A Gorgeous Book & Tape Resist Art!
After reading Tim Hopgood’s “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” we decided to create some tape resist art! We used just a few materials to create this beautiful tape resist musical note tree. I’m excited to walk you through how we made this incredible art, so let’s get started…
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Summary of “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”
“Walking in a Winter Wonderland” sung by Peggy Lee and illustrated by Tim Hopgood is a stunning book that pairs gorgeous illustrations to the classic song. Featuring diverse characters, beautiful woodland animals and so much charm it will be hard to put this book back on the shelf.
Tim Hopgood also created a book called “Singing in the Rain” inspired by that classic song. We featured it on instagram complete with little people holding tiny drink umbrellas and rainbow goop rain! You can check it out here.
How We Made Tape Resist Art…
We tend to keep the activities as simple as possible around here. We’re not interested in complicated or costly. We are also all about fostering independence. For this activity we used cardstock paper, watercolor paint, painters tape and a white oil pastel (a crayon would work too).
First we ripped an arms length piece of painters tape for each of us. Then we cut and tore it into thinner strips so it can look like branches of the tree. This takes a little bit of time and remember it doesn’t have to be neat because branches of a tree are jagged and pointy not perfect lines.
We took the first thin strip to make the trunk of the tree which was very thin in the illustrations of the story. From there we added thin strips of all different lengths to be the branches until we were content with the look of it.
Next we took a white oil pastel and drew music notes in the branches of the tree just like it is depicted in the book. Remember the tape is going to be peeled off so try and make the music notes in the white part of the picture.
For the next step, we used watercolor to paint most of the background. If you want a snowy ground I suggest leaving the bottom of the paper white. My daughter and I both chose blue but of course you can choose any color(s) you’d like. Then we allowed time to dry. Watercolor tends to dry quickly.
Lastly, we peeled the tape off to expose our beautiful Winter Wonderland Tape Resist Trees!
Wait?!? Am I Supposed To Be Making One Too?
I highly recommend getting hands on and doing art projects with your child. If you’d rather not, thats okay too, but please do not correct anything they do. If you want the art to look a certain way – make your own.
Especially if your child is little, its okay if it doesn’t turn out the way you imagined. Maybe its what they imagined. Also, its a process. They are learning. They will learn more through trial and error than if you correct them or do it for them. All they will learn if you “help” is that they didn’t do a good enough job on their own or they can’t do it; not exactly the message you want to give your kid. Am I right?!?
Believe me, I know it can be really challenging to let them make “mistakes”. Try doing the project along side them. It will allow you to focus on your own work, give them appropriate modeling of how to use the materials, and show them that you like art too! A lot of what I talk about in “What about the Sensory Mess?” applies to Art projects as well, you might wanna check it out! I love how each art has its own identity. I would suggest Tape Resist Art if you’re looking for a beautiful and creative art activity to connect with your child.
If you’re looking for more winter themed bookish play, you might wanna check out our Bunny Slopes, Penguins Don’t Wear Sweaters, or Snowmen at Christmas posts!
Materials We Used
- “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” book (from the library or buy it here)
- Cardstock paper
- Painters tape
- Scissors
- White crayon or oil pastel
- Watercolor paint
- A tray (optional)
Click HERE for Free Printable copy (Email Subscribers Only)
How to Make Tape Resist Art?
- Lay the white cardstock paper on the tray.
- Tear or cut the painters tape into thin strips (they do not have to be neat cuts as they are representing branches of a tree)
- Place the tape onto the cardstock paper forming a tree.
*TIP: You can open the book and use it as a model of what the tree looks like. Also remember every tree is different (after all who doesn’t love the Charlie Brown tree 😉 ) - Take your white crayon or oil pastel and draw music notes on the cardstock paper.
*TIP: Its okay if the music notes overlap the tape but keep in mind the tape will be coming off so try not to draw the notes only on the tape as you won’t see it once you peel it off. - Use watercolor paint to fill in the white cardstock paper remaining.
*TIP: we left some white on the bottom to look like snow on the ground. - Allow time to dry.
- Once dry peel the painters tape off.
- Done!
Click HERE for Free Printable copy (Email Subscribers Only)
Wait, There’s More…
I believe you can easily strengthen communication skills and foster independence all while playing and connecting with your child. To help you do this; I’ve created a FREE printable for each activity called, “Communicating & Connecting”.
It will give you a list of suggestions I’ve found very helpful as a Mom & as a special education teacher; to help you build lifelong skills. Please don’t feel obligated to do everything on the list (but if you do, you’re a rockstar 😉 ).
As a Thank You for subscribing; this is a special FREEBIE for our Email Subscribers Only. 🙂 Click here if you’ve already subscribed. Otherwise, Sign Up below to get the password & access to our entire FREE Printables Library today! 😉
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