Bottle Cap Fish

Several weeks ago I sent home a "homework" sheet with my 3rd & 4th graders.  The sheet explained that we'd be creating some bottle cap fish...and I was looking for the best design. To my surprise...over half of the students returned the sheets within the next few days.  A bigger surprise was about 30 of them were AMAZING!  To narrow them down...I looked at how easy it would be to "translate" the drawings into the bottle cap version.  Then I looked for the most unique designs.  I came with these three.  I placed the drawing under my Ladybug...and traced them onto insulation foam using a sharpie.  I then did a quick coat of acrylic paint so the students knew what colors to use.  During class I called up a few tables at a time to work for a couple minutes putting caps onto the fish.  The used craft/tacky glue(knowing it would not go outside).  I love them!!  The one girl really wants to take "her" fish home when I'm done with it.  I told her I didn't know if I'd be "done" with it! ha ha  

Another Bottle Cap Project: FISH

This year's art show is REDUCE, REUSE, RE-IMAGINE! (a recycled materials art show)  I've been wanting to create bottle cap fish since we created our outdoor mural last year.  They will be interior, so need to worry about the elements.  We'll be using insulation foam sheets for the base....and tacky glue as our adhesive.  I had 3rd & 4th create design fish.  We'll be selecting four of their designs and project them on the foam.  We'll cap the front & back...because they'll be hanging in the atrium of our school...and will be seen from both sides.  I'm going to allow all my classes/grade levels to participate in adding the caps so it is a true school wide project.  Stay tuned!!!

A Post I had To Share: Bottle Cap Mural

I received such a sweet & encouraging e-mail today from Susan Sprunger, an art teacher from Missouri.  She was inspired by the bottle cap mural I had done with my students in the fall & by other bloggers that had been doing bottle cap projects.  She shared with me this amazing project her students had done!! I asked if she'd share a bit more about herself....and if I could post it.  ISN'T IT AMAZING!!!!!!!  Thank you so much for sharing Susan!!!  Encouraging & challenging to see such an amazing work of art!!!!

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"I teach K-5 in Missouri. Clark County R-1 has two elementary schools and this mural was done with my kids from Black Hawk Elementary. I showed your cap project and a few others to get their creative juices working. We had about 3 dozen entries in our contest for the design of the mural. The kids are pretty proud of their Indian teams and although the voting was close between 3 of the designs, this one won. One of my fourth grade boys designed it. The kids love it and they are already asking what colors we will need for the next one. We were drinking a lot of A & W cream soda for the indian. Thanks again, your tips really paved the way for a smooth successful project that has the whole school buzzing about it." - Susan Sprunger

Art Show Prep

Getting ready for an art show is never easy, but I seem to like to make it exspecially hard on myself!
I decided I'd have my 1st graders help set them mood for our food themed art show by painting & bottle capping these cardboard shapes I cut out.  I'm praying this goes according to plan...we shall see?!?! ha ha

Bottle Cap Mural 4 Months Later

One of my blog readers asked me how the bottle cap mural was "holding up"

out in the elements.  GREAT QUESTION!!!  

This was not constructed to be a "forever" piece in the beginning.  4 months into its exposure to the elements...I've had one repair session where I reattached about 30 caps that had come off(possibly picked off by neighborhood kids). A few of the caps came off because of my own stupidity.  There were stickers on some of the milk caps...and that is were the separation occurred.  I should have removed the stickers before letting the students attach them to the board.    There is fading happening to some of the lids. You may be able to see in this picture that the oranges are looking a little peachy.  For the most part though..the colors are staying true.  

One way that this could have been(possibly still can be) a forever piece is if I would have used resin on the board.  I may investigate this in the spring when the weather is warmer & I can use the resin outside! I'll let you know how it goes!! 

Bottle Cap Snowman Complete!

Finally...the bottle cap snowman is complete!!!!  This 5 ft tall papermache based bit of wonderfulness was created by using tacky glue to adhere the white/clear caps to the paper structure(that was done by students as they finished their work..or before/after school.  All colored caps I hot glued on...on top of the white/clear caps.  The stick arms were provided by mother nature:) ha ha  

Bottle Cap Mural: COMPLETE!!!!!!

I arrived at school before 7 this morning so I could "install" the mural before the Mayor came.  My amazing friend who cut & base coated the wood also drilled holes along the sides of each board.  I was able to wire the panels together once I leveled them out in the mulch.  The response to the project was AMAZING & IMMEDIATE !!  As I was wiring it together.... people slowed down & yelled out their car windows telling me how awesome it looked.  I had students & parents coming to take pictures before I was even finished! Our school secretary snap a picture with her iPhone and uploaded it to Facebook before she stepped foot in the school.   I hope that it can stand up to the weather & children(I have a fear of kids picking the lids off!).  I have plans for bottle cap murals inside the school too....but it is going to be awhile before I can replenish the supply!

Bottle Cap Mural : In Progress

This 1st panel is complete for the most part.  We are leaving the gray capless.  It is an exterior house paint(about three coats to protect the board)...and I like the look of it with the bright colorful caps. 

The 2nd board is well underway, but I've got an issue.  There are not a lot of purple caps out there!!!  I had a large bag full of purple from all the caps my students had been bringing in since the start of the school year & my dumpster diving at the recycling drop off near my school.  However, what I wasn't realizing was I was only getting a few purples here and there.  So now I am left with a large purple section that is uncovered.  I went dumpster diving last night...and only found 4.  So now I am thinking I'll use fun foam & cut circles from that to finish off the purple section.  Cheating...maybe...but I really want to have this complete by the time the mayor comes next week!!

The Capping Begins!!!

So after school yesterday I spent about an hour in Home Depot reading the back of every bottle in the caulking and adhesive section.  I know so many of you said to use screws, but I just didn't feel that was an option for me.  Limited budget, limited ability, and limited use to power tools!  Plus, I'm having students do this during classtime & pulling kids out from other classes to work on it.  Using a powerdrill in my room would not be a good thing!  My first thought was Liquid Nails.  They use that stuff all the times in the schools here in MNPS to stick things up!!  However, after reading the back...it said something about keeping out of temps below 40 degrees.  I want this outside through the winter....so that is just not an option.  I ended up going with DAP Dynaflex 230.  It is an indoor/outdoor sealant/adhesive/caulk.  It is waterproof & paintable(so I can touch up if the kids get a little too much on the caps).  I'll let ya know how it goes long term.  Right now though...it seems to be stickin' them one pretty good!!!  Oh...on a side note...be careful what Home Depot person you talk to about your crazy art projects!!!!  The dude last night looked at me as if I had three heads...threw up his hands and said "I have no idea what would work for your artsy thing".

I had two teacher kids(and also amazing artists) come in this morning and give it a try!  They enjoyed it & handled the adhesive well!  So exciting to see it start to come to life!!

Bottle Cap Mural T.G.E. Style

Bottle Caps still coming in!!!! (I think I'll keep on collecting them for the next project)

I sent home this worksheet with my 3rd & 4th graders on Friday.  I explained what I was looking for & that I wanted it returned Monday morning (wow...so glad I don't usually give homework...80 out of about 200 students returned it.)  On the worksheet there is a 2in. x 7in. rectangle for them to draw their design(corresponds with the 2ft. x 7ft. boards that we'll be using to attache the caps). 

Here are the results of the worksheet!  I went through and selected what I found to be the

 most interesting designs. 

My friend Michael O'Neil donated the boards, paint, and labor!  THANK YOU MICHAEL!!!!!!  If any of you are in the Nashville area...call M & M PAINTING!!!!!!!!!!!!

 I transferred the designs onto the 2ft x 7ft boards.

I painted in the designs using the colors that will correspond to the colors of caps we have. The students will start putting the caps on this week!! I'm so excited!!!

This is where the mural will be going when it is all finished.  I've never been a fan of our sign outside our school.  It is boring, and the little blue post holding it up just looks out of proportion(it is a little over 7ft tall...but way to skinny).