Hands On Crafts for Kids

By Prudy Vannier

Sicily

Sicily is best known for its wheat farms. This fine grade wheat is used to make bread and pasta all over the world. The perfect project to celebrate Sicily’s wheat is a bread board with a simple wheat motif woodburned into it. The bright yellow and red of the flag are used as a border.

Paint lesson: Staining, different brushes make different effects, antiquing

When you see the “helping hand” symbol on a project, it means you may need adult supervision to do the project. Always use care when using tools or a heat source. Be careful and safe!

Main supplies:

8” X 10” basswood plaque (Walnut Hollow #1888)
Woodburning tool (#5570 Creative Woodburner Value Pen from Walnut Hollow)
DecoArt® Americana® Acrylic Paint – True Red DA129, Yellow Light DA144
DecoArt® Gel Stains™ Oak DS30
Royal® Brushes: #4 round, #6 flat, 3/4:” flat
Painting Supplies:

Painting supplies:

tracing paper
Royal® graphite paper
pencil
Royal® water basin
paper towel
Royal® palette paper
Royal® stylus

Instructions:
1. Transfer the pattern onto the board. First, trace it onto tracing paper. Position the tracing on the board, and then slide graphite paper under it. Holding in place, go over the lines again with stylus so that the pattern transfers to the board.
2. Heat the woodburning tool following safety directions on the package. Go over all of the pattern lines. Switch points, if you like, to experiment with different effects. The longer you hold the tool in one place, the darker the line it makes.
3. Use the ¾” flat to paint the edge of the board. When dry, use all the brushes to paint stripes. Notice how each brush makes a different width stripe. Repeat around the board.
4. Put the oak gel stain on your palette. Use the large brush to mix water into it to thin it. Use a paper towel to rub it onto the board to stain.
5. Use the 3/4” flat brush to sideload with gel stain. Paint this around the edge of the stripes to antique and “mellow” them.