Ask An OC Expert: Family-Friendly DIY Crafts On A Budget
For some down time with the family, pick up a little trade with these family-friendly DIY crafts on a budget provided by our OC expert.
Rebecca Giesking
Art Supply Warehouse
6672 Westminster Blvd
Westminster, CA 92683
(714) 891-3626
www.artsupplywarehouse.com
Rebecca Giesking, an artist residing in Long Beach, CA, runs Catalyst, a studio and gallery space run by Art Supply Warehouse in Westminster, CA. With the informal title of "Director of Fun," she gets to put together, plan and organize fun classes and activities for creative people of all ages. Working in the art materials industry for over seven years, she has had the opportunity to test out all sorts of art supplies and creative projects to share with her daughter, and learn the hard way what works and what can be disastrous. She is currently a resident artist at the ArtX in Long Beach, a community art center focused on enhancing the quality of life in the surrounding community.
Foam printing
All you need for this are foam plates or scratch-foam, ink, a brayer, a piece of plexi or glass that you have laying around the house, a wooden spoon, paper (computer paper or block printing paper works great) and a pencil. Great for kids and adults, the whole family will have fun learning the basics of printing. You can create cards or fill a wall with prints made by your family. Just draw an image in the foam using a blunt pencil. Squeeze ink out, roll an even layer of ink onto your foam plate. Place your paper on top of the foam and use the wooden spoon to rub the back of the paper until the ink has transferred to the paper. Be sure to not move the paper during this step as your image will come out smudged. Also keep in the mind the image will be the reverse of what you draw. A list of supplies to be used for this is available here.
Using the Jacquard indigo dye kit, a five-gallon bucket and natural white fabrics that you already have at home, create beautiful dyed fabrics. This can be messy so it is best to do this outdoors and to wear gloves. Mix warm tap water, indigo dye, soda ash and a reduction agent together by following the instructions. Once it is well mixed, cover and let the dye sit for an hour. Remove the foam from the dye, and dip pre-moistened fabric into the dye bath. The cloth will appear yellow-green when you pull it out. As the dye oxidizes, it will turn blue. You can tie, bind and twist the fabric to create different patterns and designs before you dip it in the dye.
Make a self portrait from magazine clippings, junk mail, phone books and leftover tissue papers. Using a canvas, Matte or Gloss Gel Medium, a foam brush, leftover papers and a couple of decorative papers for added flair, everyone in your family can make a personalized portrait. Draw out the simple shapes of your face on the canvas. Then collect your favorite papers, tearing the paper into smaller interesting shapes. Keep in mind that heavier paper will be harder to paste down. Working in sections, cover a small portion of the canvas with matte or gloss medium and arrange the paper on top, smoothing the paper by painting over it with a second layer of matte or gel medium. When finished, let it completely dry and cover with another layer of matte or gel medium. Then find a place in your home to display the collection of personalized portraits of everyone in the family. A list of supplies used for this project is here.
Personalize shoes with Mod Podge and old comics, vintage cloth or decorative paper. Mod Podge comes in a variety of styles like matte, gloss, satin or glitter. You can use older shoes or new shoes for this project. If you are using old shoes, make sure they are clean and free of dirt before you start. First seal the shoes with a layer of Mod Podge. Then cut your paper or cloth to fit the shoes' curves and structure. Then start on one end of the shoe, painting a small section with Mod Podge. Place the paper or cloth on top and cover it with another layer of Mod Podge. Once finished, let it dry and then coat it with a waterproof finish. This is great for high heels, flats and canvas sneakers.
Create marbled paper using a marbling kit, toothpicks, tray and paper. Great for wrapping paper, cards and more, it's a fun way to spend the afternoon with your family. Once you spray your paper with alum and mix the methocel with water, allow the paper to dry and the methocel to settle for an hour. Drop different colors of paint on top of the surface and create different patterns and designs using toothpicks. Once satisfied with your design, gently place your paper face down holding opposite corners, until the entire paper is flat. Pull the paper up from one edge and hang to dry. A list of supplies used for this project can be found here.
