Weathering Project

WEATHERING PROJECT

Materials:

Large men’s handkerchief

Steel Wool

Crepe paper

Pieces of construction paper (check to be sure it will bleed)

Colored chalk pieces

Anything that will fade or bleed when wet

Rubber bands

Instructions:

1. Spread handkerchief out on table.

2. Open steel wool carefully (it will cut you if you are too rough with it).

3. Lay strips of steel wool, crepe paper, construction paper and / or other materials on handkerchief.

4. Roll handkerchief (with everything inside) into a tight ball and secure with rubber bands.

5. Put handkerchief ball outside. Attach to a pole or tree, bury in the ground, lay in a bush, etc. 6. Leave bundle in its place for at least 6 weeks.

7. If you are in an area that has little or no rain, you will need to make artificial rain with a hose or watering can.

8. After the time has passed, bring the bundle inside and carefully unwrap it.

9. Explore what the weather has done to the handkerchief and the items inside the bundle.

10. Wash the handkerchief very gently with water to get all the steel wool out, but be sure not to wash any colors out.

11. Let the handkerchief dry completely.

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR HANDKERCHIEF

Materials:

Used, clean yogurt, cottage cheese, or fruit cups

Small (4x6) canvas

Gel Medium

1. When the handkerchief is dry, let the student decide if he/she wants to make a picture or a dish (to hold small items like keys or rings, etc.). 2. Spread the handkerchief out and squirt some gel medium on it. You need enough to saturate the handkerchief thoroughly.

3. Press the saturated handkerchief onto the cup or canvas. Make lots of nooks and crannies in the handkerchief. Don’t spread it smoothly.

4. Let the cup or canvas dry completely.

5. Add beads, feathers, buttons, pompoms, glitter glue, etc. to the piece to embellish it. Use that word with the kids…EMBELLISH. It’s a fun word.

6. Let dry. If you want to, you can then spray the piece with a varnish type spray.