Shrinky Dinks and art class

Shrinky Dinks are so much fun!

Yesterday was my first Fine Arts class for my homeschool group. I am teaching a 15 wk course that goes through an introduction to 9 of the great masters of art. I have enjoyed planning it so much, and the execution was just as fun.

But back to the Shrinky Dinks. I wanted to give the kids something to take home today. I wanted to really get through that art is about your eyes and not about your talent. That being able to see the world your own way is just as important as being able to draw, or paint, or sculpt. So I read the book The Artists Palette and I made these necklaces for the kids as they left my first class:

Both The Artists Palette and I Am An Artist talk about the importance of being able to see things your own way, and not just the way everyone thinks you should see them. In The Artists Palette, the art teacher gives the little girl a artists pallet on a silver chain to have with her to remind her to always "draw what she sees" and I thought that would be a great token to remind the kids that true art is inside them.

Before baking.

And after.

Cyan and I spent an entire evening making these and putting them on pretty ribbon to hand out at the class. I wrote the name and cut them out and she would punch the holes and color the 'paint blotches' on the palettes. It was a super fun project and I think it went over rather well:

We made two of each... one for the necklace for each kiddo and one to decorate their supply box. The kids thought this was especially cool. :)

I got the Shrinky Dinks for $2.50 with my 50% off coupon at JoAnn's and the ribbon was on sale at Micheal's for $.33 each. The entire thing (with ribbon left over) was less than $4 even with tax. It was a completely adorable project and Cyan and I will definitely be making these again in the near future.