I started the idea for this project a year ago (shesh, where does 12 months go?!) but didn’t have the right supplies and quite frankly, my kiddos were way too little to make this an appropriate craft for them. With Jack being older and having a little more hand control, I decided to revisit the project for the upcoming Martin Luther King Day on Monday. Thought I would offer it here in case anyone else wants to make MLK art for their window too!
Martin Luther King Day Window Art
Materials:
- crayons
- pencil shapener
- wax paper
- black vinyl/contact paper
- Dream stencil (pdf, svg, studio)
1. Use pencil sharpeners to make crayon shavings. Note: I tried to talk to Jack about how each of the crayons represented different types of people in this world and how boring the world would be if we only had one color but Jack looked at me like I was insane to think that crayons were people. Decided to move away from analogies and just enjoy the pretty colors. Maybe next year!
2. Spread the crayon shavings between two wax paper sheets. Try to spread them out more than we did for more of a stained glass effect. With your iron set on low, melt the crayon shavings in between the wax paper. Press down and lift the iron straight up. Don’t slide the iron or you’ll have a purple/brownish mess!
3. Cut Dream stencil out of vinyl with either a cutting machine or with an xacto knife. I made sure to keep the design really simple in case you were doing it by hand!
4. Affix the stencil to the wax paper. I found this to be easiest when I started from the bottom, pulling the backing away an inch at a time while smoothing the vinyl down.
5. Trim away the excess wax paper and use a small piece of tape to attach to a window for everyone to enjoy!
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You really do make the coolest things! I love this!
Awh, thanks, Jessica!
This is so creative, Vanessa! So many possibilities for the types of projects you can do using this same method…I’ll have to try it. And I love that MLK Jr. gets a little a shoutout in blogland amidst the plethora of Valentine’s Day crafts. Brava!
-Lauren
That’s true, Lauren. It really is just a fancied up version of a classic kid’s craft!
Your window art looks great and what a perfect project to make with the kids!
Thanks, Heather! Although I must admit, my kids were more interested in throwing the crayon shavings everywhere then they were in making art. :D
What a cool technique! Absolutely beautiful :o)
Thanks, Laura!
WOW what a great idea, and this is so pretty!
Thanks, I think I like it more than my kids do! :D
I love this! Am I missing the link for the pdf stencil? I can’t seem to find it on there. Thanks a ton for this!
Oops! I’ve edited the post to add the stencil links to the materials list. Thanks!
This is awesome! I just shared on our facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/iheartkids
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