Haunted Landscapes

 Halloween 2015

Shrinky Dink Skeletons

Here's a small selection of Shrinky Dinks that I'm getting ready for the oven. Fifth graders practiced skeleton drawing then  when they got one they liked they put the Shrinky Dink plastic on top and traced with a Sharpie.  To shrink them, line your pan with parchment paper so they won't stick and bake at 250 degrees.  Keep an eye on them...it will take 10 minutes more or less.  You'll know when they're close because they will curl up and you'll think they're ruined.  Don't worry. Be patient and give them more time in the oven and they will flatten out.  You can bake them just as show, but trimmed around the skeleton and punched a hole with a hand punch.  A jump ring finishes off the charm. Kids love 'em.
Sorry I don't have the after pics.  They didn't hang around long enough.  But believe me they were over the moon cute.

Thumbprint Pumpkins

Loved this. Thumbprint pumpkins and third grade.  Kids loved printing their fingers and then creating a cast of Pumpkin-Head Characters.  I had some examples from my sixth graders to show them for inspiration. That got the creative juices going.  We used liquid water color paint for the finger and Flair pen for the details.  In my opinion you can't go wrong when you hand a third grader a nice pen, but this project is engaging for any age...even adults joined in.  There's something meditative about the process.  Most third graders finished three rows in one class, but a few will need a finish up session.  They look lovely mounted on orange paper.  Happy October!