Are you looking for a process art to do with your children? Art that’s not ready-made, but the details will look like a child’s creation, not product art? If you are, let’s make a hammer art that you can gift to dads, moms, families, friends, neighbors, and community helpers.
Supplies Needed – Hammer / Any Other Tools, paints, paint brushes, mod podge glue or spray & children :).
I purchased these hammers from Home Depot – the Anvil brand
I wrapped the hammers with old grocery bags (we love to recycle bags – I also use grocery bags to contain diapers) – this is off topic, but we love recycling. Wrap the metal area of the hammer with bags, then tape around the edges – this helps to contain the paint on the wooden area.
After all, the tools were taped, I then offered the hammers to the children – to paint freely. The children did the project outdoors, though this could be completed indoors. If art is done indoors, I usually cover the table or floor with a drop cloth, newspaper, trays, old cardboard boxes, etc.
Safety – It is also good to have a safety session about the safe way to handle the hammers, which includes injuries that can result from it falling on toes etc.
We used acrylic paints which can be placed in containers like – bottle caps / apple sauce cups/ paint trays / disposable plates / bowls / leaves / old barks / bottle caps / coffee filters …
We started painting the hammer as a group, and I soon realized the children wanted the same colors. They didn’t like sharing – I changed the activity to accommodate one child at a time (this is also a method used for other activities – one-to-one)
I also helped to hold the hammer as they painted all areas – this also helped to ensure no one got hurt from it falling on them.
Painting activities help strengthen fingers – fine motor skills – look at this two-years-old grip.
When the hammers were dried – my son applied some gloss mod podge spray (matte can also be used – depends on what’s available or your preference).
The mod podge helped to seal the hammers. Both the paint and mod podge application needs time to dry, they were left in dry creek to dry.
The drying process didn’t take long; however, I removed the wrap after a couple of hours. NOTE – another reason to do this project outdoors – is the mod podge smells and needs ventilation – doing this outdoors didn’t create issues.
I used a gold and silver marker to write the message to dads from the children. Note – my children are all under four years old.
The children took ownership of their hammer art and the dads loved their gifts from the heart.
May you find materials to help your children create meaningful process art over product art.
Until next time – Miss Sue
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