Encourage both computer skills and craftsmanship with this metal tapping and decoupage craft. With simple materials and a bit of clip art, kids will be amazed at what they can create.

What you'll need:

How to make it:

1. Using the computer, choose a simple shape (choose more elaborate ones depending on a child's age) that will be tapped on, as well as a border to cut and decoupage onto the craft sticks. 
2. Use the sizing and measuring tools available in your word processing program to make the shape 3 1/2" square. Importing images from Print Shop and Picture Wizard into Microsoft Works (available on most computers) works well.
3. Away from the computer, tape the shape onto the middle of a 5¾"  (14 cm) square of metal. Then, tape the shape and the metal to a piece of cardboard (such as the one included in kit or found at the back of a writing tablet). These will be placed onto a thick layer of newspapers.
4. Use the hammer to tap along the shape, leaving equal space between each tap mark. An older child or adult may want to help steady the bottom of the tapping tool for younger children while they hammer. A cloth or thick gloves will prevent injury.
5. The frame will be made with the craft sticks by gluing them together to make a 6" (15 cm) square. The printed borders will be cut short enough so that the four corners can be decorated. Plan first by placing the borders onto the frame, leaving space at each corner for a separate design such as a small rubber stamp, stamp marker, corners from a cut border, another border, some small picture or a hand drawn design. We think it looks best if there is a pattern, such as all of the same borders and corners, same top and bottom, different sides, etc.
6. Once a child has decided on the arrangement of border pieces, it is time to decoupage. Paint the stick with Mod Podge and place the border in the middle of the stick. Do this with all sticks. Decorate the corners with other materials mentioned above. Paint a coat of decoupage over the pictures and frame.
7. Decoupage usually involves several coats of Mod Podge and sanding with special steel wool in between coats. It is up to the instructor and/or the child to decide how many coats are sufficient.
8. When the decoupage is done and dry, tape the metal onto the back of the frame with the bumpy side of the design showing through the frame.
9. Tape and glue a bit of string in the middle of the top for hanging the metal tapping. You may want to cover the back of the project with paper for neatness.

Here are two of the borders that we used:

(11Kb) or (14Kb)