Earth Day Ideas

Hi there,

I volunteered to face paint at a nature center for Earth Day this April. Has anyone ever done this type of event? The theme is "reuse" I'm trying to brainstorm on ideas and any thoughts would be appreciated! I think I'll be painting younger kids age 3-5 since the older ones will have several 'resuse' activities to work on, but am assuming older kids will want something too!

Thanks so much!
Katy

I really love this peace sign using a rainbow cake. it is very quick and EASY!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iccKMVbFMH0

other ideas might be;

earth
earth with a peace sign outline
footprints across an earth with the words "tread lightly"
same as above but with the words "reduce, reuse, recycle"
recycle symbol
earthy god/goddess mask
peace dove

I spent my 1st yr as a f-p being an Eco Education Officer (had been that for 4), so yes:

Plants. Lots of. Especially fungus like mushrooms, research is showing they think they can brak down all sorts of randomn previously un-recyclable things like CDs and oil waste.

Think compost - any bugs from worms to beetles; boys love it. And what eats them. Also lost of reptiles/ amphibs like damp compost. Plenty of gross facts to embellish....

AND being 'green' you can stretch that to paint just about any animal/ insect ever. Helps if you can explain WHY/ talk about the species's problems and how we can help - just a few facts about how few tigers are left or how turtles die as they eat plastic flotsam they think is fish and starve/ internally strangle to death, etc. In a cheerful way of course

Flowers/ butterflies espec wild species.

Bees as pollinators (we'd be stuffed w/o bee pollinated crops).

As said lots or rainbow warrior/ princess stuff
Whales & dolphins/ sea life in general.

Acid rain/ pollution vs nicer skies.

Bicyles vs cars

Less packaging, more home grown veggies.

the whole 'carbon footprint' went down well - make a stencil of a shoe tread print, bit like the run-over-by-a-car thing. Again make sure you have a clue what that's all about so you can explain.

Brownies, pixies, water babies etc

You can also go off on Wombles, any of the kids cartoons pushing vaguely green things (ie global warming - Ice Age, Happpy Feet), that fairy in the rainforest one I never recall....

TBH often at these events they stick to the old faves anyway, but maybe even make a stencil of the main recycling logos, or a world, to help.... I didn't mention recycling categories as fiddly cheek art is my pet hate, I prefer fast full faces.

Cat x

great ideas! Thanks so much!! here is a newbie question - how do I make stencils?

I did an eco/green fair last year, they booked me again this year for their upcoming event. To tell you the truth, I painted nothing green or eco aside from the usual butterflies, rainbows dolphins etc. Oh yeah and one big bloody looking fake gash on one of the dad's for shock value. LOL It worked.
So my advice is have a few 'green' ideas on paper with you for reference in case you are asked for it, but don't sweat it, you will do well with normal type faces. Good luck!

I make a stencil with an exacto knife and a sheet of plastic... like overhead transparency acetate. Even better... I bought a package of the stuff at a scrapbook supply store, and if you purchase something there you can use thier room full of punches and scissors and die-cut things.

For home made stencils, someone once told me to use an old clear shower curtain...???

you can also buy "blank" quilting templates and cut those up into smaller pieces and use an exacto knife. Or what about using sticker paper in the computer? (not sure if that would work?)

has anyone tried stamps at the craft store in leu of stencils? you could just stamp it on with FP possibly then fill it in?

You can also cut out sponges??? Or, better yet, get those round sponges on a stick (you know when I say this, I'm saying "on a steek" lol) . Large ones make great planets, small ones make great pearls.

lol. on a steek..hehe.

oh yes! I know exactly what you are talking about - great ideas - thanks so much!

aprilmoonflower wrote:has anyone tried stamps at the craft store in leu of stencils? you could just stamp it on with FP possibly then fill it in?

I've used the sponge stamps they sell at Michael's before and they work pretty good...you have to make sure you have enough paint on them and press firmly to make sure the whole design goes on.

I used the star sponge at a softball tournament when I had to paint a whole team quickly.

Easiest way to make stencils is to get a 'hot pen' - I got mine on Ebay but is best if you can find on from a proper stencil place as then they sell the proper mylar. Good mylar gets cut by the hotpen like a hot knife thru butter, just more fine detail.
Cat x

How do you 'apply' stencils you make yourself? I tried them for the first time tonight and had a hard time keeping the stencil flat on the cheek and not having the paint 'bleed' underneath. Do you use an adhesive?

I know this is an old thread, but I checked it out recently because I am doing an Earth Day gig this year. Here are some things I came up with.


I also thought of using the earth in this one as the "O" in the word "MOM"

I was kind of going for a heart made out of a leaf here. I'm not sure if it reads that way. I think I should ditch the stem.

Your pictures are great and you website is too. Happy painting, OtterGirl!

Thanks so much! It's been a crazy year for me. Launching the website has been a huge business booster. I was on the local news this morning! I hope it pays off with some gigs.

CATZ wrote:How do you 'apply' stencils you make yourself? I tried them for the first time tonight and had a hard time keeping the stencil flat on the cheek and not having the paint 'bleed' underneath. Do you use an adhesive?

Yes, someone help, I have the worst time with unsticky stencils too, like bam ones!

The trick to stencils is to make sure the base coat is dry and also that the paint you are stenciling with is on the dry side. I hold them very lightly against the face with my pinky and thumb or my ring finger and my thumb and just tap-tap-tap with the sponge. (I literally say in my head, "tap-tap-tap") The stiffer the material the stencil is cut from (i.e. a plastic cutting mat), the smaller the area you can use. For larger stencils, look for blank stencil templates at the craft store near the tole painting stuff. They are more flexible and work better for larger areas.

Michael's has some blank stencil material that is "almost exactly" like the stuff the BAM stencils are made from. I will look later and tell you the brand.

Tulip Stencil Blanks . I just bought one! *LOL*

Nice Earth day designs Melissa!

I was wrong. Not Michael's (although they may have them) but Hobby Lobby. Grafix Matte Stencil Film Medium Weight is pretty darn close to the BAM stencil film. 4 sheets 9X12" for $5.99 before coupon. The BAM are intricate and I wouldn't recommend trying to cut something like those but simple geometric patterns and designs are easy with a steady hand and a sharp craft knife. Am going to try to cut the mockingjay symbol as next project.

Does the package by chance say how thick they are Martha? In the forum shop Metina has the BAM's listed as 7.5 mil, but on the live FABATV class last night Andrea said they were 5 mil thick. if they're thin enough to cut with a cricut or a sillhouette that'd rock!

Sorry, it doesn't on the package but I did find it online. I'm using the thinner matte film. Looks lightly frosted. http://www.dickblick.com/products/grafix-stencil-film/