Materials
Plastic milk jug, quart (1L) or half-gallon (2L) size
Strong scissors
Lightweight cardboard
White squeeze glue
Yarn or heavy string
Heavy duty aluminum foil
Black tempera paint and brushes
Fine steel wool or kitchen scrubber pad
Clear hobby spray or brush-on coating, optional
Dried or silk flowers and greens
Instructions
1. Ahead of time, cut away the top one-third of the milk jug. Cut flowers and other interestingshapes from the cardboard.
2. Have the children glue the cardboard shapes onto the jug, then glue the yarn or string aroundthe cardboard shapes, creating a design or pattern. Allow the glue to dry.
3. Wrap the jug completely in foil, covering the cut-outs and yarn. Ask the children to press the foilto the jug. Their back and forth motion will smooth wrinkles and reveal the shapes and designbeneath the foil.
4. Once the foil is smooth, have the children paint the jug, covering the foil completely. Allow todry.
5. When the paint is completelydry, tell the childrento lightly brushthe raised areas of thejug with the steel woolor scrubbing pad for anantique effect. Do notbrush the jug's flat surfacearea.
6. Apply a protective coating,if desired.
7. Invite the children toadd an arrangement ofdried or silk flowers tothe vase. Do not usewater, as the paint willrub off the vase.More to doField trip: Go for a walkand collect flowers or drygrasses to put in theFlorentine box or vase.More art: Create aFlorentine box with acigar or shoebox. Learnabout Lorenzo Ghiberti, who used a similar technique in the 15th Century to create the sculptedbronze doors of the Baptistry in Florence, Italy. Dry some flowers and greens to use in the vases.
