Camp RIO 2023: Crafts

Creating a Pinata

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Supplies needed:

• cardboard 

• ruler

• masking tape or packing tape

• tissue paper 

• white school glue or glue stick

• scissors

Step 1: Make your shapes.

• Trace or print your design identically onto two pieces of cardboard, one for the back and one for the front. 
• Next work on the sides. Using the same material, cut your side strip at an even width depending on the desired depth of your piñata. Feel free to break it down into multiple pieces, it may be more manageable and easier to assemble. 

Step 2: Assemble the inner frame.

• After all the shapes are cut, begin to tape them together using masking or packing tape. Avoid Scotch tape as it does not work well with white glue. Avoid making tape bumps by cutting the tape as necessary. 

• Remember this inner frame does not have to be perfect or look beautiful, it’s going to get completely covered with poofs of colorful fringe. If the sides are too long, simply trim them. If they are too short, patch the gap with an extra piece of tape or cardboard.

Step 3: Fringe it up!

• Use your scissors to cut 1 1/8” inch wide strips of tissue paper. Cut narrow, straight slits along the bottom of the strip leaving about 1/4” uncut at the top. 
• Apply a strip of glue at the bottom of the piñata and begin to add the fringed tissue paper in linear rows making sure each row slightly overlaps the previous one. Start at the bottom and work up towards the top. You will need to trim your fringe pieces to achieve your desired design.
• Once complete, fluff up the fringe for more volume and texture. Voila!

Alternative Step 3: Crumble it up!

• Cut long strips of tissue paper about 2 1/2" or 3" wide. Cut squares and rectangles that are 2-3" long. 
• Crumple all of them without fully crushing them.
• Apply a thick layer of glue to a small area of your base structure and use a paint brush to spread it around as needed, still keeping it pretty thick. 
• Then one at a time press your crumpled tissue paper pieces into the glue and press gently and firmly. Adjust as needed.
• Continue this process until your whole piñata is covered.

Step 4: Behold your beautiful creation!

Full directions and photos: https://wrappily.com/blogs/news/diy-decorative-mini-party-pinatas
 

Weaving a Microfilm Basket

Supplies needed: 

• old microfilm
• scissors
• ruler
• paper clips.

Instructions:

1. Prepare the film strips. Depending on how large you want the basket to be, attach film strips so they’ll become longer.
2. Weave the strips together so they create a large cross shape.
3. Measure the width of one side. Add about 2″ to that measurement then multiply by 4. This is the needed length to create the sides of your basket.
4. Begin weaving!
5. Use the paperclips to hold everything together while you’re starting to weave.
6. When you’re finished and there’s still leftover film, just tuck them inside the basket.

Full directions and photos: www.lomography.com/magazine/244349-weaving-a-diy-film-basket

Creating Blackout Poetry 

Supplies needed: 

• Sharpie pen, could also use other colored pens, pencils  
• Withdrawn or non-library books, magazines, newspapers

Blackout poetry is when you take a written piece of text from a book, newspaper, or magazine and redact words, in order to come up with your very own poetry!

1. Find a newspaper article or old book or a magazine that you feel comfortable destroying....er, altering.
2. Skim the passage and keep your eye out for that eye-catching word that will guide the theme of your poem.
3. Read the poem in its entirety. Go back and circle words or short phrases that might relate to your eye-catching word or phrase.
4. Make your final decisions and black out the rest of the poem! Your poem can be made up of single words or phrases. They can be single words or they can be read like a story. It's totally up to you!

Full directions and photos: https://arapahoelibraries.org/blogs/post/how-to-blackout-poetry/