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Catch the breeze with a windsock
A wonderful Watercolor Resist Painted Windsock for Kids is perfect to catch some of the breeze on a windy March day. Wonderful Watercolor Resist Painted Windsock for kids…I couldn’t help putting in all of those “W”s- gotta’ love an alliteration.
March, please go out as a lamb
They say if March comes in as a lion it will go out as a lamb. Well I sure hope so! The transition from winter to spring this year has been pretty rough weather wise in the Midwest of the U.S.. Making something beautiful is just the spring perk we need. Let's do it!
Watercolor resist technique
This watercolor resist technique makes the windsock beautiful as well as providing the chance to learn an art technique. The blended watercolors makes it look like an Easter egg, don’t you think? You are going to love how easy this is to make.
First, you'll color with wax crayons to create a pattern. When you apply watercolor paints, the wax will "resist" the water! Now when you paint the paper, anywhere on the paper where there’s wax the watercolor will not add color.
Once you get the hang of it, the watercolor resist technique is fun to use for other art projects too. You can use it to make this fun 4th of July Rocket picture, as well as this cool Paper Batik Art!
Watercolor paper
I recommend using 9x12” Watercolor Paper for this craft. There are pads of inexpensive 9x12” Watercolor Paper for kids projects in the craft stores and online. Watercolor paper is made for, well, water and holds up better when doing a watercolor wash. It is heavier and won’t curl and wrinkle as much.
Crayon (wax) colored design
Place the 9x12" 9x12” Watercolor Paper “landscape” direction, as shown and color a design on the paper with wax Crayons. It is important that this is done with Crayons as they are made from wax and will not bleed colors into the watercolor paint. The design doesn’t have to stretch across the paper and could be a picture as well as a design. No rules here except to use Crayons and to have fun!
Wet the paper for the wash
Use the paintbrush to wet the whole surface of the paper. This helps the paint to spread out and cover the whole surface in this watercolor wash technique. The water is what makes the paint “wash” across the paper.
Watercolor paint wash...so pretty
Load the paintbrush with one color of Watercolor Paints and then brush the paint across the paper. If it drips elsewhere don’t worry about it.
Wash the paint brush out in a cup of water and repeat with another Watercolor Paints color. Continue to do this until the paper is covered with paint.
Let the paint spread into the water and blend
The Watercolor Paints will blend out on the paper where there is water, add water to wet the surface of the paper as needed. Try not to put paint on top of paint in the wash, or it gets “muddy” in color. The paint will do the work for you, just paint it on and let it spread and blend.
Tip: This is hard for people that want to control things. It is tempting to get into the paint with the brush and keep brushing. Resist the urge, help the kids to resist the urge!! Just see what happens, it is so cool.
Let the paper dry
Allow the paper to fully dry.
Cut the streamers
Cut 8- two foot long pieces of Crepe Paper. Turn the paper over, face down, and glue the Crepe Paper streamers along the bottom edge. Be very careful with the hot glue. For younger grands it may be wise to use Tacky Glue instead. The down side to Tacky Glue is it takes longer to dry.
Make a tube
Roll the watercolor paper into a tube (so streamers flow downward) and glue the tube together along the edge that overlaps. This step made me smile as the Watercolor Resist Painted Windsock for Kids came to shape. All of the colors just make me happy. I hope you all feel the same way.
Punch holes and tie the fishing line
Grab your Round Hole Punch and punch four holes as equally distanced apart on the top edge of the windsock as you can make them. It works best for me when I punch two holes directly across and then the punch the other two holes half way between the first holes. It is easier to eyeball it that way.
We are almost done! Cut 2 pieces of Fishing Line that are about 2 ½ feet long. Overlap the two strings and fold them in half together. Tie a loop where they fold that you can use to hang the windsock when you are done.
There are four ends of the Fishing Line dangling down from the loop. Tie one of the ends to each hole on the top of the windsock using a double knot. Smaller grands may have a challenge with this step but it is great to learn how to tie a double knot if they are able.
Hang up the Watercolor Resist Painted Windsock for Kids
There you have it! I hung mine on the front porch and it was a real heart happy boost to see it dancing on the breeze.
Originally windsocks were put up at airports to help with the weather information needed to be safe when flying an airplane. The wind really blows here on the prairie where we live so a windsock is sure to tell the direction of the wind as it floats and flaps. It isn’t waterproof though so you may want to keep it inside most of the time.
Note- I didn’t remember to bring mine in last night and it rained. Wet crepe paper is not redeemable, just saying. But, I’m heading to the grands house and we are going to make some more Watercolor Resist Painted Windsocks for Kids. I’m so excited to see our grands and may make another windsock for myself at the same time. I’ll keep it inside this time.
Watercolor Resist Easter Eggs too!
The windsock would be a pretty decoration to have up for Easter.
If you would like to make Easter eggs with the same watercolor resist technique you may want to check out the “Egg Extravaganza” post on Welcome To Nanas where we make Wax Resist Dyed Easter Eggs. That’s the main way that I made Easter eggs when I was young. They are really pretty.
Supplies for Watercolor Resist Painted Windsock for Kids:
. It is important that this is done with Crayons
and punch four holes as equally distanced apart on the top edge of the windsock as you can make them. It works best for me when I punch two holes directly across and then the punch the other two holes half way between the first holes. It is easier to eyeball it that way.
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