I have a tutorial for you today from Doris at
The Art Annex! She created this adorable trick-or-treat
bag that's easy to make and customize.
Bead & Button Pumpkin Trick-or-Treat Bag
In my experience teaching art to children, many of them
enjoy sorting objects. Ask them to sort objects by size,
shape, or color and they will be busy for a half hour or
longer. This busy work engages the mind as well as preps
the child for the creative process. This tutorial for a
Halloween themed bag will be as much fun to create as it
to fill with treats on Halloween!
Materials List:
plain canvas treat bag (find at Michaels' Arts & Crafts)
shirt cardboard (use this as a protective insert)
pencil
paper (optional)
scissors (optional)
colorful buttons & beads
sorting bowls
Aleene’s Tacky Glue
1) Start by getting the kids sorting through that jar or tin
of buttons you probably have lying around the house. You
can also buy a bag or two of buttons and beads to
supplement your collection. I use buttons and beads in
many projects so I like having the extra at home. Lay out
individual bowls and encourage the children to sort the
beads and buttons by color. Orange, yellow, black, white,
red and green were the colors I worked with. The children
will find that colors come in a variety of shades, both dark
and light. This becomes even more apparent to them as
the pile of buttons and beads grows in each bowl. Orange
buttons are not as common as white and black ones, so
collecting shades of yellow and peachy pink will come in
handy later when you begin to fill in the pumpkin shape.
2) Lay your canvas bag flat on a table top. Lightly draw a
pumpkin outline on top of the bag with pencil or, as I did,
cut a pumpkin shape out of paper and lightly trace the
shape onto your bag. I think this approach prevents a lot
of pencil erasing on the canvas. I also lightly marked the
placement of the facial features. Insert the cardboard into
the bag. This will keep any glue from soaking through the
canvas once you begin to layer on the beads and buttons.
3) Once the bead and button sorting is completed you
are ready to start the gluing. I suggest working on the
outline of the lettering and pumpkin first. Squeeze out a
line of glue on top of the pencil outlines and begin
pressing individual buttons and beads into the glue.
Darker orange and red beads work well for the pumpkin
outline as they add definition to the pumpkin shape. Use
green beads and buttons for the pumpkin stem.
Next glue the features down. I used oversized black
buttons for the eyes, nose and mouth. I also graduated
the size of the buttons in the mouth in order to help
shape the grin. Be generous with the amount of glue you
use in order to get the strongest bond for the
textured design.
4) Use the buttons and beads to fill the inside of the
pumpkin shape next. Squeeze out a generous amount of
glue and spread it out. Fill in one area completely before
moving on to the next. Make sure to vary the placement
of the buttons and beads along with the color range as
you work. Continue working until the pumpkin shape is
filled. Let the glue dry, undisturbed overnight.
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A little about Doris:
My name is Doris and I love to design and create kid & teen friendly art projects. I’m an artist and art teacher teaching elementary through high school level art for over 20 years. I’m married to a real Renaissance man who is extremely tolerant of my workaholic tendencies. Together, we have two children. After reading so many wonderful art blogs, created by so many talented people, I decided to start one of my own. I enjoy the wonderful connections that can be made between art and literature. Show me a great children’s picture book and I’ll generate a great art project that connects to it! Art rooms are safe havens for so many children who need a place where they can engage in their creative ideas and pursuits where there is always a million different answers to the problems posed I class. I love my career! Thank you Cassi for giving this wonderful opportunity to share the creative process with others!
Thank you, Doris! You can find more fun crafts
by Doris at The Art Annex!