On your next trip to the shore, gather some seaweed to transform into an undersea still life at home.
Materials
- Small pieces of colorful seaweed
- Bucket
- Colander
- 100 percent cotton paper (available at art supply stores)
- Standard picture frame (ours is 5 by 7 inches)
- Newsprint drawing paper
- Waxed paper
- Heavy books
- Glue
Instructions
1. At the beach, collect small pieces of colorful seaweed in a bucket with enough salt water to cover them.
2. At home, gently rinse the pieces in a colander, then place them in a tub of fresh water.
3. Trim a sheet of 100 percent cotton paper to fit a standard picture frame. Arrange the damp seaweed on the paper.
4. When you've finished composing your picture, place the paper on a stack of at least 5 sheets of newsprint drawing paper. Cover the seaweed with a piece of waxed paper, a few more sheets of newsprint, and a stack of heavy books. Replace the newsprint every other day until the seaweed is completely dry (in about 2 to 3 weeks). It should adhere to the paper, but if a piece is loose after it dries, glue it down.
5. To preserve your artwork, frame it behind glass and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Crafts
