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FOLIO LINE FOLIO LINE M c C l a t c h y - Tr i b u n e

BY DEBORAH WAY/DISNEY FAMILYFUN MAGAZINE


Don’t stress about the mess!
These five projects are meant
to be made outdoors, where
kids can be as sloppy as they
want — and cleanup is as easy
as turning on the hose.

Creating this screenlike panel takes your wall to fence posts, bird-feeder poles,
time, but the results are worth it. Make or even hardwood garden stakes ham-
two or three connecting walls to create a mered into the ground and kept upright
play space that’s open to the sky. with additional ropes and tent stakes.
YOU WILL NEED: 3. Tie one end of a ball of twine about
● Tie-dyeing kit 4 feet up one of the trunks. Loop it around
the other tree, keeping the twine as taut
● Cotton bedsheet (we used a queen-size) aspossible. (It’s easier with two people, one
● Ball of sturdy twine or thin rope at each trunk.) Continue looping the twine
● Fabric scraps (optional) around both trunks as shown, passing it
1. Tie-dye a bedsheet, following the back and forth and moving down the trunks
tie-dye kit instructions. After the sheet as you go. At the bottom, tie off the twine.
has been rinsed and dried, tear or cut it 4. Weave the fabric strips into the
into long strips about 3 inches wide. twine, working from the bottom up. Weave
2. Survey your yard for a good spot for any excess fabric back down the twine.
the wall. Between two trees 5 or 6 feet 5. For added embellishment, weave in
apart is ideal, but you also can anchor fabric scraps or other materials.

With this project, not only do you end 1. Cover the baking sheet with a half-
up with beautiful marbled paper, but you inch layer of shaving cream. Smooth it
get to play around with copious amounts with the squeegee.
of shaving cream. We have to admit, our 2. Dot the cream with drops of food
finished paper was extra soft and smooth! coloring, then use a craft stick or tooth-
YOU WILL NEED: pick to swirl it in the cream.
● Baking sheet with rim 3. Lay a sheet of cardstock on top of
● Shaving cream the cream and press lightly. Peel off the
paper and use the squeegee to remove the
● Squeegee
excess shaving cream. Set the paper aside
● Liquid food coloring to dry. Try making a second, lighter print,
● Craft stick or toothpick or start over with a fresh layer of cream
● Cardstock on the baking sheet.

minutes. Remove the pan from Your child will have sweet dreams — about being a
the heat and let the paste cool. soccer star, a fairy princess, a knight, a mermaid or any-
You can make the paste before- thing else he or she wants to be — under this life-size
hand and refrigerate it overnight. self-portrait bedspread.
2. To make tools for scraping YOU WILL NEED:
patterns into the paste, cut notch-
● Flat bedsheet ● Washable marker
es along the sides of old credit
cards and cardboard. Vary the ● Nondimensional fabric paint (like, DecoArt SoSoft)
notches for different line widths. Lay the bedsheet on a flat surface. Have your child lie
3. For each color you’d like in the center so that her neck lines up with the top edge,
This loopy bowl is big on groovy
to use, spoon a generous amount then use a washable marker to trace her body. Use fabric
color and style, if short on soup-contain-
of paste into a disposable cup. paint to paint the body wearing the outfit of a favorite
ing ability. It’s made by simply laying
Stir a dollop of paint into the character, hero or star. Follow the package instructions
pieces of glue-soaked yarn onto a ball.
paste, adding more paint if neces- for setting the paint and laundering the sheet.
YOU WILL NEED:
sary to reach your desired shade.
4. Use a wide brush to cover ● Large smooth plastic ball (ours was
Made using a centuries-old 14 inches wide)
technique, paste paper is great for a sheet of paper with a thin,
greeting cards, photo frames, col- even coat of paste. Drag a ● Bowls to hold the ball and glue
lages and gift wrap. Note: scraping tool across the surface ● Yarn or string (we used 240 feet)
Prepare the paste base in advance of the paper; this will remove ● White glue
to give it a chance to cool. some of the paste, exposing the Rest the ball on top of a bowl to
paper beneath. Experiment with steady it. Cut the yarn into about 80
YOU WILL NEED:
making curvy lines, zigzags, yard-long pieces. Empty a generous
● 1/2 cup flour crisscrosses and circles. amount of glue into a bowl. Working
● 3 3/4 cups water 5. When you have a pattern with one strand at a time, submerge
● Old credit cards and stiff card- you like, let the paper dry —
the yarn into the glue. Squeeze out the
board, also, a comb (optional) overnight. The paper will wrin- excess glue, then drape the yarn onto
● Plastic spoons kle; to flatten it, place the dry the top half of the ball, forming squig-
● Disposable cups artwork under a stack of heavy gle loops. As you add more strands,
● Acrylic (a water-based paint) books for a few days.
cross the previously draped yarn mul-
● Wide paintbrushes
tiple times. Let the glue dry overnight
● Sturdy colored paper, such as
before lifting the bowl from the ball.
scrapbook paper, cardstock or
Clean the ball with soap and water.
drawing paper (construction
paper won’t hold up)
1. In a stainless steel or alu-
minum saucepan over medium-
high heat, use a wooden spoon
to combine the flour and water.
When the mixture reaches a
boil, reduce heat and simmer the
paste, stirring frequently for 8
P H OTO S B Y J O E P O L I L L I O / C O U RT E S Y O F D I S N E Y FA M I LY F U N M AG A Z I N E

YARD CRAFTS
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE

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