This art lesson plan is great for Mother’s Day. Students will use glue, colored tissue paper, and glass bottles to create stained glass vases as a Mother’s Day gift. The materials required are minimal and can obtained easily through donations if necessary. Elementary school students will enjoy creating these faux stained glass vases.
The materials required for this project are easy to obtain. Each student will need a small craft brush for glue, white glue and water mixed 50/50, Mod Podge or other sealant, black permanent marker like a Sharpie, colored tissue paper torn into 1 to 2 inch pieces, and a small glass or plastic bottle. 16 ounce bottles work well for this. If you can obtain glass Coca-cola bottles the results are extremely nice. Glass bottles work better. If plastic bottles are used, reduce the amount of water used in the glue mixture. Newspapers or other material like drop cloths should be used to protect tables. Smocks will protect clothing from the tissue paper dye. It will run when it gets wet and there is a potential for stains.
Younger children may require that you tear the tissue paper for them in this art project. Plastic bottles are preferable for younger children to avoid breakage if the bottle is dropped. Give each student a supply of the materials listed above. Students should start at the bottom of the bottle. First place a small amount of the glue mixture onto a portion the bottom edge of the bottle. Then place a piece of tissue paper onto the glue. Using the brush smooth the paper onto the bottle securing all edges. Slightly wrap the tissue paper onto the bottom of the bottle. Next place a second piece of colored tissue paper onto the bottle, overlapping the edges of first piece. Continue until the bottle is covered.
Instruct students to select colors that will go together well. As they overlap the edges of the tissue paper, other colors will appear thus giving the bottle a stained glass look. This art lesson plan is a good way to introduce students to the color wheel, and to creating textures. Layering the tissue paper will create different colors as well as give the bottle texture. Tearing the colored tissue paper instead of cutting creates even more opportunities to explore texture.
After the bottles have been covered in tissue paper, allow them to dry completely. Be sure loose ends at the top are tucked into the bottle and secured down with glue. Allow the bottom of the bottle to dry somewhat before placing it down on newspapers.
After bottles have dried completely, use a black permanent marker to outline shapes on the bottle. This will simulate the lead in a stained glass piece. It is important to use a permanent marker because the final step will cause regular markers to run. Students can write Happy Mother’s Day on the vase if they desire. Allow a few minutes for the marker to dry in order to prevent smearing.
Finally, use Mod Podge to seal the art project and give the stained glass vase a sheen. Mod Podge comes in shiny and matte finishes. The shiny finish works extremely well with this Mother’s Day art lesson.
This is a good project for elementary school children, especially younger ones. OIder children may enjoy Creating A Mother’s Day Photo Journal. With either lesson plan, your students will have fun creating a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day.