It's So Hot, My Crayons Are Melting. Hey, That's So Cool -- My Crayons Are Melting!

With the heat wave upon us this summer, you might have avoided bringing crayons outside because they could melt.  Let's turn those lemons into lemonade (with lots of ice, of course) and celebrate the fact that the crayons do melt when they are in the outside heat.  Here's how you can make some very cool, melted swirly art.
 

Materials:  crayons, pencil sharpener or grater, paper, cup

Sharpen or grate some crayons and catch the flakes in a cup. Carefully sprinkle the shavings on the paper in a shape, design or message that you want to create. Repeat this process until your picture is the way you want it! As you sit out there in the blazing sun, the shavings will melt onto the paper and your pretty picture will melt to life! 

For a different effect, you can place the shavings on the paper and then trace shapes in them with your finger before they start to melt!

Saving Summer

Want to save some of that summer fun you’ve had at the beach?  Scoop up some sand with your shovel and pail and get ready to create a work of art that will be great to look at during cold winter days.  Couldn’t make it to the beach? – Just use salt instead of sand.

Materials needed:  sand or salt, food coloring, 4-6 sealable plastic bags, glue, plastic spoon, construction paper or pages from your favorite coloring book.

First, you will need to add color to your sand or salt.  Put some in a bag and add a few drops of food coloring.  Seal the bag and shake until sand changes color.  Try not to get it too wet or else the sand will become sticky. 

Now it’s time to create your design:  draw a picture, write out a message or find a coloring book page you’d like to use.  Use the glue to cover the area you want to have covered with sand.  Spread it evenly with your finger or the back of a plastic spoon.  Sprinkle colored sand onto the area and gently shake off the excess.  Let dry.

Your Fireworks Will Be a Booming Hit!

Boom ! Pop! Sizzle! Capture the magic and beauty of fireworks with your crayons.

Materials you will need:  thick paper or card stock, crayons, especially black and a couple of paper clips.

Plan ahead:  because you will be coloring the entire page in black crayon, you could fold the paper in half or just use part of the paper if you wish.  First, draw a design using as many colors as you like. You don’t need to worry about making mistakes because it will be covered.  Now cover the whole drawing with black crayon. Take your paper clip and bend it so that you can use an end to create the fireworks.  Carefully scrape the black crayon away so the color shows.  Make different shapes and line designs (zig zags, dashes, and squiggles) and now you have created your very own, permanent fireworks show!

Hey White Crayon, We Didn't Forget You!

Materials:  white paper (watercolor paper is recommended), white crayon, water-color paint or watered-down poster paint, paintbrush.

Sometimes, the lonely white crayon might not get a chance to come out and play.  Here’s an activity where the white crayon is the star!

First, draw your picture or design with white crayon.  Press hard as you draw. Prepare thinned down water color or poster paint in any color.  Paint over your drawing and magically, magically, your drawing will appear right before your eyes!  Continue painting to reveal your entire picture.  Be sure not to get the paper too wet or it will begin to tear.  You can paint in stripes or swirls to create special effects.

Why does this happen?  The water/paint will resist the crayon, but will be absorbed by the paper.

This is a great activity to decode secret messages with friends or to reveal clues for a special family scavenger hunt.

Hooray for our Grand Ol' Flag

Hooray for the American Flag!  June 14^th is National Flag Day. 

Click here for your own American Flag to color! 

The first American Flag was sewn by Betsy Ross in 1776.  Fabric was scarce during the Revolutionary War, so Betsy used scraps on the first flag.  General Washington’s coat of arms (a family symbol) had stripes over stars, and is thought to be one of the first flag’s inspirations, as well as the British Flag. On the original flag there were thirteen stripes to represent the thirteen colonies and stars to represent the new states.  The flag we use today, with 50 stars, was first seen in 1960, when Hawaii became the 50th state.  Flag Day is celebrated on June 14th, the day the Continental Congress ratified the flag.

                                        The American Flag was sewn by Betsy Ross,

                                        The fifty states have one star each,

                                        The original 13 colonies, one strip a piece.

                                        Purity, innocence, truth and light

                                        Are shown in the flag’s bright white.

                                        Red show us valor and hardiness true.

                                        Vigilance and justice comes through in blue.

Now it’s your turn… design a flag for you or for your family.  What objects are important?  What ideas could they symbolize?  What colors are meaningful to you? 

Get Ready for Father's Day

Father's Day will be here before you know it!  Enjoy a free card to color: Father's Day Card

Other ideas for this holiday:
Create your own Father's Day book with drawings about the things you like to do to together.
Design an award for your father, grandpa, uncle or any other dad who has earned it!

Here's a Father's Day Activity to do together, called "My Dad Rocks"

What you will need:
some rocks
markers or tempera/acrylic paints & brushes
optional:  googly eyes and glue

1.  Go for a walk together, looking for small to medium sized stone stones and collect them.
2.  Both adult and kid(s) can participate.  On one side or the rock, color it anyway you wish -- with patterns, designs or turn it into an animal or people.  Here's where the googly eyes might come in handy.
3  On the other side, write down the date and even a message to or from each other.
4.  Repeat the steps as often as the two of you wish.  Now each of you will have a special memento of Father's Day 2012!

Adding color in a new way to your drawing

Materials needed:  at least two bottles of glue

Tempera paint or food coloring

Coloring books pages or sturdy white paper

Crayons or markers

Find a page from a coloring book and color it in.  Then create colored glue by adding a few drops of paint or enough food coloring to get the color you desire.  Shake or stir well.  Create at least two different colors.  Now follow the lines of your picture with the different colored glues.  Let dry. 

Ready for more?  Create your own drawing or design with the colored glue on plain paper.  Make sure all the lines touch or even cross over.  Let dry.  Now you can color in your design.  This is a great activity to do with a partner.  Each of you can create a design for the other person to color!