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Recycled Paper Mache Pencil/Memo Holder
by: Christy Hartman
Grade Level: 5 - 8

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Introduction: This project is designed for children of all ages.  If float shading is too difficult for the child that step can be eliminated and instead outline the bugs with a permanent marker.  Using a liner brush can be difficult for children when their fine motor skills are not fully developed instead use the fine end of a toothpick as a lining tool.  I do believe that children should be encouraged to care for and use good quality brushes, like adults they will encounter less frustration if they use a quality product. Children should always be encouraged to use their own creativity in choosing the design and color scheme for a project, keep in mind that this project is only meant to stimulate the child’s natural creativity.   Instructional Objective:  1.     The student will understand and apply media, techniques, and processes. 2.     The student will use their knowledge of structure and functions.   Supplies:  Cardboard tissue box measuring 4 ½” X 5” with the tissues removed or you can purchase a paper mache box from your local craft store, four pieces of additional cardboard cut to 4 ¼” X 4 ¾”to be used to reinforce the sides of the tissue box, one piece of cardboard cut 4 ¼” X 4 ¼”to be used to reinforce the bottom of the tissue box.  Ross Paper Mache' Art Paste available from art suppliers or your favorite paper mache' material, 1” strips of newspaper stylus, scissors, tracing paper, 005 Micron Permanent Marker, natural sea sponges Sobo Glue, hot glue gun and appropriate glue, E6000 Glue Delta Gesso (#070010200) Delta Interior Matte Varnish (#070080200) Perfect Highlight Red (#026400202) Ruddy Red Cheek Chalks (#29-078) available from Cupboard Dist. www.cdwood.com 5” of colored fine gauge jewelry wire to be used as the spider’s legs Three 8” pieces of green 16 gauge wire Three 1” long Alligator Clips Nine flat head metal tacks 300# cold press watercolor paper Four 4” diameter cork circles One 2” X 4” rectangular piece of cork Wooden hearts and stars measuring ½”, 5/8”, and ¾” available from most craft stores. .................................................................................................................................................... Paints: Delta Ceramcoat White Light Ivory Blue Jay Blue Mist Manganese Blue Crocus Raw Sienna Brown Iron Oxide Red Iron Oxide GP Purple Purple Black Rooster Red Persimmon Black Cherry Brushes:  Dynasty Black Gold Series # 206A:  ½” Series #206SL: 5/0 Series # 206R:  #3 Series #206 DF: ¼” Series #206FNT: #4 Use the brush that best fits the area to be painted.  Prep Step: 1.      After you have removed the tissues from the box tear the plastic from the tissue box and cut the center of the top to each corner on the diagonal.  Fold and glue each section to the inside of the box using Sobo Glue.  See the diagram   Glue the 4 ¼” X 4 ¼” piece of cardboard to the bottom inside section of the tissue box and glue the four 4 ¼” X 4 ¾” pieces around the four inside walls of the tissue box.  These will help to reinforce the sides and bottom of the box and will eliminate some warping that will occur when you paper mache’.  I found through trial and error that the cardboard that was heavier worked better as reinforcement pieces.   2.   Paper Mache' is an inexpensive but fun material for children to use.  It can be purchased at many art/craft supply stores; I used Ross Art Paste.  It can be stored in the made up form for a very long time, months in fact, and does not acquire that rather foul smell that some paper mache’ materials acquire.   It should be mixed according to the manufactures directions in a gallon container and let it sit overnight allowing it to fully dissolve.  If you are unable to purchase art paste you can always use the old stand by of flour and water or wallpaper paste.  Using the 1” strips of newspaper tear the pieces into manageable sizes depending on the children’s hand size and spread the art paste onto each strip as you work.  You will find that the strips are easier to manage if you do each one individually.  After you have applied the paste to the strips smooth the piece onto the tissue box making sure that you smooth out as many bumps and ridges as possible. Coat the box on the outside, inside, and bottom of the box.  Let this dry completely before painting. 3.   Using Delta Gesso and a slightly dampened natural sponge pounce the gesso onto the sponge and apply to the box so that the gesso completely covers the newsprint, you may find that you need two coats to fully cover the newsprint.  This stage will also even out some of your paper mache’ that appears to be uneven.   Painting Instructions: Using the slightly dampened natural sea sponge pounce the sponge into Blue Jay and sponge completely covering the box.  Using the dirty sponge with Blue Jay already on it pounce your sponge into Blue Mist and lightly sponge over the top of the Blue Jay allowing the previous color to show through. Using the dirty sponge that you used previously, pounce your sponge into Manganese Blue and sponge over the previous colors. This will give you a mottled look to your box.    Base the pieces of cork with Crocus, sponge lightly with Light Ivory.   Transfer the bugs using your favorite transfer method to the watercolor paper.  300# watercolor paper is a thick piece of watercolor paper and once it is varnished will hold up for a number of years.  It is easy and inexpensive to use and can be cut with a pair of sharp scissors.  When painting on watercolor paper with acrylics dilute you paint slightly with water so that your paint has a thinner consistency.  Wash the paint over the area and slowly build the color to achieve the desired effect.    Base the spider with GP Purple, highlight with Light Ivory, shade with Purple. Base the eyes with Light Ivory and a Black pupil, dip dot the highlight in the eyes using a stylus and Light Ivory.  Base the yellow portions of the Bee with Crocus, highlight with Light Ivory, and shade with Raw Sienna.  Base the black portions of the Bee’s body with Black and highlight with Light Ivory.  Deepen the highlight on the Black and the Crocus using the fountain brush and Light Ivory by only loading the top half of the brush with Light Ivory and lightly stippling so that the color is pounced onto the color above it.  This will give you that fuzzy look on the bee’s body.    Wash White over the wing area and line the wings with Blue Jay.  Base the eyes as you did for the spider.  Base the body portion of the Ladybug with Rooster Red, highlight with Persimmon and deepen the highlight with Perfect Highlight Red.  Shade behind the head with Black Cherry and deepen the shade with Black.  Base the head with Persimmon, highlight with Light Ivory and shade with Rooster Red.  Line the antennae, eyebrows, and eyelashes with Light Ivory and dip dot the antennae with Light Ivory.  Using Ruddy Red Cheek Chalks and a stipple brush chalk all the bug’s cheeks.  I find that cheek chalks are much easier for children to use and allow for more control than paint.  Gently load the small stipple brush with the chalk, using a circular motion apply the chalk to the cheeks.  Continue applying the chalk until you achieve the depth of color that you prefer.   Base the flower petals with Crocus, highlight with Light Ivory, and shade with Raw Sienna.  Base the center of the flower with Raw Sienna, stipple with Light Ivory and using a dirty brush stipple with Brown Iron Oxide.  Dip dot the outer edges of the center of the flower with Red Iron Oxide.  Base the body of the ladybug with Rooster Red and the head with Black, dip dot the back with Black.  Line the flowers and ladybug’s legs with a fine line marker.   Bend the fine gauge wire for the spider’s legs and glue them to the back of the spider.  You will need 4 pieces of wire that are 3” long, bend them to match the spider pattern and cut them off to size.   Line all of the details on the bugs with a fine permanent marker and varnish the front and back of each bug with Delta Interior Matte Varnish.  I find that the varnish seals the watercolor paper and protects it from the elements.       Base the wooden stars and hearts with Rooster Red, stipple with Light Ivory and glue to the tacks using E6000 Glue. Finishing: Attach the alligator clips to the green 16 gauge wire by inserting the end of the wire into the hole on the end of the clip, clamp the ends of the clip down over the wire and twist the end of the wire around both the wire and the alligator clip.  Poke three holes into the back of the box 1 ½” down from the top and insert the end of the wire into the hole, cut the wire off to the size that you prefer and bend the wire up on the inside of the box to secure it.  Glue the rectangular piece of cork over the wire ends to fully secure the wire to the box.  Glue one circular piece of cork over the wire on the outside back of the box to help hold the wire in place.  Glue the other pieces of cork to the front and sides of the box using E6000 Glue.  By adding a dot of hot glue to each piece of cork will help hold it in place while the E6000 dries.   Glue the insects into place using the Sobo Glue.   Paper Mache Pencil/Memo Holder Pencil Holder Pattern   © Christy Hartman 2006 www.chartmandesigns.com