Umbrellas serve many purposes, crafts included.
Umbrella crafts fit perfectly into springtime curriculum in the classroom. Umbrella crafts also add a spring feeling at home. These crafts are a natural choice if the weather outside is rainy. Many work well either displayed on the wall or suspended from the ceiling.
Stained Glass Umbrella
This umbrella craft makes an ideal window decoration because it allows light to shine through the colorful sections of the umbrella. You'll need a basic umbrella shape cut out of construction paper or poster board. Cut out the middle section of the umbrella leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Place the umbrella frame onto a piece of clear contact paper and trim off the access. Have the kids place small pieces of colorful tissue paper onto the contact paper to cover the umbrella. Add another piece of contact paper to seal in the tissue paper.
Cupcake Liner Umbrellas
Kids use cupcake liners in this craft to create an umbrella scene. Folding the cupcake liners in half creates an umbrella shape. Glue the cupcake liners onto a piece of paper. Have the kids add handles and people under the umbrellas. Add some cotton ball clouds and raindrops to the picture to make a complete rainy day scene.
Paper Plate Umbrellas
Paper plates cut in half also work well to create the shape of umbrellas. Cut the bottom edge with a decorative design to add a custom look to the umbrella. Have the kids paint a design on the paper plate to personalize the umbrellas. Add a handle cut from poster board or cardboard. Add a 3-D look to the umbrella by decorating both halves of the paper plate. Cut a slit from the top to almost the bottom on one of the halves. Start at the bottom and cut almost to the top of the plate on the other. Slide the two halves together using the slits.
Rain Painting
This umbrella craft uses actual rain to create the design. Cut an umbrella shape from a piece of poster board. Sprinkle the cutout with powdered tempera paint and take it outside on a rainy day. The rain wets the powdered tempera paint and makes colorful designs on the paper. Another option is to lay tissue paper (the craft kind that runs) on the umbrella and spray it with a water bottle. The tissue paper will fall off when it dries but leave behind colorful designs.
Tags: tissue paper, contact paper, cupcake liners, Have kids, poster board, umbrella shape, colorful designs