This month, I let M choose some new art projects we could try out. We searched through Pinterest Art Ideas, followed links, and read the directions. She chose raised salt paintings (seen first HERE) and baked cotton balls. One was awesome and one was, according to M, “disappointing.” Ha!
Raised Salt Paintings
This one was SUPER cool.
We placed a piece of cardstock (I knew it’d be getting some weight on it so I opted for a heavier paper) on a plastic tray. She used a glue bottle to doodle a design.
Then, she shook a container of salt over the wet glue. We saturated it pretty well and then shook off the extra salt (saving it for another painting).
Finally, she watered down some paints and LIGHTLY touched the paint brush to the salted glue. The paint spreads and bleeds and is pretty much just AMAZING!
We made MANY of these creations and it never got old. It doesn’t necessarily LAST, as the salt starts cracking off, so take pictures once it’s done!
Baked Cotton Balls
We had high hopes for these but they fell a little flat (perhaps user error??).
We started out by mixing a cup of flower with a cup of water.
Then, M saturated regular cotton balls in our mixture and placed them on wax paper.
After “baking” at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, we removed them and let them cool.
We had some friends come over and help us paint them, using all sorts of watercolor shades.
Once the paint was dry, we took them outside to the sidewalk and tried to smash them with a hammer.
This is where it got disappointing. They did not smash. They flattened… A little. Not super satisfying for a 5 year old, 3 year old and 7 year old!
Overall, the processes of both projects were fun and creating together IS learning together!
Written by Jill
Chels
Thursday 27th of September 2012
I tried to cottonballs too and it was a major disappointment at our house. I did it the same as you, so not sure what went wrong for us. Maybe too much flour mixture? I will have to try to salt paintings though :)
JDaniel4's Mom
Thursday 27th of September 2012
I love the cotton ball idea! I will have to try it.
Tiggeriffic
Thursday 27th of September 2012
Would putting stiff hair spray help your cotton balls.. This looks like a great project..and kids have so much fun with painting and glue and applying it on card stock. Great Idea~!