The kitchen is where everyone gathers at all good parties, and the refrigerator is the heart of the kitchen. It’s probably the only kitchen appliance we allow our children to interact with. We use it many times daily for our meals, and if your fridge door looks anything like mine, we hang our children’s best artwork, report cards, and photographs on it. The refrigerator is like a giant utilitarian storyteller: it shares all of our accomplishments, our invitations and engagements, and the highlights of our lives on the outside, all while keeping our food fresh on the inside.
Since we look at our refrigerator every day, dressing it up with handmade magnets is a great way to enhance your fridge door. This project can be adjusted in many different ways and to all different levels. Materials are just suggestions and can be substituted with many different things.
Inspiration:
Start out by asking your children what their favorite visual element on the refrigerator is. This can be a photo, one of their works of art, etc. They can then sketch out a magnet that complements their favorite visual element.
Take a Visual Trip
Another variation is to have your child choose a postcard or tourist magnet on the refrigerator door, and imagine the place where the souvenir came from.
Extend into a writing prompt by telling a story set in the place. Or, ask the following questions: based on the way the souvenir looks, what can you tell me about this place? If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you travel to? Why? What do you think the place looks like? Sketch ideas about the place, then sketch a design for a magnet. This can be whimsical, kitschy, realistic or sophisticated.
Everyday Art Lesson: Fridge Door Art
Concept Focus: Magnetic Art
Mess Factor: Low-Moderate
Ages: Can be modified for ages 0-18 years
Objectives: Students create magnets for their refrigerator door. Themes can be: kitschy tourist magnets, postcards, quotes, places, handprint/footprint for babies or any small scale 3-D model.
Suggested Materials:
Babies and Toddlers:
• Play dough or Crayola Model Magic. Colors or White
• Adhesive Velcro
• Old magnet to cover up that has a secure magnetic backing
Younger kids:
• Playdough or Crayola Model Magic in primary colors + white,
• Self-adhesive magnets or magnetic tape
• Plastic knife
(See link below for a great playdough recipe requiring no cooking)
Older Kids:
• Crayola Model Magic, (Air dry) Sculpey (oven bake): Red, Yellow, Blue, White (All other colors can be mixed)
• Self-adhesive magnets or magnetic tape
• Plastic knife
• Vintage post cards or tourist magnets for inspiration
*Additional tools to help mold and sculpt the scene: the tip of a dull pencil or plastic knife, paper towel or toilet paper tube covered with wax paper to use as a brayer to roll out the modeling compounds.
(**Materials are like Ingredients. Many things can be substituted for what you have on hand.)
Babies and Toddlers: Create a fridge door magnet together
Babies and toddlers can make hand print or footprint magnets out of Crayola Model Magic or play dough, both non-toxic compounds. Babies and tots must be closely supervised when using these materials because they are choking hazards. Once air dried, attach to an existing magnet with adhesive Velcro. Magnets are dangerous if swallowed, so use an old magnet that has a secure magnetic backing and secure dried art piece with the Velcro.
Younger Children: Create a fridge door magnet using an imprint and color mixing
Have children choose a relief magnet that they like. Next they will choose a background color. Flatten the modeling compound to approx. ¼ inch thick and into a round or rectangular shape using the homemade brayer detailed above, but do not roll it too thin. Using the magnet with raised areas, make a mold of the magnet using the flattened piece.
Using the Model Magic or similar air dry compound, mix various colors using the three primary colors. Use 1-part blue to 2 or 3 parts yellow to create green. Use 1-part red to 2 or 3 parts yellow to make orange. Use 1-part blue to 2 parts red to get violet. Add white to lighten any of these. Keep mixed colors in plastic bags when not in use so they won’t dry out.
On the newly molded design, use the mixed colors and plastic knife to cut out shapes, recreating the original magnet. Allow time to air dry, and adhere a magnet with an adhesive backing onto the newly created magnet.
Older Children: Create their own fridge door magnet of a place they imagine visiting or a place that they remember.
For color mixing air dry compounds, see above. For polymer clay, start by using ½ part blue to 2 or 3 parts yellow to create green. Use 1/2-part red to 2 or 3 parts yellow to make orange. Use ½-part blue to 2 parts red to get violet. You can always add more of the first color to achieve the desired color you want. Adjust by gradually adding more color to the mixture. Add white to lighten any of these. Polymer clays do not dry out, so no need to keep them in plastic.
Choose a background color and flatten the modeling compound into a round or rectangular shape using the handmade brayer detailed above. Use either the air dry Model Magic or polymer clay. Roll into skinny coils with your hands to create lines. “Draw” with the skinny rounded coil lines or flatten them into the background slab to create the scene of the place for the magnet.
Older kids can add as many details as they want. These modeling compounds are very light and one or two adhesive magnets adhered to the back will hold them on the refrigerator just fine. Sculpey baking instructions are linked below, and Play doughs and Crayola Model Magic are air dry compounds.
References:
Sculpey: www.sculpey.com/
Sculpey Baking Instructions: www.sculpey.com/support/faqs/ - topic-8
Crayola Model Magic: www.crayola.com/things-to-do/how-to-landing/model-magic.aspxhttp://playdoh.hasbro.com/en-us
No cook play dough recipe: theimaginationtree.com/2012/04/best-ever-no-cook-play-dough-recipe.html
Feel free to email any questions or comments to info@creativespacearts.com, or visit my website at www.creativespacearts.com. I aim to create an open exchange of ideas and best practices.
Jennifer Barrett is the Arts Liaison and Performing Arts Coordinator at a public junior high school in Brooklyn, and has taught visual arts there since 2002. She founded Creative Space Arts in 2014 to offer a different kind of art studio, always changing and inspired by the immersive environment of galleries and other creative spaces. She has also guided countless students through the rigorous audition process of portfolio development, with many gaining acceptance and even scholarships into some of NYC’s most prestigious art schools. Jennifer’s paper creds include: B.F.A. in Drawing, M.Ed., S.B.L Certification.
About Creative Space Arts:
What do dragons, neighborhood-scapes, rainbow fish, and the moon have in common? They are all possible motifs at Creative Space Arts, a pop-up art studio set in galleries and other creative spaces. Our fun and immersive workshops are inspired by the work currently on view in gallery spaces, or by weekly theme. Through this approach, we aim to ignite curiosity and freedom of artistic expression.
Since we look at our refrigerator every day, dressing it up with handmade magnets is a great way to enhance your fridge door. This project can be adjusted in many different ways and to all different levels. Materials are just suggestions and can be substituted with many different things.
Inspiration:
Start out by asking your children what their favorite visual element on the refrigerator is. This can be a photo, one of their works of art, etc. They can then sketch out a magnet that complements their favorite visual element.
Take a Visual Trip
Another variation is to have your child choose a postcard or tourist magnet on the refrigerator door, and imagine the place where the souvenir came from.
Extend into a writing prompt by telling a story set in the place. Or, ask the following questions: based on the way the souvenir looks, what can you tell me about this place? If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you travel to? Why? What do you think the place looks like? Sketch ideas about the place, then sketch a design for a magnet. This can be whimsical, kitschy, realistic or sophisticated.
Everyday Art Lesson: Fridge Door Art
Concept Focus: Magnetic Art
Mess Factor: Low-Moderate
Ages: Can be modified for ages 0-18 years
Objectives: Students create magnets for their refrigerator door. Themes can be: kitschy tourist magnets, postcards, quotes, places, handprint/footprint for babies or any small scale 3-D model.
Suggested Materials:
Babies and Toddlers:
• Play dough or Crayola Model Magic. Colors or White
• Adhesive Velcro
• Old magnet to cover up that has a secure magnetic backing
Younger kids:
• Playdough or Crayola Model Magic in primary colors + white,
• Self-adhesive magnets or magnetic tape
• Plastic knife
(See link below for a great playdough recipe requiring no cooking)
Older Kids:
• Crayola Model Magic, (Air dry) Sculpey (oven bake): Red, Yellow, Blue, White (All other colors can be mixed)
• Self-adhesive magnets or magnetic tape
• Plastic knife
• Vintage post cards or tourist magnets for inspiration
*Additional tools to help mold and sculpt the scene: the tip of a dull pencil or plastic knife, paper towel or toilet paper tube covered with wax paper to use as a brayer to roll out the modeling compounds.
(**Materials are like Ingredients. Many things can be substituted for what you have on hand.)
Babies and Toddlers: Create a fridge door magnet together
Babies and toddlers can make hand print or footprint magnets out of Crayola Model Magic or play dough, both non-toxic compounds. Babies and tots must be closely supervised when using these materials because they are choking hazards. Once air dried, attach to an existing magnet with adhesive Velcro. Magnets are dangerous if swallowed, so use an old magnet that has a secure magnetic backing and secure dried art piece with the Velcro.
Younger Children: Create a fridge door magnet using an imprint and color mixing
Have children choose a relief magnet that they like. Next they will choose a background color. Flatten the modeling compound to approx. ¼ inch thick and into a round or rectangular shape using the homemade brayer detailed above, but do not roll it too thin. Using the magnet with raised areas, make a mold of the magnet using the flattened piece.
Using the Model Magic or similar air dry compound, mix various colors using the three primary colors. Use 1-part blue to 2 or 3 parts yellow to create green. Use 1-part red to 2 or 3 parts yellow to make orange. Use 1-part blue to 2 parts red to get violet. Add white to lighten any of these. Keep mixed colors in plastic bags when not in use so they won’t dry out.
On the newly molded design, use the mixed colors and plastic knife to cut out shapes, recreating the original magnet. Allow time to air dry, and adhere a magnet with an adhesive backing onto the newly created magnet.
Older Children: Create their own fridge door magnet of a place they imagine visiting or a place that they remember.
For color mixing air dry compounds, see above. For polymer clay, start by using ½ part blue to 2 or 3 parts yellow to create green. Use 1/2-part red to 2 or 3 parts yellow to make orange. Use ½-part blue to 2 parts red to get violet. You can always add more of the first color to achieve the desired color you want. Adjust by gradually adding more color to the mixture. Add white to lighten any of these. Polymer clays do not dry out, so no need to keep them in plastic.
Choose a background color and flatten the modeling compound into a round or rectangular shape using the handmade brayer detailed above. Use either the air dry Model Magic or polymer clay. Roll into skinny coils with your hands to create lines. “Draw” with the skinny rounded coil lines or flatten them into the background slab to create the scene of the place for the magnet.
Older kids can add as many details as they want. These modeling compounds are very light and one or two adhesive magnets adhered to the back will hold them on the refrigerator just fine. Sculpey baking instructions are linked below, and Play doughs and Crayola Model Magic are air dry compounds.
References:
Sculpey: www.sculpey.com/
Sculpey Baking Instructions: www.sculpey.com/support/faqs/ - topic-8
Crayola Model Magic: www.crayola.com/things-to-do/how-to-landing/model-magic.aspxhttp://playdoh.hasbro.com/en-us
No cook play dough recipe: theimaginationtree.com/2012/04/best-ever-no-cook-play-dough-recipe.html
Feel free to email any questions or comments to info@creativespacearts.com, or visit my website at www.creativespacearts.com. I aim to create an open exchange of ideas and best practices.
Jennifer Barrett is the Arts Liaison and Performing Arts Coordinator at a public junior high school in Brooklyn, and has taught visual arts there since 2002. She founded Creative Space Arts in 2014 to offer a different kind of art studio, always changing and inspired by the immersive environment of galleries and other creative spaces. She has also guided countless students through the rigorous audition process of portfolio development, with many gaining acceptance and even scholarships into some of NYC’s most prestigious art schools. Jennifer’s paper creds include: B.F.A. in Drawing, M.Ed., S.B.L Certification.
About Creative Space Arts:
What do dragons, neighborhood-scapes, rainbow fish, and the moon have in common? They are all possible motifs at Creative Space Arts, a pop-up art studio set in galleries and other creative spaces. Our fun and immersive workshops are inspired by the work currently on view in gallery spaces, or by weekly theme. Through this approach, we aim to ignite curiosity and freedom of artistic expression.
