Year of the Horse Crafting 2: Lone Star Horse Rattle
Today’s post is a western salute to an eastern tradition. It’s western because it brings elements of horses and cowboys. And it’s eastern because it’s a project commemorating the start of 2014, year of horse of the Chinese zodiac, an eastern tradition.I bring you the “Lone Star Horse Rattle”.Warm-up Activity: The Little Cowboy
(Sung to: I’m m a little teapot”)
via preschooleducationI’m a little cowboy. Here is my hat (point to self, then to hat)
Here are my spurs (point to your heels)
And here are my chaps (pat legs)
As soon as I get up, (stretch, pretend to wake up)
I work all day (pretend to lasso a cow)
I get on my horse (pretend to get on a horse)
And ride away. (Pretend to gallop on a horse)
(Sung to: I’m m a little teapot”)
via preschooleducationI’m a little cowboy. Here is my hat (point to self, then to hat)
Here are my spurs (point to your heels)
And here are my chaps (pat legs)
As soon as I get up, (stretch, pretend to wake up)
I work all day (pretend to lasso a cow)
I get on my horse (pretend to get on a horse)
And ride away. (Pretend to gallop on a horse)
Note to teachers: New vocabulary(cowboy, spurs, chaps, lasso,gallop) best taught with pictures. Show a photo of a cowboy with all his gear.
Let’s begin our project:
Lone Star Horse Rattle
Materials:
- mung beans
- Yakult bottle
- cardboard
- masking tape
- scissors
- glue gun
- white glue
- denim/jean fabric
- twine
- fiber fill
- newspaper strips
- red printed fabric (bandana-like)
- white and brown acrylic paint
- paint brush
- black and white dimensional craft paint (like Puffy)
- thin strip of leather and a gold star (to make the cowboy belt)
Steps:
Step 1- The Rattle Base. Fill the Yakult bottle with mung beans (about a quarter full). Cover with cardboard.
Step 2- Cut two identical horse head shapes and a round shape (size of Yakult bottle cover). Glue horse head shapes onto round shape leaving about 3/4 inch gap between them. Stuff gap with fiber fill.
Step 3- Secure fiber fill with masking tape. Using the glue gun, adhere horse head onto Yakult bottle.
Step 4 – Tear strips of denim fabric. Then cut further into different smaller strips and glue onto Yakult bottle.
*Make sure you’re tearing along the grain that exposes the white thread as this is the ‘look’ we want for this project.
*use white craft glue
* This is how it will look when you’re done gluing on the denim fabric.
Step 5- Tear strips of newspaper and glue onto horse’s head.
*use white craft glue
* This is how it will look when you’re done gluing on newspaper strips.
Step 6- Paint head with white base coat. Allow to dry completely.
*When completely dry, apply the paint colour of your choice.
Step 7-Horse hair. Using the glue gun attach some twine on horse’s head.
Step 8- Red scarf. Cut printed red fabric and tie around horse’s neck.
Step 9- Design details. Add some design details on head using the black and white dimensional craft paint.
Step 10- Paint the horse’s hair. Use plastic to protect horse’s clothes while you paint. When completely dry, trim hair according to your desired length/style.
Step 11- Make a cowboy belt using a strip of leather and a gold star.
*Got my gold star from a Christmas star garland. Use glue gun to adhere to horse’s body.
Optional: Using twine make a cowboy lasso. Glue onto belt.
Optional: Using twine make a cowboy lasso. Glue onto belt.
Now shake that rattle and greet the new year-
cowboy style:
cowboy style:
‘Yee-haw!’
‘Yee-haw’ – An expression of enthusiasm or exuberance, typically associated with cowboys or rural inhabitants of the southern U.S.’ (New Oxford American Dictionary via NY Times)
| Year of the Horse Crafting 2: Lone Star Horse Rattle by Paulina Constancia on Daily Dose of Art |
Horse Idiom of the Day:
May you be healthy as a horse the whole year through!
Meaning: If you’re as healthy as a horse, you’re very healthy.
DAILY DOSE OF ART 
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