on their base. These are abstract, so eyes don't have to be side by side. Have fun! Now they can be glued down using regular school glue. Last, if you have a junk drawer, you can encourage children to embellish their masks with buttons, bits of hardware, soda can tops or anything else you can think to utilize. 

This was a lot of fun for my wide age range groups. Everyone felt successful and it is a great way to teach children that they can create art from a variety of recycled materials.

*Note: For inspiration, check out the work of Kimmy Cantrell and Eric Straw!

  Recycled food and beverage boxes for facial features - easy for the kids to cut out

Paper Bag Owls

Now felt like a good time to revisit these owl projects 

using lunch bags or grocery bags as your canvas.

Many communities are setting out luminaries to honor healthcare professionals.

Graphic Owl Luminaria

Supplies:

Brown school lunch bag
Black Sharpie Marker
 Sharpie Markers in Assorted Colors
Battery Tea Light Candle

Kids can get creative with lines and shapes in
creating their graphic owl - here are just a few ideas
After black lines are drawn, color away!

*Many communities are lighting luminaries to honor healthcare professionals.

Lunch Bag Owl 

Stuff these paper bag owls with old newspaper to create fun standing creatures

Supplies:

Black Sharpie Marker - Fine Tip, Chisel or King Size

Chalk Pastels

2 brown paper lunch bags

Scissors and glue

newspaper or tissue paper

After you have drawn all your Sharpie lines, add color to your owl using
the side of your chalk pastels with light pressure
Stuff bag with crumbled newspaper
Cut out wings and ear tufts from a separate bag and glue to your owl

Grocery Bag Owls

Barn Owl
Fun facts: Barn Owls have a distinctive heart shaped face,
 their flight is silent and they don't hoot, they shriek

Supplies:
Brown Grocery Bag, cut into a rectangle

Fine and Ultra Fine Tip Black Sharpie Markers

Chalk Pastels

For a simple, finished composition - on a piece of black construction paper,
create a full moon with chalk pastel and add some stars with a white Sharpie marker.
Just cut out and glue your owl to the backgroud.
(those veins though....lol!)

Great Horned Owl

The Great Horned Owl is named for the tufts of feathers (not ears) that sit on top of its head. The ears are actually openings in the sides of its skull, hidden by feathers, down on the sides of its head.

Create sketchy loose lines with Sharpies

Add a little more color with chalk pastels

Supplies:

Brown Grocery Bag, cut into a rectangle

Sharpie Markers in Black, Brown and White

Chalk Pastels
Create a backgroud of your choice