Everybody needs a little fun. Quick and inexpensive, colorful pin-on people, animals, trees. This project uses minimal glue and paint. Big on creativity. Lots of opportunity for detail in the finishing touches.

Grade Levels

Elementary through High School

Time Required

1 Class Session (45 - 60 minutes)

Procedure

Step 1: Design the Piece

1. Look over the wood shapes available. Try arranging in different small groups to form heads, arms, legs, feet, bodies, etc.
2. Keep design within approximately 3" square area.
3. Overlap pieces.
4. Use only a dot of Sobo glue to glue final design together. This glue is strong, quick drying and glues most lightweight wood, metal and plastics together.

Step 2: Paint the Piece

1. Paint using Blick Craft Paint. This is an acrylic matte finish paint. A small amount will suffice. The colors mix well and dry fast so that you may move quickly to step 3.

Step 3: Decorate the Piece

1. Using the Pentel Milky Gel Pens, draw additional details such as mouths, eyes, polka dots, flowers, belts, shoe laces, feathers, collars, ties etc. onto the painted surface.
2. Glue (tiny dots!) buttons for eyes, paper clips, more woodsies, wiggle eyes, etc.
3. Get goofy with detail. It is amazing how much detail can be added to the design using the pens and a bit ofimagination.

Step 4: Finishing Touches

1. Lightly glue bar pin to the back.
2. Glue (tiny dots!) buttons for eyes, paper clips, more woodsies, wiggle eyes, etc.
3. Blick Craft Paint is an acrylic thus no final sealing is needed. However, varnishes are available in both Gloss and Matte finish if desired.

Hints

1. Basic color may be sprayed on in a well-ventilated area.
2. Painting the pieces before gluing allows for better paint coverage of the edges.
3. Painting after assembling is more fun.
4. Great fund-raiser project. Pins sell for $3 and up.
5. Try a chain or ribbon attached to both ends of the bar pin for use as a pendant.
6. Milky Pens work on buttons.

Extended Lesson

• Connect pieces into a mini sculpture.
• Stack shapes in making the basic design. For example, stack a small star on a square, a small star on a big star on top of a square. Buttons may be stacked also.