Help class project - how to make laminated placemats

[niccig]

DS's class has to make a project for the school's silent auction. Someone suggested making laminated placemats and we can sell sets of 4. If each child does 2 placemats, we can sell a few sets.

The problem is that as we get closer to the silent auction, it looks like I as the room parent have to pull off this project and I am NOT crafty at all...like seriously craft challenged. I have these instructions http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/ma...atedp_tusz.htm but no idea what a class of 17x 5 year olds could do to the paper that could then be laminated.

Do I just let them paint something? Someone suggested a collage, but would that be too much work? Another idea was a handprint, but the teacher is also doing a project that is kids thumb prints on a bookshelf. It's an arty school, so I kind of want a cool idea for the artwork, and then we can laminate them. We have a couple of art lessons and more class time if needed. We have to buy or donate all the supplies.

Please HELP ME!!

[Andi98989]

Maybe some of these will give you ideas?

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...page=&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...age=2&includes[]=tags&includes[]=title

[miki]

I saw this recently and thought it was a fun idea, tape resist watercolor. You could do a tree or flower or buildings or faces, many possibilities.



http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2...ilhouette.html

[JTsMom]

I don't think collages would be too much for 5 year olds. You could do some of the cutting ahead of time, or just buy some type of pre-cut shapes. You could ask the parents to donate some old magazines for the pictures.

I also like the idea of having them paint. You could provide a bunch of different materials so that they could have a more complex look if you wanted to be fancy- they could use foam stamps, you could cut some apples in half and let them stamp with those, you could do different types of brushes, scrunch up some paper and dab paint on with that, etc.

Apples, but on a bag, just so you get an idea:
http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/apple-stamp-bag-663681/


I also like the idea of photocopying leaves or flowers- that could be fun.

Tissue paper would be another way to go- have them cut squares or maybe get some of those big craft punches to do shapes, then glue them to paper, having some overlap. It would be really colorful.

http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/20...paper-collage/

[JTsMom]

Originally Posted by miki

I saw this recently and thought it was a fun idea, tape resist watercolor. You could do a tree or flower or buildings or faces, many possibilities.



http://www.frugalfamilyfunblog.com/2...ilhouette.html

Oooh, I love that!

[Tondi G]

I know someone who did a cool thing with paint watered down in a basin. Then you use a straw and blow bubbles into it... then slowly lowered the paper into the bubble paint... pick it up let it dry (do a couple of different colors in trays). Then when the papers were dry they cut in strips and wove them and then laminated.

I know another mommy who did a silent auction item as you described... each child in the class did a thumb print. Then they made little animals from the thumbprint... draw a mane around and pointy ears... little face it's a lion. two antenna and eyes n smile... a few dots of the same colored paint trailing behind... it's a caterpillar. Each childs name was written below the fingerprint animal. I think they did the top of a small kids table and/or step stool.

Here is what I mean.... but these are halloween inspired

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts/s...prints-669195/

Here you go... here are a few different options. you could do one LONG caterpillar with each kids thumbprint and then maybe use tissue paper to make a background and laminate as a placemat.

http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/misc...characters.htm

When I was in kindergarten I remember making place mats. Our teacher cut large circles of white paper. Then put it in a round pan. We got to choose the colors we wanted... she dropped a marble into the color paint and then into the pan (we were able to do 2 or 3 colors). We rolled the marble around till it stopped making lines. With the 2 or 3 different colors we had cool lines and swirls. When dry, the circle paper was glued to construction paper and laminated. Knowing my mom she probably still has it somewhere tucked away!

[niccig]

Thank you everyone...such great ideas.....I'll try and get a couple of other parents involved too, so the actual work won't be all me....
I really appreciate the ideas, I am so not crafty!