This beautiful wall decoration is based on traditional Indian Torans, which are flat decorative wall hangings, usually created with embroidered animals, flowers and tiny mirrors. Your child will create their very own Toran wall hanging using construction paper, yarn and paint.
What You Need:
- Bright colored construction paper
- Construction paper for the base (not black), 18” x 9”
- Construction paper for the top and bottom, 2” x 9” each.
- 5/8” circles cut from metallic foil paper or an aluminum foil baking pan
- Colorful yarn
- White glue
- Scissors
- White drawing paper
- Pencil
- Drinking Straw
What You Do:
- Have your child draw and cut out flower and animal shapes from brightly colored construction paper. Traditional Torans repeat shapes and patterns, so if they like, they can trace the animal or flower shape several times and cut them out.
- She can now arrange the shapes she has cut out onto the construction paper base. Have her move them around a few times until she is happy with the design. Make sure to allow at least one inch of room at the top and bottom of the Toran.
- Place the small metallic circles into the design. They can be used as animal eyes or as part of the background design.
- Carefully glue down all of the objects onto the Toran. Allow the glue to dry completely.
- Fold both strips 2” strips of construction paper in half, lengthwise.
- Fit the bottom of the Toran into one strip and glue it down.
- For the top strip of the Toran; glue only the edges of the paper strip to the Toran, forming a tube with the paper.
- Slide a piece of yarn through the straw. This is to help hang the Toran on the wall; make sure you use enough string.
- Slide the straw and yarn through the paper tube at the top of the Toran and even the yarn out at the top. Tie the yarn into a knot. You are now ready to display your Toran by hanging it on a wall.
Helpful Hint:
For older kids, outline the animals and flower patterns with colorful string. Glue around one animal at a time and gently lay the yarn down into the glue. When the yarn is correctly placed, press it firmly in position.
By Ellen Dean
Ellen Dean has worked as an art educator in Thailand since 2005, working with both children and adults. She has also been a professional artist working in painting, sculpture and photography since 1996.
Add your own comment