Learning about JAPAN: origami photo frame tutorial

We talked a little bit about origami, we tried to make something, but it proved to be a little bit too difficult for D. just yet, so we decided to come back to it later. However we made a pretty photo frame using origami paper. I saw an idea for it  at The Crafty Classroom.

Materials:

• wide wooden photo frame (I found it cheap at Michaels) 
• mod podge and brushes
• four rectangles of origami paper
• rick rack for additional decoration (optional)
• glue gun (optional)

1. Spread mod podge all over the photo frame.

 

 2. Put origami paper rectangles on the photo frame and allign. Tuck extra paper to the back of the frame and secure with scotch tape.

3. Apply another layer of mod podge all over the paper.

4. Let dry and decorate with rick rack if desired (we hot glued them on to hide some imperfections :) D. also added a little butterfly) Insert your favorite masterpiece (in our case Ponyo) and voila:)

Learning about JAPAN- printmaking tutorial

Today we talked a little bit about woodblock printing and tried to make some prints at home. The idea for this craft came from the book Hands-on Asia.
1. We took a thick foam sheet and cut it in four. On each part we drew a design (something very simple).

2. Trace the design with a chopstick pressing hard, but not puncturing the sheet. It can be challenging for little hands I must say, but after a while D. got a hang of it.

 

3. Pick colors and spread generous amount of paint over design. (We used Clementine paints which are not too bright when they dry up, they also have earthy tones perfect for our nature inspired designs).

4. Put a sheet of paper over the design and rub all over.

5. Peel the paper off and voila.

In the end of the day we read  Look What Came from Japan by Miles Harvey.

It was an ok book, some information is outdated (VHS and walkman, tamagochi as well), but it reminded us about japanese things we read about before- sushi, pottery, arts etc.