Friday, October 24, 2014

My Art Therapy: Halloween DIY Decorations



Teaching junior high was one of the hardest things I have ever done.  Convincing eighth graders the importance of subject verb agreement, especially when a prepositional phrase came between the two, was excruciatingly difficult.  

I remember the day this mom came in to dispute her daughter's homework grade.  She demanded that the verb should agree with object of the preposition.  When it agreed with the subject, it sounded "ghetto."  (Her words, not mine).

I tried not to be spin into a downward spiral of rage as she questioned not only me, but the grammar book’s instructions that were clearly printed *on the same page;* however, I was completely distracted that she looked and sounded just like Joey's agent on Friends.  The only thing missing was a cigarette, but judging by the smokey smell emanating from her poufy hairdo, I’m guessing she had one in the parking lot before she arrived at my classroom.

On soul crushing days like that, I would need to do something to alleviate the anger and frustration. And since I wasn't the kind of teacher to keep a flask filled with alcohol in my desk, I kept a box of Crayola crayons (the 24-count box to be exact; 8 and 16 never seemed like enough, and I didn't have space in my desk for the best box of 64) and my Celestial Seasonings Tea Coloring Book.  No matter how much I wanted to tell someone to go to hell, my anger always dissipated when I had completed coloring and created something pretty.

Earlier this week, I needed some art therapy. For the past few days, I had let the fear and frustration of others bring me down.  So I took out some cards stock, Modge Podge, and some Halloween cutouts that I bought for a rainy day. 



mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I had some calming chamomile lavender tea and played my Andrew Sisters Pandora station.
I may be 94 years old.




Here is what I created.

mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I took a Halloween cutout and used some glossy Modge Podge to glue it on some brown card stock.




mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I let it dry overnight before I cut it.


mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I then used these double-sided foam stickers and stuck it on orange card stock.


mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
Then I stuck it to the paper. . . 



mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
and cut out the outline . . . 


mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
then used a hole punch.  




mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I took some jute and tied a knot.  I hung it up with some other decorations.



mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I always wanted to use these chipboards, but I never knew what to do with them.
I traced the shape with orange construction paper.




mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I used some Matte Modge Podge to glue it to the chipboard.
.  Here's a tip: less is more. I had to work out all of the air bubbles before it dried.




mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I took another cutout and traced it on brown card stock.  I glued it with a regular glue stick.



mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I glued it to the chip board with Matte Modge Podge.


mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I used some scissors to push through the holes that were already there
and tied the jute in a knot.


mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
I then hung it from our cabinet.  I am not going to quit my day job(s),
but I am pretty proud of how it turned out.


mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
This was a final product that didn't turn out quite like I had hoped.
I used the Matte Modge Podge, but it kind of curled up more than I wanted to.
I still used it and punched a whole to hang it up.



mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
For this one, I just used those double-sided foam stickers and cut around it.



mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
Same for this one.




mommy on the spot erin janda rawlings halloween diy craft decorations
Here is what they all look like hanging above my kitchen sink.
I almost used orange curling ribbon, but I am glad I used the jute.
It goes nicely with the brown card stock.



When I was done, I felt that same sense of accomplishment and peace when I was done coloring.  Plus I had some cute decorations to hang up in the home.

Do you have a favorite activity that saves you from stress?




3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks great!! Very creative! You can come & decorate the rest of my house if you need more therapy. Darn squirrels ate my pumpkin!! Sandy

New York Mama said...

Those are bootiful! Art, crafts, flowers, decorating , music ANYTHING that requires total immersion so I can literally get lost. In order to work it needs to be imagig hrs after everyone is sleeping or wee hours AM BEFORE ANYONE IS UP. THE ABSOLUTE BEST ESCAPE!

Wenni Donna said...

Thank you so much for all these wonderful ideas dear. I just loved all of them. I also want to plan for a similar party and don’t want to plan it at home. So can you please suggest me some party venue rentals accordingly.