Making Cards: Painting with Feathers

This activity explores painting with a new material and creating a resist with tape.

Materials

• Craft feathers
• Blank cards & envelopes (or make your own from cardstock)
• Tempra paint
• Paint containers or tray
• Craft tray or table cloth
• Painter’s tape
• Scissors
• Smock
• Tweezers
• Pencil

Directions

• Cover your work area with a table cloth or use a craft tray.  Don your smock.

• Cut pieces of your painter’s tape (it works well as it is easier to peel off) and put them where you would like to write your messages on your card (You might leave a space for Thank You or Thinking of You etc. on the front and then an area to write the child’s name and date on the back) and your envelope (a space for the receipt’s name).

• Dip your feathers into the paint (we used a separate feather for each colour) and then paint your card and envelope, going over the tape.  We used lined brush strokes, but you could try dots or zig zagging the feathers, or lay them down for prints- this is the time to experiment!

• Here comes the tricky part:  While the paint is still wet (so that the painter’s tape doesn’t adhere too well), have an adult carefully peel off the painter’s tape (we found tweezers were quite helpful in catching the corner of the tape for this part of the activity.)

• Allow to dry overnight.

• In the blank spaces write your messages and create a note inside.  Give to someone special.  You might want to mention on the back space of the card that you made your creation using feathers!

Purpose

• Fine motor skills, encouraging writing by creating interesting materials and experimenting with different painting materials and techniques.

Safety Notes

• Be sure to wear a smock and cover your area when painting to prevent damages to clothes and furniture!