Collage-o-Rama

Have on Hand:
Old magazines and catalogs
Old sheets of cardboard; disassembled cardboard boxes
Scissors
Gluestick

Boredom Buster Description:  Collaging is the one-size-fits-all boredom buster!

It's so easy -- just cut and paste -- and can be random and playful for little ones with rounded scissors (animals, odd words, or just scraps of this and that); or thematic for older kids (food, pop stars, great shoes, places to visit); or even symbolic for adults (New Year's Day vision boards).

This year we made custom collages for our families and wrote our Christmas thank you notes on the back!

Simply gather up all your old magazines and catalogs -- or ask friends if they're willing to rescue theirs from the recycling bin -- and go through them with an eagle eye. Cut out striking or meaningful words -- or even single letters for a ransom-note-type collage! -- and lots of images. Arrange on a sheet of cardboard and then glue down. Arrange by size, color, theme -- you name it. There are no rules! Have fun

Boredom Buster Bio:      Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of the highly-acclaimed, Caldecott-honored picture book All the World, illustrated by Marla Frazee, as well as Noodle & Lou, illustrated by Arthur Howard, and A Sock is a Pocket for Your Toes, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. Her next book, Think Big, illustrated by Vanessa Newton is due out in June and is all about making art - collage included!  Liz is assistant professor of creative writing at Austin Community College and, most importantly, the mom of two wickedly creative kids. To learn more, visit her web site at www.LizGartonScanlon.com. 

Thank you, Liz, for this great idea!