The Crafty Classroom logo

You are here: Home / Archives for Japanese Crafts

Japanese Crafts

Salt Painting for Summer Art Projects

By Leave a Comment

KoiArtProject10

Recently I was introduced to a new form of textured painting called salt painting.  Basically, you take glue cover it with salt, then drop watercolors on top to absorb the color.  Well, can I just say, “Wowza!”  This is such a fun technique and it creates beautiful art work that children can really be proud of.

A quick pinterest search for Salt Painting is sure to inspire you to try this out, but today I wanted to share our own Salt Painting Project: Koi Fish Watercolor

I created a Step-by-Step photo tutorial you can follow to make this project with your own children.

Of course they will want to make their own creations as well, so after you show them this technique, give them the supplies and let them spend their Summer day creating!

Tip: Use Foam Core Board or Poster Board for this project.  The weight of the glue and salt overwhelms carstock, and you’ll need something a little sturdier.  (Construction paper glued to cardboard would work well too.)

Here is an example of another project my daughter made with this technique:

SaltPainting

 

SaltPaintingTutorialIsn’t that beautiful!  This would be a fun way for a Tween or Teen to add some custom art to their bedroom!

Check out the full tutorial here: Salt Painting fo Kids

Find more Japanese Art Projects for Kids Here

Find more Ocean Art Projects for Kids Here

 

Koi Watercolor Art Project for Kids

KoiArtProjectPinKoi fish are beautiful carp that hold special symoblism in Japanes culture.  Koi ponds are placed in beatiful, tranquil settings and japanese gardens.  Encourage children to learn more facts about Koi before you create this stunning project.

Materials:

Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:

japanesecelebrations tokyo      japan     japancrafts

Art Project Tutorial:

Step 1

Choose an inspiration photo for your project. Using a pencil lightly sketch a drawing on your poster board.

Step 2

Using glue and a paintbrush fill in the shapes you just drew.

Step 3

Cover the glue with table salt. Let dry for a minute then turn your board over so the extra salt falls off. If you wait to long to do this the glue will flatten out under the weight of the salt and your shape will be distorted a bit.

Step 4

Using a water dropper, fill your water color paints with water. Mix well then used the dropper to slurp up some colors.

Step 5

Drop the watercolor over the salt and watch it spread out and blend.

Step 6

Use your photo reference as a guide, but don't feel you need to stick with it exactly

Step 7

Finish dropping colors on your board until you're happy with how your project looks! Let dry and give this project to a friend!

Kimono Art Project for Kids

KimonoPin

When learning about Japan, teaching children the art of paper folding is a must!  Origami can be really easy to start learning and eventually children will be able to master some of the more intricate folding techniques.  This kimono art project is great for children of all ages, but if you have younger children you might prefold the kimonos for them.  Results are always stunning with this project

 

Materials:

Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:

JapanWoodblock   Japan3   japan    JapaneseChildren

Art Project Tutorial:

Step 1

Fold your Kimono out of white paper. We used instructions for an origami kimono found here:

View Resource

Step 2

Cut small squares from bleeding tissue paper. Get a paintbrush and small dish of water

View Resource

Step 3

Wet your kimono and stick bits and pieces of the bleeding tissue paper on top of the water. Be thoughtful about what colors might bleed into other colorsl.

Step 4

Fill up your entire kimono with tissue paper then set aside to dry.

Step 5

When dry, peel off the tissue paper to reveal the colors underneath.

Step 6

You can stop here if you like, the kimono is stunning!

Step 7

Or add in a paper belt, just cut a thin rectangle and paint black.

Step 8

Research some Japanese art work or letters and add some details with watercolor crayons or pencils.

Japan Fan Craft

FanCraftPinAnother fun way to make Japanese Paper Fans! You can use our premade fans to color or paint abeautiful picture….or use our printable fan
template and let children design their own! This is a fantastic group activity as each project turns out wonderfully unique.

Materials:

  • Scrapbook Paper
  • Glue
  • Stapler
  • Beads
  •  String or Raffia

Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:

japanfancraft   JapanFan   japanesecelebrations       japan

Art Project Tutorial:

Step 1

Turn your paper over to the back, and fold up the edge about an inch. Crease well.

Step 2

Turn your paper over to the front, and fold folded in Step 1.

Step 3

Turn your paper over to the back again, and fold the edge up again. You're making a an accordion like fold.

Step 4

Repeat the above steps of folding until you have reached the end of your paper. If it doesn't line up, just trim it off.

Step 5

Pinch one end of the paper, and fold it upwards. You can staple it from here, or use Raffia or String to bind it.

Step 6

Wrap your Raffia around the bottom end of upwards so that you wrap over it as you go.

Step 7

Wrap all the way up to the top of the fold, and tuck the extra Raffia under your wrap with a pencil.

All Done

You now have a beautiful Japanese Fan you can add to your resources.

Option 2: Step 1

Fold the paper like an accordian as you did above.

Step 2

Fold the paper upwards in the middle.

Step 3

Optional: If you like you can add a layer of glue between the paper to keep it together.

Step 4

Pinch the bottom of the fan to make the handle. Use the Raffia, and start at the top. Leave a good 5 inches for the beads. (see photo)

Step 5

Wrap the Raffia around to the bottom, and tuck the extra in with a pencil.

Step 6

Add your beads to the 5 inches you left out at the top of the handle. Secure by tying a knot with the last bead.

Step 7

Now you've got a beautiful paper fan with decorative beads!

Japan Lantern Craft for Kids

LanternPinAnother fun way to make Japanese Paper Fans! You can use our premade fans to color or paint abeautiful picture….or use our printable fan
template and let children design their own! This is a fantastic group activity as each project turns out wonderfully unique.

Materials:

Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:

origami      OrigamiBook   japanesecelebrations       japan

Art Project Tutorial:

Step 1

Fold a single sheet of origami paper in half as shown

Step 2

Cut strips on the fold almost to the end of the paper. Leave about half an inch.

Step 3

Open your paper and roll it up in the opposite direction as your fold, pinching the paper together at the sides.

Step 4

Staple your paper near the top. Punch a hole for your string. Punch an additional hole exactly opposite of your first hole.

Step 5

Use a bit of raffia or twine and thread it through your lantern

Step 6

String up a bunch of lanterns on the same string for a beautiful decoration.

Japan Paper Fan Craft

FanCraftPin2Another fun way to make Japanese Paper Fans! You can use our premade fans to color or paint abeautiful picture….or use our printable fan
template and let children design their own! This is a fantastic group activity as each project turns out wonderfully unique.

Materials:

Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:

japanfancraft   JapanFan   japanesecelebrations       japan

Art Project Tutorial:

Print Fan Template

We have three printable fan templates for children to decide from, or you can give them a blank template and they can design their own.

View Resource

Step 1

Color in your picture. We used Colored Pencils because this fan is very detailed.

Step 2

Use the watercolors to paint in the background.

Step 3

ou don't have to fill in the entire makes a pretty effect too!

Step 4

Turn your fan over and glue a popsicle stick to the back as shown.

Step 5

For extra strength, you can add two more sticks to make a "Y" shape. Using hot glue is a quick way to get these finished, but should only be used by teacher or older students.

All Done!

Once the glue is dry your fan is ready to be used. These make fun classroom decorations and generally children want to color MORE than one so be sure to have multiple copies on hand to send home with them.

Japanese Carp Kite Craft

Our Japanese Carp Kites (or more accurately windsocks) make some really beautiful projects for children to make when learning about Japanese culture.  This would be a wonderful end of the unit project for your students or co-op groups.  Older children might prefer to make these out of fabric see our fabric painting tutorial here.

Japan Books for Kids:

japanesecelebrations
tokyo
japan
japancrafts

How to Make a Japanese Carp Windsock:

Materials:

  • Construction Paper (we used 12 x 18)
  • Tissue Paper (Dollar Tree)
  • Crepe Streamers (Dollar Tree)
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Hole Puncher

Step 1:

Lay your construction paper horizontally. Cut your tissue paper into the shape of “scales” as shown in the photo. Cut a variety of colors so students will have colorful fish. Dip your paintbrush into the glue and create a line along the bottom.

Step 2:

Carefully place your first row of fish scales along the glue line. Choose a variety of colors or even a pattern of colors. If you have younger students you can draw a glue line in pencil every 2 inches or so. That way they can create straigh lines of glue for their scales.

Step 3:

Glue your scales all the way across the construction paper. Take care to keep your line of scales as straight as possible. The top parts of the scales will be covered by the next row, so if you need to adjust your scale, you have a bit of wiggle room at the top side.

Step 4:

Repeat the first three steps to make 5 or 6 rows of scales. Each row will overlap the previous row as shown in the photos. Stop adding scales once you have about half of the construction paper covered.

Step 5:

Cut a strip of black construction paper about 2 inches wide and glue it across the top layer of scales. This will hide the ends and serve as the line separating the face and body of the carp.

Step 6:

Cut two almond shaped eyes from the black construction paper and glue them as eyes as shown in the photo.

Step 7:

Flip your project upside down. Cut strips of colorful crepe paper and glue them along the bottom side of the construction paper. Choose a variety of colors.

Step 8:

Roll your paper to connect the edges. Use a stapler to connect the ends near the top, bottom, and if possible the center. If you cannot reach the center with your stapler, use a small bit of glue to help seal the connection.

Step 9:

Then use a hole puncher to place to small holes on either side of the top of the kite. Connect a small piece of yarn through the holes to hand your carp windsock.

Japan Woodblock Printing Art Project

WoodblockPrintingPictures are etched into wood, ink is rolled over the image then the wood block is pressed onto the canvas. With young hands children might find it difficult to etch into the wood. You can try using balsa wood (craft store) or scroll down for our Styrofoam technique. Try layering multiple colors with older children. Results are always stunning with this project

 

 

 

Materials:

  • Styrafoam Meat Tray (ask butcher for clean ones)
  • Paint
  • Paint Roller or Brush
  • Pen
  • Scissors

Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:

JapanWoodblock   Japan3   japan     japancrafts

Art Project Tutorial:

Step 1

Ask your local butcher for a clean Styrofoam tray

Step 2

Cut off the sides of your tray and discard. Cut the remaining rectangle into a variety of pieces

Step 3

Use the tip of a pen to etch in your design

Step 4

Try to fill up your entire shape. Use different lines and even poke a few holes if you have the space.

Step 5

When your design is finished, you want to paint over it with your color of acrylic paint, and a soft foam brush. A roller brush would work well too!

Step 6

Be sure not to push the paint into the crevices you've just made. You want those lines to show up white when you stamp it.

Step 7

After you've covered the entire block with ink, turn your stamp over and press firmly to your paper. Gently smooth over the entire shape.

Step 8

Very carefully pick the stamp off of the paper. You'll see your print underneath!

Step 9

You'll have to do a few trial and error prints until you find the right amount of paint to put on your stamp. The image on the left had less paint, and shows up a bit more grainy. Decide which you like better and paint accordingly!

All Done!

You can reuse your stamp over and over to make a collection of cards and art prints for your friends and family

Sumi-e Painting for Kids

SumiePinSumi-e is a form of Japanese painting involving a bamboo brush, ink, and rice paper. Even young children can learn the different techniques and brush strokes of this ancient, and still modern art form.

Materials:

  • Sumi-e Ink
  • Paintbrush
  • Rice Paper
  • Practice Material:
    Watercolor Paint
    Construction Paper

Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:

sumie Sumi-e is the timeless art of Japanese brush painting. Sumi-e works are typically made up of just a few brushstrokes, but the graceful birds, fish, and plant life they depict seem to move on the page. This portable kit contains all the materials youll need to get started, plus an instructional booklet covering the history of sumi-e and step-by-step techniques to master the four basic strokes necessary to complete any painting  Click Here

Art Project Tutorial:

Purchasing Supplies

This portable kit contains all the materials youll need to get started, plus an instructional booklet covering the history of sumi-e and step-by-step techniques to master the four basic strokes necessary to complete any painting.With young children you'll find you run out of paper quickly. I have them practice strokes on chalkboard with just water, or a paper towel, then when they are ready to do their final work we move to the rice paper.

View Resource

Step 1

Wet your brush and spin the tip to form a point.

Step 2

Prepare your paper. We picked up a roll of You can cut your paper with scissors or draw water lines to separate it. After you draw your water line, you can tear your paper quite easily.

Step 3

Mix your ink! Our kit came with some black and red ink sticks. (You can pick up additional colors here). show the children how to grind it in the water to create the color.

View Resource

Step 4

Dip your brush into the ink. You just want a little bit of ink here....not a lot. The rice paper is very thin and a lot of ink will make it smudgy looking. Provide a towel for children to dab off the extra.

Ready to Paint!

Now you're ready to paint! Use quick strokes and practice leaving a "pointy" tail at

Japan Crafts for Kids

On this page you’ll find lots of free crafts and activity ideas for learning about Japan! We really enjoyed learning about Japan, so much so that we even made a Japanese Lapbook to store many of the facts and information we learned. Our crafts and activities are a great way to enhance your unit study or thematic lesson.  Children can make a japanese windsock, woodblock prints, fans, sumi-e paintings, origami, paper lanterns and more.

 

Suggested Resources for a Unit Study:

japancrafts   japan   tokyo    japanesecelebrations

Japanese Koi Fish Salt Painting

A fun textured way to create a stunning overhead view of Koi fish in a pond below. Children love to learn this art technique and will apply it to many other projects after instruction.

View Resource

Japanese Woodblock Printing

There are so many wonderful forms of art from Japan, and this is one that children will absolutely love! Woodblocking is definitely a Family craft as Mom and Dad can makes some stunning creations as well. Children design their own print then experiment with varying amounts of ink.

View Resource

Japanese Kimono Art

This is a stunning kimono art project for children. Using bleeding tissue paper children can create watercolor like designs so that each kimono turns out unique and beautiful.

View Resource

Japanese Carp Kite

Technically a windsock and not a kite, these look amazing hanging up in your classroom and children can also fly them around outside! This was one of our favorite projects during our unit study on Japan.

View Resource

Sumi-e Starter Kit

Sumi-e is the timeless art of Japanese brush painting. Sumi-e works are typically made up of just a few brushstrokes, but the graceful birds, fish, and plant life they depict seem to move on the page. This portable kit contains all the materials youll need to get started, plus an instructional booklet covering the history of sumi-e and step-by-step techniques to master the four basic strokes necessary to complete any painting

View Resource

Sumi-e Japanese Painting

Sumi-e is a form of Japanese painting involving a bamboo brush, ink, and rice paper. Even young children can learn the different techniques and brush strokes of this ancient art technique. These paintings are worthy of your family gallery or make an origami frame with the instructions below.

View Resource

Japanese Fan Craft

Print up some fun Japanese themed fans for your children to decorate. Then add in a Popsicle Stick to make them into Japanese Fans! These make wonderful activities for workshops and co-op classes. They are simple with their ready to color designs, or use our blank template and let children design their own.

View Resource

Japan Coloring Pages

This is a small collection of coloring pages your children can complete. These would look beautiful with colored pencils or even pencil pastels.

View Resource

Japanese Paper Lanterns

The beautiful paper lanterns that adorn the streets of Japan during festivals and holidays are like non other! These paper lanterns are made with a little decorative origami paper and some simple cutting techniques! These look fantastic hung through out your class room during your unit study.

View Resource

Origami Photo Frame

The beautiful patterns of Origami paper can be used for more then just paper folding! Try out this decoupage photo frame to display your favorite piece of Japanese artwork. Use Modge Podge to adhere different colors of Origami paper to a craft frame.

View Resource

Japanese Fan Craft

You can make these authentic looking Japanese fans with some scrapbook paper, some raffia and a few beads! This is a great beginner activity and when you use your Fans with just a little bit of leftover scrapbooking Fans with just a little bit of leftover scrapbooking paper, some raffia and a few beads! This is a great beginner activity and the fans actually work!

View Resource

Japanese Sandal Craft

This craft is perfect for learning about Japanese customs. We used a bit of origami to decorate the bottoms too! Fill them up with some Japanese candy such as Hi-Chew, or Rice Candy!

View Resource

Origami for Kids

You can print up this free "Origami by Me" pocket for children to store all of their origami creations. There are so many cute tutorials online or you can purchase a simple origami book for kids.

View Resource

Free Japan Lapbook

We have an amazing free Japan lapbook on our sister site LapbookLessons.com

View Resource

Origami2

Origami Craft Kit for Kids

• 3 great starter books
• 55 fun-to-do projects
• Over 1,000 easy-to-follow illustrations
• 96 sheets of authentic origami paper in
traditional vibrant hues, rainbow patterns,
and metallic colored foils Click Here

 

 

 

Japanese Fan Crafts

By Leave a Comment

Just in time for the Summer heat!

(Seriously, my kids are on either side of me fanning away……Loving it!)

Anyway e made two different kinds of fans, and my kids love them both.

Japanese Fan Craft


Japanese Crafts for Kids

For the second fan I made up a few printable templates for anyone else wanting to make some cute paper fans


Japan Crafts for Kids

I had tons of fun decorating one too!


Click here for Photo Tutorials.

Framing it all……

By 2 Comments

Just in case
your children make something fantastic while learning about Japan

Which is likely to happen,
with all the amazing art techniques they’ll get to explore)

Show them how to make this fun Origami frame to present their art:

Japan Crafts for Kids, Children's Crafts

This frame has an adorable little Fishy I dug out of my new scrapbook set…

See, I told you I would use it.


Anyway,

Chances are you’ll find just the right Woodprint, Haiku, Caligriphy, Sumi-e, or photograph to put inside!

Wrap it up, and send it to Grandma.

Japanese Crafts for Children

These are so much fun you’ll want to make one for yourself….

….and you can because they’re Super Duper Cheap.

Pitter Patter….

By 1 Comment

…..Pitter Patter….

Hey What’s that sound?


…..Pitter Patter…….

There it is again?

….Pitter Patter……Pitter Patter…..

I know it’s not my children
(they sound like “stomp…stomp…crash…bang”)

And it can’t be the baby
(his range is a bit confined and can only kick my ribs)


….Pitter Patter….Pitter Patter…..Pitter Patter…..

Oh

Now I see what it is…..

It’s the adorable Japanese Sandals we made today…

Japanese Crafts for Kids, Educational Crafts

Sheesh

And I was thinking there were little mice running through the house or something….

I was about to get the gun.

Japanese Woodblock Printing

By 6 Comments

In Japan I think it’s called “Moku Hanga”

And it’s essentially the same as what we know as “woodcut” printing.

A design is etched into wood, rolled with ink and then printed on the paper.

I’ve been wanting to make these for a while now…..

But I’ve been afraid!

Not of the mess, but I’ve been shaking in my flip-flops over:

The Foam Meat Tray.

Japanese Woodblock Printing Craft

YUCK.

It’s bad enough that I have to touch that creepy thing just to get my Rib-Eye out.

But now (for the sake of ART) I actually have to handle this thing.

Creepy!

So after washing this thing for like 20 minutes…..

And a good round of Bleach….

It was finally ready for carving!


But before we made our first cut we took a little looksie at this:

Japanesse Woodblock Children's Books

Origami: Inspired by Japanese Woodblock Prints
from the Metropolitian Museam of Art.

There are lots of photos of Japanese prints, alongside some fun Origami characters for children to make. There are historical explanations for the prints, and children get to learn about fine art and also learn new origami techniques. You can see sample pages here if your interested.

Anyway, we had a blast….


We spent all afternoon making prints….

This activity was just so much fun!

I put up full photo instructions on our main site, so you can make your own set with your little kiddos.

But be warned: You’ll want to be doing this one right alongside them!

Origami by Me: Printable Pocket

By 3 Comments

I Loved Origami as a kid.

L-O-V-E-D it

So this was really a treat to be able to teach Sissy (who is 6) some cute little Origami characters.

However, the only easy thing I could remember was a paper cup.

And since she wasn’t ready to be tackling Cranes and Inflatable Goldfish I went online to find some easy, kid friendly Origami instructions.

So here are a couple of the links we used:

Origami for Kids w/ Printable Instructions


Origami for Kids

Origami Crafts for Kids

Now we didn’t have any Origami paper, so we used Construction Paper (lighter kind) and our Crayola Pastels to color in the creatures where needed. And to give them a little personality, we added in some mismatched Googly Eyes.

(Trust me, Origami Cuteness is all in the Googly Eyes!)

So without any further ado,

Here are Sissy’s Origami Animals:
(which totally need some adorable names to go alongside them)


This is “Tacky” because he reminds me of Tacky the Penguin.

This is “The Mad Hatter”

And finally “Horton” (He needs a little pink flower don’t you think?)


And then I had to figure out what we were going to do with them all. So I made a cute little printable pocket (which will soon be featured in our Japan Lapbook) for her to store all her cute little Origami animals.


Don’t they just look adorable all tucked in like that!


You can print your own Origami by Me Pocket here:

Origami by Me Printable Pocket

Just fold on the line, and glue the sides together
(No there’s no fancy Origami folding to make the pocket…I just whipped out the Elmers)

Have Fun!

Sumi-e Painting

By 3 Comments

Please don’t ask me why I’ve started a new unit study.

I realize it’s June.

I know that our newest addition will be here soon.

But I’ve always loved Japan.

Don’t ask me why

I really have no idea.

Probably because of all the stinkin’ adorable cartoons like this:

Anyway, for some background: I started off the 2008 Homeschool year with a goal of teaching my children Japanese.

Well, not the entire language.

But at least the basics.

And Yet, here we are near the end of the “Official” year, and I’ve yet to teach them anything more then how to count to 10.


Everybody can do that.

Seriously, watch this video….You’ll have it down in no time.



So in an attempt to mask my failure,

I’m cramming in one last theme for the year.

Just to make me feel better.

So This is it.

One Last Hurrah before Summer Hits,
and the Baby is here and I’m completely unable to form even English words into sentences.

I’m really actually excited about this topic.

(Did I mention I love Japan)

So to kick of the learning, I broke out one of my favorite art kits

And I gave the kids a mini-lesson in Sumi-e painting.


Here’s a shot of the inside.
The kit comes with everything you need
You can snag it for under $15 at Amazon.

Can you tell that they loved it!

Can you tell that I loved it?

I posted all the photos here in case you want to make some with your kiddos.

They’re really fun….and Frameable for gifts and classroom decorations.
(Make a black frame from construction paper)

(Ohhh or even better, use bamboo sticks if you can find them)


Anyway, stay tuned for lots more Japanese Crafts and Activities from us!

Next year I’m actually going to write my goals down.
(someone tell me how to keep it all straight?)

And Please people…..

Make me feel better!

What did you set as a goal this year, and completely ignore?

I know there are some of you out there……..Spill it.

You’ll feel better

And so will I.