Typical paper crafts for preschoolers usually consist of drawing with crayons or markers on various colours of paper. To spice up paper crafts, try letting the kids create textures by combining crayons, paper, a rough surface and little imagination. Watch the reaction of the kids as they see relief textures come to life simply by rubbing a crayon on a piece of paper covering a leaf. There is something magical about seeing a ‘picture’ mysteriously appear by this simple technique.
Easily done outside, show kids how to peel crayons and have a number of different types of paper ready including different colours of construction paper, brown lunch bags, rolls of brown parcel paper, old file folders and sheets of plain white paper. Lay the paper of choice across a tree trunk, a leaf, concrete sidewalk, a fence post, a stump, raked sand or a large smooth rock and gently rub over the surface with the side of a crayon.
Let the kids experiment with using different colours of crayon and moving the paper around the textured surface. Preschoolers can also make textured designs from materials found inside as well. Sand paper, crepe paper, ceramic tile, hardwood floor, linoleum, and dishtowels make interesting textures for kids to try. After the crayon rubbings are finished, use the textured design in one of these craft ideas.
Craft Ideas Using Crayon Rubbings
- Gift tags - Cut the paper into two inch squares and glue to cardboard. Punch a hole in the card and attach to a gift with raffia.
- Wrapping paper - Do crayon rubbings over a large piece of parcel paper. Roll the paper up for future use.
- Bookmarks - Cut a textured design into book mark size and cover the book mark with MACtac.
- Covering boxes - Tape textured paper over recycled cereal and cracker boxes to make bricks for imaginative play.
- Pictures for greeting cards - Cut designs out in various shapes to use on the front of birthday, Christmas and greeting cards.
- Note paper - Choose some interesting textures and colour photocopy them onto plain paper to make unique note paper.
- Background for a nature, outer space or under water picture - Make crayon rubbings on large pieces of construction paper and glue foam or paper shapes on them to make elaborate pictures.
- Puzzle - Glue a piece of textured paper onto cardboard and cut into various shapes. Let the kids try to put the texture picture back together again.
Crayon rubbings are also great for kids to look at coins, uncover sidewalk etchings and to study markings on monuments. This texturing technique can also be easily incorporated into crafts for Earth Day and natural Christmas decorations.
