Enchanted Forest Activity Guide

Mouse at Your House Art Kits Helpful Tips & Extra Goodies PLEASE READ THIS FIRST

Hello! We bet you can’t wait to get started exploring all the treasures and projects in your art kit. Before you do, check out the info below for some helpful tips for parents and kids, plus a few extra goodies you’ll find in your kit.

WHAT YOU WILL FIND IN YOUR KIT

Project #1 This project has several steps that you can do over the course of a few days and will culminate in a final creation/art piece.

Project #2 This project is more open-ended with a focus on loose parts play. You can set this out to explore and play with long after your child completes the initial steps in this project. After initial interest has lessened, you might even put it away and then bring it out again at a later time, much like you do with other play sets.

Project #3 This project contains either slime, playdough, or “moon sand”, depending on the kit. Very little direction necessary! Just open up, explore, and enjoy!

Journal A journal is included in each kit for recording your inspirations and ideas. As a special bonus, you can color or watercolor paint the decorative insert to customize it!

Coloring Page You will also find a watercolor paper coloring sheet which you can color with pens, pencils, crayons or watercolor paint!

Artist Choice Grab Bag In each summer art kit, you will find an unmarked paper grab bag of special creative goodies to add variety to each kit and project. All of the grab bags are different and unique! Feel free to use or incorporate items in your grab bag into any of these projects, or create an entirely new piece of art with them. You can glue together pieces to make a sculpture or try using various objects to paint with or on. Parents, you can arrange a still life scene and challenge your child to observe and draw what they see! So many possibilities - we invite you to use your imagination and follow your own inspirations! If you have any trouble or want some specific suggestions for the unique items in your kit feel free to contact us!

Enchanted Forest Activity Guide

VIDEO & PHOTO EXAMPLES

Teacher Raven has worked tirelessly to create your art kit and has also created a special video to accompany each themed kit. The video includes a book reading plus a sneak peek of the projects in your kit. We recommend that you view this video together before starting the projects, but realize that this might not be possible for every family.

The video, along with extra photo examples and a downloadable version of the kit guide will be available on our website. Look for the link to your specific kit’s webpage on Page 1 of your Activity Guide.

HELPFUL TIPS

Process Over Product While we developed specific projects for you to create based on the theme of your kit, we want to encourage you to make these projects your own. If we were doing these projects at Roaring Mouse during our summer camps, the process would include time to explore a variety of materials. As teachers, we value the creative process and have a “YES!” attitude when it comes to making art. Here are some things you can say “YES!” to at home:

● Incorporating something from your home into their project. ● Using materials from a different kit. ● Painting or decorating their projects however they’d like ● Adding beads, sequins, or other bits and bobbles from their Artist’s Choice Grab Bag. ● Using the materials in their kit to make something completely different than what the instructions say. ● Using the items in their Grab Bag to make a completely different creation.

Really, the sky's the limit! There is no wrong or right way to make art and that applies to these art kits, as well.

Time Management The kits are designed to be done over the course of several days. The amount of time your child spends on making or playing with their projects depends on their age. Each kit includes some suggested extension activities. These are optional, but are a great way to expand on what they’ve already created and make the most out of the materials in their kits. The main thing to remember is that this should be fun!

Share Your Child’s Work We would love to see what your child creates with their kit! Please send photos to [email protected] as well as any feedback you have about the projects.

Questions We realize there’s a lot of information packed into the guides. If you are confused or would like any suggestions for how to use the materials we’ve supplied, feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Enchanted Forest Activity Guide

Please visit roaringmouse.org/forest-kit before starting your projects to view the Enchanted Forest video. The video includes a book reading plus a sneak peek of the projects in your kit. You will also find photo examples and a downloadable version of the kit guide will be available on our website.

PROJECT #1: MAGIC MEDALLION AND BUBBLE WAND

Description: Provided materials: In this activity, you will create everything you need ● One pipe cleaner to cast magical bubble spells! Decorate your own ● Assortment of beads and one string “Magic Medallion” necklace that you can wear as ● Pre-made wood medallion you create bubble spells with your own beaded ● Shiny sequins wand! You will need from home: Time Estimate: ● Clear glue This project can be completed over the course of ● Markers an hour or two, depending on how long it takes for ● Bubble solution the glue to dry. ● Paintbrush

Magic Bubble Wand ● Start by removing your pipe cleaner and a handful of beads from your kit. ● Fold the pipe cleaner in half and start twisting it about an inch from the top of the fold to form a loop at the top. Twist tightly all the way down. ● It’s time to start beading! Some beads will be too small to fit over the twisted pipe cleaner (save those for the medallion beading up next!). When you get to the bottom, bend the tips of the pipe cleaner over the last bead so it doesn’t slip off. ● Use it as a pretend magic wand, or dip in bubble solution to blow bubbles!

Medallion Necklace ● On the wooden medallion, draw your desired design with markers. Try sketching out some ideas in your Enchanted Forest Journal to brainstorm ideas before getting started. ● When your drawing is complete, apply a thin layer of clear glue with a paint brush, and lightly apply sequins and special gems in place wherever you’d like. You can also add special items from your Artist Choice Grab Bag. ● While waiting for it to dry (at least one hour) you can use remaining beads to bead the string. Once the medallion is dry, string your beaded necklace through the medallions ribbon loop, tie the ends together. You can wear it to get you in a magical mood as you create the rest of your Enchanted Forest Art Activities!

PROJECT #2: ENCHANTED FOREST PROCESS PAINTING

Description: Provided materials: It’s time to paint your own enchanted forest! Follow these ● One canvas board three simple steps to create a beautiful forest scene, then ● Blue, pink, and black acrylic paint make it your own by painting your favorite magical ● Bubble wrap creature or character in the foreground. You will need from home: Time Estimate: ● Masking tape This project can be completed over the course of a few ● Watercolor paints hours to allow for paint to dry. ● Paintbrush and water

Step 1) Watercolor base! ● Turn your canvas so it’s horizontal (so it’s wide and not tall as you work on it). Using your watercolors from home, paint the majority of the canvas whatever color you would like your magical tree trunks to be (in our example we used brown.) Along the bottom of your canvas, paint a strip in the color you want your grass to be (we used green.) See photo example on the kit webpage (roaringmouse.org/forest-kit). Let dry completely before moving on to Step 2.

Step 2) Masking tape tree trunks! ● Using your masking tape, create five or six vertical lines all from the bottom of your canvas to the top. You can space them out however you want. Just make sure you leave some space between for paint. ● Fold the excess tape over both the top and bottom edges of your canvas.

Step 3) Blue sky! ● Paint over the whole canvas INCLUDING THE MASKING TAPE with the provided blue acrylic paint, except leave your grassy area at the bottom unpainted! ● Remove masking tape immediately while blue paint is still wet. ● See photo example on the kit webpage (roaringmouse.org/forest-kit)

Step 4) Add some leaves! ● When the blue paint has dried, paint your bubble wrap with the provided pink paint using your paintbrush. ● Once you’ve applied pink paint to the bubble wrap, use the bubble wrap like a stamp to create a leafy texture all around the top of your trunks. Create denser patterns by doing several layers at the top of the canvas using this technique. See image for our example. ● Let dry completely.

Step 5) OPTIONAL - Add a black silhouette creature or character! ● This is optional, but a fun step for older artists or something younger children and parents can collaborate on together. Use a pencil to lightly draw a shape of a magical creature or character of your choice, such as a dragon, unicorn, fairy, elf or gnome, whatever you imagine! (Perhaps try sketching a few ideas in your Enchanted Forest Journal before drawing on your painting.) ● Once you have drawn your creature or character, use the provided black acrylic paint and a paintbrush to carefully fill in the entire shape and let dry. Painting with black gives the illusion of a shadowy figure emerging from the forest! ● I chose to make Fairy Queen and Princess using simple shapes. See image for example.

PROJECT #3: FAIRY GARDEN SMALL WORLD

Description: Provided materials: Create your own magical mini fairy world and ● 1 piece of felt characters to live and play in the garden! This is a ● Assortment of stickers very open ended process, you can choose to let ● One tiny pot the materials inspire your choices or follow these ● Several stones loose directions for some gentle guidance! ● Assorted sequins ● 6 colors of sculpey clay Time Estimate: ● Wooden dowel This project can be completed over the course of ● 2 Cardboard squares a few hours to allow for paint to dry. ● Fabric flowers and petals ● Decorative moss

You will need from home: ● Clear Glue ● Paintbrush ● Markers

Step 1) Fairy House ● Your mini pot is just the right size to be a fairy or gnome house. Use your markers to draw on a door and some windows and any additional decoration you would like. ● You can also put on stickers or glue on sequins. You can make a roof by placing a stone on top, or gluing some moss on top.

Step 2) Garden set up! ● Pull out the felt piece from your kit. ● Choose a place for your fairy house to live. You can choose to glue it or leave it loose to move around when you play. ● Stick on stickers to create pathways. Arrange the jewels and any special items from your Artist Choice Grab Bag on the felt. Again, you can glue these items down or leave them loose. ● You may want to draw your own flowers or designs on your cardboard squares and arrange those in the garden and glue them down if you want to. ● Remember - you can glue on and incorporate extra items from your Grab Bag to complete your fairy house or add to the garden.

Step 3) Make your stones magical! ● Paint a thin layer of clear glue over each stone, and lightly press on your favorite sequins or sparkles - or anything special from your Grab Bag.

Step 4) Clay Characters! Use the included Sculpey Clay to create some little critters and characters to live in your garden! Here are some tips: ● Parents of younger children: Sculpey clay can be challenging to work with for small hands, so your younger preschooler may need some hand-over-hand help sculpting their clay. Be prepared to help sculpt if your child becomes too frustrated. This is supposed to be fun! ● Soften and warm up your clay with your hands before starting. Some colors (orange and pink) may take a little longer to soften.

● If you want your character or creature to be able to stand up independently, make sure you flatten the bottom piece(s) before baking. Test and make sure it can stand before baking. ● If you want your character to have moveable arms and legs like my example, use the wooden dowel to poke a hole straight through where your character's arms and/or legs will be. After baking, thread pipe cleaners through the holes and trim them to the correct length. Add beads if you like. ● You can create wings using the fabric flower pieces by cutting into desired shape and gluing to the back after baking. ● Baking Instructions: preheat to 275 degrees F (135 C). Bake for 15 minutes per quarter inch of thickness. For example, a piece of 1/2" thickness should be cured for 30 minutes.

Step 5) Bonus Extension: Fairy Garden Scavenger Hunt!

Search around your backyard or favorite outdoor space to collect the following items to add to your fairy garden and enhance your play:

● A twig that looks like a magic wand ● A powerful looking stone or rock ● Flowers that smell nice and are okay to pick (ask a parent if you are unsure) ● Leaves, grass, acorns, seeds, etc.

PROJECT #4: MAGIC POTION SLIME

In this special slime kit, you will find special sparkly slime that you can mix into your own unique magic potions! You can even record the recipes you create in your Enchanted Forest Journal and describe the different types of spells you can cast with them. Mix-in options include sparkle sequins, pretend plant twigs that you can easily tear or cut into smaller pieces, and pretend flower petals you can easily pull apart or cut into small pieces.

Parents: Have extra bowls, mixing spoons, cups and containers on hand to enhance the experience.

Slime Tips: ● Always handle slime with clean hands, it helps to put a little lotion or baby oil on your hands before playing. Always play with slime on a tray, placemat, or wide plate. ● If your slime is too sticky - an adult will need to reactivate with activator solution. ● Activator solution = 1 teaspoon of Borax powder dissolved in 1.5 cups of warm water. ● Drop in small amounts and knead thoroughly until you can handle without it sticking to your hands. ● If your slime is too hard - knead in a small amount of baby oil, or hand lotion. ● If you get slime on your clothes or other fabric, it is best to wash with hot water and soap before the slime dries. Under a running faucet is ideal.

Want to try making slime at home? Visit roaringmouse.org/forest-kit to find our favorite slime recipe!