Mummies

Just a few ideas to get you started

 

 

 

Scaredy Cats

Here's the myth of the black cat (from the website todayifoundout.com 

"Black Cats weren’t always the butt of superstitions, feared, or even considered bad luck.  In fact, in early Egyptian times, dating back as far as 3000 BC, cats (including black ones) were the rock stars of the animal world, held in high esteem; to kill one was considered a capital crime. It wasn’t until  the middle-ages in Europe that the black cat’s rock star status started to go downhill as they began to be associated with so-called witches. The hysteria of witches practicing black magic had just hit Europe and alley cats were often cared for and fed by the poor lonely old ladies (funny how some things never change) later accused of witchery.

Their cat companions, some of which were black ones, were deemed guilty of witchery by association. This belief was taken up a notch when a folklore involving a father and son in Lincolnshire in the 1560′s started making the rounds. The pair were said to have been traveling one moonless night when a black cat crossed their path and dove into a crawl space. Naturally, they did what any guys would do, they threw rocks at the furry feline until the helpless injured creature scurried out into a woman’s house, who at the time was suspected of being a witch.  The next day, the father and son came across the same woman and noticed she was limping and bruised and believed that to be more than just a coincidence. From that day on in Lincolnshire, it was thought that witches could turn into black cats at night.

The belief of witches transforming themselves into black cats in order to prowl streets unobserved became a central belief in America during the Salem witch hunts. Even today the association of black cats and witches holds strong during Halloween celebrations, despite the holiday’s religious beginnings.  Thus, an animal once looked on with approbation became a symbol of evil omens in some parts of the World.

However, in some cultures, the black cat is still revered and a symbol of good luck even today. The Scottish believe that a strange black cat’s arrival to the home signifies prosperity, while Pirates of the 19th century believed if a black cat walks towards you, it’s a sign of bad luck, but it’s good luck if it walks away from you. In the English Midlands, a black cat as a wedding present is thought to bring good luck to the bride!" 

Here are some books and lessons: 

Black Cats weren’t always the butt of superstitions, feared, or even considered bad luck.  In fact, in early Egyptian times, dating back as far as 3000 BC, cats (including black ones) were the rock stars of the animal world, held in high esteem; to kill one was considered a capital crime. It wasn’t until  the middle-ages in Europe that the black cat’s rock star status started to go downhill as they began to be associated with so-called witches. The hysteria of witches practicing black magic had just hit Europe and alley cats were often cared for and fed by the poor lonely old ladies (funny how some things never change) later accused of witchery.

Their cat companions, some of which were black ones, were deemed guilty of witchery by association. This belief was taken up a notch when a folklore involving a father and son in Lincolnshire in the 1560′s started making the rounds. The pair were said to have been traveling one moonless night when a black cat crossed their path and dove into a crawl space. Naturally, they did what any guys would do, they threw rocks at the furry feline until the helpless injured creature scurried out into a woman’s house, who at the time was suspected of being a witch.  The next day, the father and son came across the same woman and noticed she was limping and bruised and believed that to be more than just a coincidence. From that day on in Lincolnshire, it was thought that witches could turn into black cats at night.

The belief of witches transforming themselves into black cats in order to prowl streets unobserved became a central belief in America during the Salem witch hunts. Even today the association of black cats and witches holds strong during Halloween celebrations, despite the holiday’s religious beginnings.  Thus, an animal once looked on with approbation became a symbol of evil omens in some parts of the World.

However, in some cultures, the black cat is still revered and a symbol of good luck even today. The Scottish believe that a strange black cat’s arrival to the home signifies prosperity, while Pirates of the 19th century believed if a black cat walks towards you, it’s a sign of bad luck, but it’s good luck if it walks away from you. In the English Midlands, a black cat as a wedding present is thought to bring good luck to the bride!

Read more at http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/09/why-black-cats-are-considered-bad-luck/#PsAK1wFBGisy5CoZ.99

Black Cats weren’t always the butt of superstitions, feared, or even considered bad luck.  In fact, in early Egyptian times, dating back as far as 3000 BC, cats (including black ones) were the rock stars of the animal world, held in high esteem; to kill one was considered a capital crime. It wasn’t until  the middle-ages in Europe that the black cat’s rock star status started to go downhill as they began to be associated with so-called witches. The hysteria of witches practicing black magic had just hit Europe and alley cats were often cared for and fed by the poor lonely old ladies (funny how some things never change) later accused of witchery.

Their cat companions, some of which were black ones, were deemed guilty of witchery by association. This belief was taken up a notch when a folklore involving a father and son in Lincolnshire in the 1560′s started making the rounds. The pair were said to have been traveling one moonless night when a black cat crossed their path and dove into a crawl space. Naturally, they did what any guys would do, they threw rocks at the furry feline until the helpless injured creature scurried out into a woman’s house, who at the time was suspected of being a witch.  The next day, the father and son came across the same woman and noticed she was limping and bruised and believed that to be more than just a coincidence. From that day on in Lincolnshire, it was thought that witches could turn into black cats at night.

The belief of witches transforming themselves into black cats in order to prowl streets unobserved became a central belief in America during the Salem witch hunts. Even today the association of black cats and witches holds strong during Halloween celebrations, despite the holiday’s religious beginnings.  Thus, an animal once looked on with approbation became a symbol of evil omens in some parts of the World.

However, in some cultures, the black cat is still revered and a symbol of good luck even today. The Scottish believe that a strange black cat’s arrival to the home signifies prosperity, while Pirates of the 19th century believed if a black cat walks towards you, it’s a sign of bad luck, but it’s good luck if it walks away from you. In the English Midlands, a black cat as a wedding present is thought to bring good luck to the bride!

Read more at http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/09/why-black-cats-are-considered-bad-luck/#PsAK1wFBGisy5CoZ.99

Black Cats weren’t always the butt of superstitions, feared, or even considered bad luck.  In fact, in early Egyptian times, dating back as far as 3000 BC, cats (including black ones) were the rock stars of the animal world, held in high esteem; to kill one was considered a capital crime. It wasn’t until  the middle-ages in Europe that the black cat’s rock star status started to go downhill as they began to be associated with so-called witches. The hysteria of witches practicing black magic had just hit Europe and alley cats were often cared for and fed by the poor lonely old ladies (funny how some things never change) later accused of witchery.

Their cat companions, some of which were black ones, were deemed guilty of witchery by association. This belief was taken up a notch when a folklore involving a father and son in Lincolnshire in the 1560′s started making the rounds. The pair were said to have been traveling one moonless night when a black cat crossed their path and dove into a crawl space. Naturally, they did what any guys would do, they threw rocks at the furry feline until the helpless injured creature scurried out into a woman’s house, who at the time was suspected of being a witch.  The next day, the father and son came across the same woman and noticed she was limping and bruised and believed that to be more than just a coincidence. From that day on in Lincolnshire, it was thought that witches could turn into black cats at night.

The belief of witches transforming themselves into black cats in order to prowl streets unobserved became a central belief in America during the Salem witch hunts. Even today the association of black cats and witches holds strong during Halloween celebrations, despite the holiday’s religious beginnings.  Thus, an animal once looked on with approbation became a symbol of evil omens in some parts of the World.

However, in some cultures, the black cat is still revered and a symbol of good luck even today. The Scottish believe that a strange black cat’s arrival to the home signifies prosperity, while Pirates of the 19th century believed if a black cat walks towards you, it’s a sign of bad luck, but it’s good luck if it walks away from you. In the English Midlands, a black cat as a wedding present is thought to bring good luck to the bride!

Read more at http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/09/why-black-cats-are-considered-bad-luck/#PsAK1wFBGisy5CoZ.99

Ghosts

I found more crafts than I did art "projects", but I thought of all the stuff I found, these were the cutest.  I particularly like the ghost tessellations.  

Cheap and Easy Summer Craft Projects

 

 What would you do with a ton of children to teach and only a handful of basic supplies to teach them with?
We've all been there, an under-resourced and over-enrolled art camp, summer course, or program where we have too much time and not enough to do!  It's probably one of the worst situations to be in as an art teacher but the only option is to get creative and make the best of it.  Unfortunately, my co-worker is currently stuck in this position at a camp she's working at and she asked me if I had any ideas.  I used Google and came up with a few options.  The catch being the only materials she currently has are tissue paper, glue, markers, sand, and paper.  Here are some things I found:

New Front Door Wreath

 

Here it is, my updated door wreath for the summer. For me the hardest part of making door wreaths is that I have a south facing house and so my door gets his by sun pretty much all day. With my last wreath (old post here) I used string a mostly hot glue to adhere everything together, Unbeknownst to me at the time, that was a big mistake! Fast forward a few months and everything on the wreath looked like it was melting! :(

Anyways this wreath took me about an hour and I didn't use any glue at all, the whole thing was done with a needle and thread, tiny sewing pins and very thin silver floral wire.
All the materials came from Michael's, make sure if you are a teacher you show them your teacher ID and you can get an extra 15% off.. In total the materials cost be about 20 bucks.  Can't beat a custom one-of-a-kind wreath for that price!
Below are the items I used:

Burlap Fabric Trim- I used the 6.99 package I found in the floral decorating aisle instead of the 9.99 package that was in the ribbon aisle.  I think the ribbon aisle package had more burlap but you don't need that much to wrap a wreath.  I still have 1/2 a package left.

Wooden Letters- I like the pre-finished ones, there's no way I could get the paint that smooth if I did it myself. 
Thin Floral Wire- any thin bendable wire, about as thick as a twist tie without the paper coating.  My wire was thin enough to cut easily with a scissor.
Sewing Pins-I used these to anchor things in place. I used short round-head pins like the ones you use for baste stitching thin fabrics, but in hindsight, small sized T-pins may have worked even better, especially if you're using fabrics that have a large weave like burlap.
Scissors
Needle/Thread
Scrap Ribbon 
Flower Embellishments- I found these in the scrapbooking department.  They had tons of different sizes, brands, and colors and they lay nice and flat when you sew them on. 

Craft Class Project 5- Jim Dine Inspired Paper Mache Heart Sculptures

I always try and do a paper mache project in my crafts class.  Last year I did balloon form vases and the year before that I did flying pigs.  This year I decided to do something a bit simpler...
You begin by using wire armature, fairly thick works best but I had thin gauge wire so I had my students double it and twist t like a twist tie to give it more strength. At the end of the wire they formed a heart shape which they later stuffed then wrapped with newspaper to form a 3D heart shape.  The entire sculpture was wrapped in newspaper and then masking tape.  About 3 layers of mache were used on top to give it sturdiness and a hard outer surface.  Lastly they were primed in white acrylic and then painted however each student chose followed by a coat of Modge Podge to give them shine.  They came out cute!

Craft Class Project 4- Repousse Carnivale Masks

Repousse is the art of forming pattern on metal by pressing a relief from the back.  I found thin sheets of metal tooling in one of my crates for summer school and a light bulb went off, carnivale masks!  I had my students use mask templates (it is summer school after all), some created their own but most used the templates as a base.  They traced the template onto newsprint paper then created a design in pencil on it. After that you place a sheet of metal tooling onto a magazine (to add padding) and you cut and tape down your paper mask drawing.  You use a wooden stylus to press the shape and design into the metal and then remove the paper, cut the metal and touch up the design as needed.  You can also reverse the repousse and push into the design so that you have a combination of raise and sunk-in lines. Lastly, we colored the metal using Sharpies, embellished with feathers and beads, and painted wooden dowels and blocks. for the base to mount the masks. 



Just a word of notice.  I used the 'treasure chest' of wood box from Sax which has a ton of perfectly sized wood blocks.  I also had packs of various sized dowels and had to pre-drill the holes into the blocks so they would stay put.  Hot gluing the dowels to the tops of the wood blocks will not work (trust me, I've tried that too!).

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