Rain Rain Go Away!

It has been raining so long here. Our river crested the other day the third highest crest in history! There were so many people out taking pictures of it on the main bridge the police had to shoo everyone away. The cemetary got more visitors because it borders the river and some lots overlook the river so they got alot of visitors taking pictures. Someone even went up in a helicopter and took a video of the flood waters and posted it on facebook!
My grand children are ready to go back to school where they can at least get somewhere to run and play! My yard is filled with mud and goo so they can 't even get to their swing set!
Are you getting ready for school? I'm having a sale on 12 of my back to school products- 20% off- beginning January 3-6th.
Click here:
www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/Gena-Mcwilliams

Thank you! Mizz Mac

Holiday Ornaments

Holiday Ornaments for you and your little ones to make at home

I have walked around some art shops and galleries and noticed some artists are painting on clear glass ornament balls. I have heard that Macon Arts even had a glass blower making glass balls at the opening of their holiday show.  One of my first Christmas gifts I received when I first began teaching at a private school was a choo-choo train painted on a glass ball. I still cherish that ornament and put it on my tree every year.

Several years ago my school held an auction and one of the parents came in my room to have the children in a particular grade make a craft for the auction. This parent took glass ornament balls, filled each ball with a bit of craft paint and told the children to twirl the ball to twirl /marbleize the paint inside the ball.

 That art project could be a neat way to teach color mixing to little ones.  That project also inspired me one year to paint my own glass ornament balls. I used white puffy t-shirt paint to make a snowman face.

 As you can see in these photographs one side is painted but because the glass is clear, one can see through the clear side to the showman’s face! It doesn’t matter if the ball turns!

To paint a glass/plastic ornament  ball at home one need to buy clear plastic balls, white puffy t-shirt paint for the snowman, acrylic craft paint, and a small brush, preferably the short-handled kid’s brushes that come in a pack from a craft store like Michael’s or JoAnn’s.

Spread newspaper on the working surface. You will also need a container with water and some paper towels or a sponge for drying and cleaning the brush when changing colors. An egg carton works great to place the ornament in when painting and drying. A round plastic lid works for a palette and can easily be discarded when finished. Old plastic ice cube trays can work also and keep the paint colors separated.

Set your supplies up. Egg carton with ornament placed  in front of the child. Paint squeezed on the lid or in the ice cube tray. Now paint! Let dry overnight and hang when ready!

For more of Mizz Mac’s art lessons and art projects click on:

www/teacherspayteachers/com/store/Gena-Mcwilliams

Holiday Art

Only two more weeks left before the Holiday Break is here! Now that last week of school can be a bit hectic. How much learning actually takes place?? I would have so many breaks in my schedule that very little could be taught that week. Being an art teacher why not take time away from the art classes? Oh well--- I do have some very easy art craftivities that allow for reviewing patternmaking.One is a freebie for making candy canes with pony beads and chenille stems:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Easy-Christmas-Holiday-Candy-Canes-1007350