foamcore construction

materials:
foamcore* cut into small squares (3-4")
toothpicks
felt pens or q-tips and paint

The foamcore squares are decorated with paint or pens before construction. The toothpicks are stuck into the soft insides of the foam core and used to connect pieces together.

*I don't know if I'm spelling this right but it's that cushy board used to mount posters.

Plaster gauze bowls

materials:
something to mold the gauze around to form the bowl
(I've used plastic cereal bowls or small salad bowls, don't use cardbord, it's too hard to unmold)
plaster gauze cut into 1x6 strips
bowls of clean cold water
plastic garbage bag cut open to cover the table

Set the bowl to be molded upside down on the table. The gauze strips are soaked in the water and then the excess is removed with "fingers like scissors". How do I describe this?
The gauze strips are applied layer by layer all around the outside of the bowl until it's about 3-4 layers deep. Set aside to "set-up". This takes a surprisingly short amount of time. You can feel the plaster becoming hot just before it's done. (About 20-30 minutes) These usually just pop right off the mold, especially on plastic that can be wiggled a bit. You COULD spray the glass with some Pam just to be safe but it does discolor a bit and prvents paint from adhering well.

The molded bowls are them painted with tempera or acrylics. Try using tall plastic cups for pencil holders,too.

 Telephone wire sculptures

I once found a huge box full of colorful telephone wire at a yard sale marked "Free"! My score of the decade! I've used it for everything imaginable.

materials:
colorful telephone wire
hard styrofoam for a base (or florists foam)

Child wraps, twists, bends and molds shape out of wire.

set out with squeeze bottles of white glue:
any or all-
wood scraps
corks
craft sticks
plastic laminate samples
ceramic tile samples
wooden beads
pieces of pipe cleaners
odd pieces of wooden puzzles and games
egg cartons cut into single cells
toothpicks
wooden skewers
bottle caps
cardboard scraps