Butterfly Ornaments Bracelets

butterfly ornaments bracelets

Turn beautiful Butterfly Ornaments into wonderful bracelets! 

Age: 4+

Duration: 15-20 minutes plus drying times

Learning Objectives: Use a unique material to create a color resist effect. Learn to diffuse colors with special paper. Create swirly designs, shapes and interesting patterns on the wings. Use fine motor skills to squeeze wing designs into bug bodies and curl antennae.

You’ll Need:

R83260 Butterfly Ornaments Kit

R54460 Squiggle Pipettes

• Clear glue

• Plastic bowls

• Watercolor paint

• Paint tray

• Pipe cleaner

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butterfly ornaments bracelets

The Butterfly Ornaments Kit features pre-cut butterfly wings made out of Color Diffusing Paper. It’s a good idea to put the wings onto a paint tray as you drip-drop the color resist glue.

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Pour some clear glue into a plastic bowl. Squeeze the bulb of a Squiggle Pipette to expel all the air from it, then drop the tip into the clear glue and release. This will draw in some of the clear glue into the pipette chamber.

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Press the pipette bulb to squeeze out the glue onto the Color Diffusing Paper butterfly wing. You can draw shapes such as stars or circles, or make patterns like polka dots!

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This art camper decided to make polka dots out of the clear glue. Leave the glue to dry overnight.

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Once the clear glue has completely dried, use the Squiggle Pipettes to drop watercolor paint on top. As you can see in the above image, all the areas where the clear glue had dried will repel the paint.

butterfly ornaments bracelets

Once the wings are dry, you can accordion fold the wings and squeeze them into the slot of a bug body. The bug bodies are included in the kit.

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You can insert a pipe cleaner through the head and wrap the length around your wrist. This will make a bracelet!

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Alternatively, you can string the colorful wax-dipped antennae through the holes in the head of the bug body.

butterfly ornaments bracelets

Our art campers placed their butterfly ornaments onto the greenery in the area. As the watercolor dries, it leaves a beautiful color on the wings!

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Spotlight on… Squiggle Pipettes

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We recently revamped our pipette line with a few new designs! One of the new designs is our fabulous Squiggle Pipettes. Learn more below!

squiggle pipette painting watercolors

Squiggle Pipettes feature an interesting squiggle design that helps to distribute paint evenly onto paper. Learn more about this product here! Pipettes are not only a great tool to use for painting, but can be incorporated into fine motor exercises–the motion of squeezing the bulb helps to get kids working out their pincer grip! If you are planning to paint with the pipettes, use watercolor paints.

To use your pipettes, first squeeze the bulb to press out all the air. Dip the nozzle into a container of watercolor and release the bulb to suction the paint into the pipette. Squeeze the bulb again to release the paint over your sheet of paper.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmCBhIL4COc]

You can use the Squiggle Pipettes to color your art! Here are some ideas you can try for yourself! Click on the links to be taken to the full tutorials.

 • Make your own giant weaving mat using only Color Diffusing Paper, paint and Squiggle Pipettes! Cut the dried colored paper into strips and weave them in and out of each other to make a beautiful woven mat.

Learn our secret for color-resist painting! We use Squiggle Pipettes to add color to the flag designs.

Color your own clothes! A paper vest, that is. Find more about how to design your own vest at the link.

• Form your art into beautiful images of animals using basic shapes! Squiggle Pipettes are used to make the painted images.

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3D Flower Wall Art

wall art diy color diffusing flowers

Make a beautiful wall art canvas with 3D flowers using our R2440 Color Diffusing Paper Flowers!

Age: 4+

Duration: 15-20 minutes

Learning Objectives: Children get to take home their own projects to hang up on their bedroom walls at home. Use different colors to produce interesting combinations. Paint easily with fun and engaging Color Diffusing Paper! Create a wash of color on a canvas and talk about essential keywords such as balance, subject and background.

wall art diy color diffusing flowers

You’ll Need:

R2440 Color Diffusing Paper Flowers

R2131 Bright Buttons

R54460 Squiggle Pipettes

• Canvas

• Watercolor paint

• Paint tray

• Spray bottle of water

• Small plastic cups

• Paintbrush

• Glue

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Pour a small amount of watercolor into each cup. Set up your workstation so that the flowers are on the paint tray.

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Squeeze the bulb of the Squiggle Pipette to expel all the air inside, then dip the nozzle into the paint and release the bulb. This will draw the paint into the main chamber of the pipette. Carefully raise the pipette on top of the paper and squeeze the bulb to release the paint. Use different colors to make interesting effects!

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Spray the concentrated watercolor spots with a bit of water to help diffuse the paint throughout the flower.

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To give your Color Diffusing Flower some dimension, drape it on top of an overturned cup. Leave it to dry for 30 minutes under direct light.

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While the Color Diffusing Paper Flowers are drying, prepare your canvas for painting! You can use watercolor on the canvas as this will give it a nice diffused look. Pour the concentrated watercolor into little cups so as not to use too much, although a little will go a long way!

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I created a gradient wash from one corner of the canvas to the opposite corner. First I started with the darkest color I had–red–and blended it into an orange once it hit the yellow on the opposite side. Even though there isn’t much red remaining, it is still a lovely transition! Although your students can paint their canvases different colors, it’s a good idea to keep the colors minimal. Remember, the canvas will form the background to your 3D art, so it needs to let the flowers stand out!

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Now get your flowers ready to attach to the canvas!

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Dab a bit of glue onto the back of each flower center and press the flower onto the canvas. Hold the flower down for about 20 seconds to make sure that the glue starts working to secure it to the canvas.

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Glue a button to the center of each flower. Use contrasting colors to really make the 3D art pop!

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Wild Flower Vests

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Make a bright and beautiful vest to commemorate the end of summer! To add some fun to your students’ painting experiences, try painting outside as a tribute to all the great days spent in the sunshine (and to enhance students’ sensory exploration!)

Age: 3+

Duration: 10-20 minutes

Learning Objectives: Exercise fine motor skills with a needle and thread to make stitches, squeezing Squiggle Pipettes to spread paint on Color Diffusing Paper and pasting assorted flowers onto Sew Up Vests. 

You’ll Need:

R43006 Sew Up Vests

R15657 Wild Flower Paper Bits

R54460 Squiggle Pipettes

R5601 Plastic Lacing Needles

• R5519 Classroom Bowls

• Paint

• Paint tray

• Yarn

• Glue

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Sew Up Vests encourage fine motor development through easy sewing techniques using a system of matching holes to ensure that students keep track of their work. Each Sew Up Vests kit is accompanied by a set of Plastic Lacing Needles which are designed to prevent injury with a soft-tip point.

P8120102Here are some of the items you will need. If you are not able to produce watercolors, simply dilute your existing tempera or thick-based paint with three parts water. Mix the colors together to get the watercolor “effect.”

There are 5 parts to your Sew Up Vest: The back vest, the two front panels and two pockets. It is easiest to paint each piece one at a time before moving onto the next piece.

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Start with the back part of your Sew Up Vest. Dip your Squiggle Pipette into a paint color. Squeeze and release to draw in some of the liquid paint. This is a great exercise in fine motor skills for young children.

P8120113In this step, I first dropped a random arrangement of blue paint onto the back vest. Squeeze the bulb of the Squiggle Pipette to release the paint. Notice between this picture and the next that the color on the vest begins to spread further and further out. This is due to the nature of the Color Diffusing material used to make the Sew Up Vest.

P8120115Next, I added some yellow to mix with the blue. This is a great opportunity to discuss principles of color mixing, as the color literally mixes right before students’ eyes!

P8120117Notice the large patches where the yellow mixes with the blue to make green! It also produces a neat tie-dye effect that children will have fun creating and observing.

P8120118Next, we will work on the two front panels of the vest. I’ve placed them side by side above to make painting easier and conserve workspace. Here, I’ve decided to use the colors yellow, blue and red.

P8120121First, drop a bit of color onto the front panels and watch how they spread. Hint: Try not to use too much color to completely saturate the vest. You want to leave some white space as room for other colors to appear; only the edges of the color groups should mix together to form new colors. Try to keep students from squeezing paint onto areas where paint already exists as this will cause the colors to turn brown!

P8120123Now I’ll add a bit of yellow to repeat the process from the previous vest piece. Notice that I’ve left quite a bit of white space all the way around the vest pieces.

P8120125Now for the fun part! Place some red paint onto the white areas remaining on the vest. Notice how the color changes from red to a soft pink. This is due to the addition of water that is diluting the color throughout the Color Diffusing material.

P8120128Now for the pockets! First I’ve added some yellow to random sections…

P8120130…Then, I’ve concluded with some red color around the sides.

P8120133Leave the Color Diffusing Paper to dry for about 15 minutes (even faster if placed directly under the sunlight!) For the next step, we will be assembling the pieces together using our Plastic Lacing Needles and some colorful yarn. Make sure you choose a yarn that complements the look of your vest!

P8120135First, thread the yarn through the needle hole. Widen the eye with your fingers to make it easier to slip the yarn through. Tie a knot at one end to make sure the thread doesn’t slide apart once it’s been stitched into the vest.

P8120139This is a very important part as it will help you to sew up your vest properly. The front panels and pockets match together in a particular way. Besides being placed in the center of the front panel, the pockets align with a certain arrangement of holes on either side. On one side, there are holes that are shaped like circles, and others that are shaped like x’s.

First, find out which way the front panel aligns on the back vest, then flip your pocket accordingly to match up with the same number of holes on either side. Since the paint colors the material on both sides, it’s no issue to flip the pockets when needed.

Slide your needle and thread through the first hole as shown the picture above.

P8120140Next, flip the direction of the needle and thread the opposite way and go through the next two holes to the other side.

P8120143Continue following the line of holes all the way around the pocket until you come to the end.

P8120145Flip over the vest and tie off the thread with a knot.

P8120148Start sewing one front panel to the back vest. There are four holes at the top shoulder that align with the holes of the back vest. Thread the yarn through these holes and tie off.

P8120154Additionally, secure the front panel to the side of the back vest. Thread the yarn through and tie off.

P8120157Repeat the same procedure for the opposite side. Your Sew Up Vest is almost complete!

P8120159Now it’s time to decorate the Sew Up Vest! You’ll notice that our Wild Flower Paper Bits are cut into sheets of decorative or full-color sheets of paper. You can make flower designs out of the variety of flower shapes, or use the petal/leaf pop-outs to make your own designs. There are two sizes of flower centers to add interest to your flower designs.

P8120160Rub a bit of glue onto the back of the flower shape.

P8120161Paste the flower shape onto the vest. I decided to decorate the pockets and make a “collar” out of a line of flowers.

P8120163Here you can see how I’ve mixed and matched the colors of the various leaf and flower shapes to make interesting designs. Isn’t it pretty? And ready to celebrate some summer fun with style!

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Paint Bellows Tree

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Use process-based methods to create colorful tree artwork! The techniques used involve materials such as Paint Bellows, fingerpaint and Squiggle Pipettes, all combined to give your students an exercise in fine motor development while enjoying the result of the final image. 

Age: 3+

Duration: 10 minutes

Learning Objectives: Explore process artwork through fine motor activity. Use Paint Bellows and Squiggle Pipettes to exercise squeeze-and-release motions using various finger coordination. Achieve harmonious effects with 3 different art techniques. Enhance image association through fluidly and unidirectionally moving the pipette to make a tree trunk, spritzing paint to make the tree leaves and pressing fingerpaint onto the paper to make apples. Create results with process-based art!

You’ll Need:

R54460 Squiggle Pipettes

R5419 Paint Bellows

• Fingerpaint in tree colors (green, brown, red)

• Card paper sheet (8.5 x 11″)

• Paint tray

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Educators are always looking for ways to add process steps to their students’ learning activities. Instead of merely focusing on the process, guide students to make beautiful artwork through step-by-step fine motor exercise using several different tools–Paint Bellows, Squiggle Pipettes and their own fingers!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAYou won’t need many materials to make this artwork! Place the sheet of card paper inside a paint tray. I use card paper in this project to help withhold it shape under the paint.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAMix one part brown paint with one part water to make the paint watery for the Squiggle Pipette. To use the Squiggle Pipette, dip the nozzle into the paint, and squeeze the bulb to release all the air. Release the bulb while holding the nozzle in the paint to draw in some of the paint.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERATo paint with the Squiggle Pipette, release the paint onto a sheet of card paper. Start from the bottom of the sheet, squeeze out a bit of paint, then draw up the Squiggle Pipette while continuing to squeeze the paint out. This will produce a tree-trunk base for the tree artwork.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAUse the remaining brown paint in the Squiggle Pipette to make offshoots from the main tree trunk. These will form the boughs and branches of the tree. A good technique is to squeeze a bit of paint out from the center of the tree, then draw the pipette outwards from the center to make a wispy, crooked branch.

Add a few lines at the bottom of the tree trunk to form the tree’s roots.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASqueeze a bit of thick green paint into a bowl. NOTE: Do not water down this paint! In order to effectively use the Paint Bellows, you will need to use very thick paint. This helps to achieve the splatter effect better than using watered-down paint.

To use the Paint Bellows, first squeeze the top and bottom of the accordion chamber together. This will release all the air from the chamber.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHold the Paint Bellow taut as you dip the nozzle into the paint, then release the top and bottom to allow the chamber to draw in the paint. You can see that only a very small amount of paint has been drawn into the chamber.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERASqueeze the top and bottom of the Paint Bellows together to make the chamber spritz out the paint. The effect will produce multiple miniature dots on the canvas.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAContinue adding more spritzes of paint around the boughs of the tree. Focus on getting students to exercise their finger muscles while using the Paint Bellows.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAContinue filling up that tree space until you are happy with how it looks. Concentrate more green in the spaces near the boughs, so that your artwork mimics the appearance of leaves throughout the tree.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERANow we are ready to decorate the tree. Squirt a bit of red finger paint into a bowl. Students can dip one finger into the red paint.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAUse the tip of your finger to make little dots representing apples (or any type of fruit) on the tree.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAContinue adding dots to emphasize concentrated finger placement. Students should pay attention to the overall balance and composition of their tree artwork, and focus on where placing the dots will make the tree look fuller.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWe’re all done!

You can experiment with different types of tree appearances or add more to your painting. However, the core purpose of the artwork is to engage fine motor skills and focus on process as well as result art.

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