Extra Long Projects: Recycled Art Journal

RECYCLED
ART JOURNAL
Extra Long
Projects
Art Projects for Kids

Table of Contents
Journal Covers page 3 Line Art Flowers pages 4-5 Birdies pages 6-7 Ladybugs pages 8-9
Fishes pages 10-11 Caterpillar pages 12-13 Train pages 14-16 Dinos pages 17-19
Daschund pages 20-21 Sunset pages 22-23 Whale pages 24-25 Giraffe pages 26-27
House pages 28-29 Binder Art page 30-31
© artprojectsforkids.org
Making Your Journal Covers
CARDBOARD, 6” X 9”
Some options are old cereal boxes,
, toy boxes, anything that is clean,

large and easy to cut with a paper
cutter. Plain cardboard is good too.
PAPER, 6“ X 9”
Easy if you start with 9” x 12” and
then just cut in half.
PAPER CUTTER
I prefer the old dangerous type with
the arm that comes down, because it
works fast and cuts through even
heavy cardboard. The sliding arm
type works fine though too, if you
stick to lighter weight food boxes.
TWO-HOLE PUNCH
There are many types,
all seem to work well.
Mine came from Staples
and cost about $15, lasted for years.
© artprojectsforkids.org
BOOK RINGS
If you just need a few,
Staples sells 16 for $5.
If you need bulk, try
searching Amazon.
I found boxes of 100 for $10.
I recommend the 1.5” size so your
journal has room to grow.
R E C Y C L E D A R T J O U R N A L X - L O N G
©artprojectsforkids.org
Line Art Flowers

Vocabulary Words: Large, small, thick, thin, lines, dots SUGGESTED BOOK
“Up in the Garden and

These fancy flowers are made simply by drawing around
Down in the Dirt”
precut circles. Kinders will have fun gluing them down, and
by Kate Messner
seeing how many different petals they can draw around them.
Older students can fill in some leaves and stems for more
contrast, and then use a thinner marker for more details.
MATERIALS
DIRECTIONS • Drawing paper, 6” x 18”

(Cut 24” x 18” into 6” panels)
1. PREP: Use paper punch to cut about eight 1” circles and five 1.5”
circles. Start with gluing the large circles down. Try to avoid the center • Black marker, fine tip
fold if you want this art to go in to a journal.
(I used Staples Duramark )
2. Glue smaller circles into the center of the larger ones. Glue more
• Colored card stock paper
circles in between. Spread them out so there is room to draw around
each. • Paper punch, 1” and 1.5”
3. With a medium tip marker, draw petals and stems under each flower. (I used Fiskars)
Try to make each one a little different from the other. To finish, add
butterflies, grass and sun. Use LINES only.
4. EXTRA STEP: With a fine tip black marker, add lines inside petals,
decorate flower centers, and give detail to the butterfiles. Generally add
more detail wherever possible, and fill in some shapes to make them
black so there is more contrast.
Folded art in journal

1. PREP: Use paper

punch to cut about eight
1” circles and five 1.5”
circles. Start with gluing
the large circles down.
Try to avoid the center
fold if you want this art
to go in to a journal.
2. Glue smaller circles

into the center of the
larger ones. Glue more
circles in between.
Spread them out so
there is room to draw
around each.
3. With a medium tip

marker, draw petals and
stems under each flower.
Try to make each one a
little different from the
other. To finish, add
butterflies, grass and
sun. Use LINES only.
4. EXTRA STEP: With a

fine tip black marker, add
lines inside petals,
decorate flower centers,
and give detail to the
butterfiles. Generally add
more detail wherever
possible, and fill in some
shapes to make them
black so there is more
contrast.
Three Little Birdies

Color Lesson: Red + Yellow = Orange SUGGESTED BOOK
“Wow! Said the Owl:

Turn a simple color mixing lesson into a cute painting. Draw easy A Book About Colors”
circles with the center hole of a roll of masking tape, and then add by Tim Hopgood
simple eyes, wings, beak and legs.
It’s fun to paint the yellow, then the red bird, and then mix the
colors together to make the orange. There’s nothing like making MATERIALS
the color yourself to help remember what makes what. • Drawing paper, 6” x 18”
• Roll of masking tape for tracing

DIRECTIONS
1. PREP: Fold paper in half to get a center line. Place the masking tape in
• Black permanent marker, chisel tip
the middle and trace for the first bird. The second circle is added
• Green crayon
centered on the right, and another on the left. Beaks and eyes are
drawn, and tails on the opposite side. Stick legs are drawn below. • Liquid Tempera paint: red, yellow,
blue, green
2. Trace the bird with a permanent black marker. Grass is added below
with a crayon.
• Paper plate and brush
3. Place yellow and red liquid tempera paint on a paper plate. Start by
painting the yellow bird, then the red, and then mixing in a little red to
the yellow to make orange.
4. EXTRA STEP: Paint the background sky with watered down blue
paint. Paint over the grass with watered down green paint. For best
results, try doing this as a follow up lesson. The colors will be much less
likely to run together.

1. PREP: Fold paper in

half to get a center line.
Place the masking tape
in the middle and trace
for the first bird. The
second circle is added
centered on the right,
and another on the left.
Beaks and eyes are
drawn, and tails on the
opposite side. Stick legs
are drawn below.
2. Trace the bird with a

permanent black marker.
Grass is added below
with a crayon.
3. Place yellow and red

liquid tempera paint on
a paper plate. Start by
painting the yellow
bird, then the red, and
then mixing in a little
red to the yellow to
make orange.
4. EXTRA STEP: Paint

the background sky
with watered down
blue paint. Paint over
the grass with watered
down green paint. For
best results, try doing
this as a follow up
lesson. The colors will
be much less likely to
run together.
Three Lovely Ladybugs

Color Lesson: Blue + Red = Purple SUGGESTED BOOK
“The Grouchy
To continue color mixing lessons, here are three more cute creatures Ladybug”
that are also drawn from circles. by Eric Carle
If you add heads in various positions, it will make the bugs look like
they are crawling in all different directions. Easy enough for every-
one to feel successful and creates a fun and playful painting. MATERIALS
• Drawing paper, 6” x 18”

DIRECTIONS
• Roll of masking tape for tracing
1. PREP: Fold paper in half to get a center line. Place the masking tape in
the middle and trace for the first ladybug. The second circle is added • Black permanent marker, chisel tip
centered on the right, and another on the left. Heads and wing lines are
drawn for each body, along with six legs. About eight large spots are drawn • Green crayon
on each bug.
• Liquid Tempera paint: blue, red, green
2. Trace the ladybugs with a permanent black marker. The spots are filled in
to make them black. Grass is scribbled around with a green crayon.
3. Place blue and red liquid tempera paint on a paper plate. Start by
painting the red bug, then the blue, and then mixing in a little red to the
blue to make purple. TIP: I sometimes used cyan paint to get a truer purple.
4. EXTRA STEP: Paint the background grass with watered down green
paint. For best results, try doing this as a follow up lesson. The colors will be
less likely to run together.

1. PREP: Fold paper in half

to get a center line. Place
the masking tape in the
middle and trace for the
first ladybug. The second
circle is added centered on
the right, and another on
the left. Heads and wing
lines are ddrawn for each
body, along with six legs.
About eight large spots
are drawn on each bug.
2. Trace the ladybugs

with a permanent black
marker. The spots are
filled in to make them
black. Grass is
scribbled around with a
green crayon.
3. Place blue and red

liquid tempera paint on
a paper plate. Start by
painting the red bug,
then the blue, and then
mixing in a little red to
the blue to make
purple. TIP: I some-
times used cyan paint
to get a truer purple.
4. EXTRA STEP: Paint the

background grass with
watered down green
paint. For best results, try
doing this as a follow up
lesson. The colors will be
less likely to run together.
Three Little Puffer Fish

Color Lesson: Yellow + Blue = Green SUGGESTED BOOK
“Poor Little Guy”

To continue color mixing lessons, here are three puffer fish that are
by Elanna Allen
also drawn with circles. Add faces in various positions and they will
look like they are swimming in all different directions.
The fish scales are added with crayons after the paint is dry.
Those looking for more of a challenge may add extra scales, or even MATERIALS
shadows to make the fish look more dimensional.
DIRECTIONS • Roll of masking tape for tracing
1. PREP: Fold paper in half to get a center line. Place the masking tape in the • Black permanent marker, fine tip
middle and trace for the first fish. The second circle is added centered on
the right, and another on the left. Faces and fins are added to each, and
• Crayons, assorted
tails on the opposite side.
• Liquid Tempera paint: blue and yellow
2. Trace the fish with a permanent black marker.
3. Place yellow and blue liquid tempera paint on a paper plate. Start by
painting the yellow fish, then the blue one, and then mixing in a little blue to
the yellow to make green.
4. Paint the background with watered down blue paint. For best results, try
doing this as a follow up lesson. The colors will be much less likely to run
together.
EXTRA STEP: Add some blue bubbles to the water to make it more colorful.
Add a little shadow to the fish belly with a matching crayon.

1. PREP: Fold paper in half

to get a center line. Place
the masking tape in the
middle and trace for the
first fish. The second circle
is added centered on the
right, and another on the
left. Faces and fins are
added to each, and tails
on the opposite side.
2. Trace the fish with a

permanent black
marker.
3. Place yellow and

blue liquid tempera
paint on a paper plate.
Start by painting the
yellow fish, then the
blue one, and then
mixing in a little blue to
the yellow to make
green.
4. Paint the background

with watered down blue
paint. For best results, try
doing this as a follow up
lesson. The colors will be
much less likely to run
together.
EXTRA STEP: Add blue
bubbles to the water to
make it more colorful. Add
a shadow to the fish belly
with a matching crayon.
The Very Squishy Caterpiller

Vocabulary Words: Vertical lines, curvy lines SUGGESTED BOOK
“The Very
It turns out that the best way to draw a squishy caterpiller is Hungry
not with a bunch of ovals. If you start with vertical lines and Caterpillar”
then connect them on the top and bottom, you are guaranteed by Eric Carle
a much more realistic looking insect.
MATERIALS
DIRECTIONS
1. PREP: Fold paper in half twice to make creased lines to follow.
Draw vertical lines on the creases, and then four in between.
2. Connect the lines on top by jumping from end to end. Do the
same on the bottom. Add a head, smaller tail, feet and spikes. Trace • Crayons
with a black marker.
• Texture plates
3. Draw some crayon patterns inside the caterpillar. Fill in with more
(I used plastic
color.
embroidery mesh)
4. Carefully color in the background. EXTRA STEP: Place a plastic
embroidery mesh underneaath your drawing and color again to add
texture.


half twice to make
creased lines to follow.
Draw vertical lines on
the creases, and then
four in between.
2. Connect the lines on

top by jumping from
end to end. Do the
same on the bottom.
Add a head, smaller
tail, feet and spikes.
Trace with a black
marker.
3. Draw some crayon

patterns inside the
caterpillar. Fill in with
more color.
4. Carefully color in the

background.
EXTRA STEP: Place a
plastic embroidery
mesh underneaath your
drawing and color
again to add texture.
Draw a Train SUGGESTED BOOK
“Locomotive”
Vocabulary Words: Locomotive, circle, square, rectangle by Brian Floca
Drawing straight lines to make squares or rectangles is not

always easy if you have a wide open sheet of paper. This project
aided with its narrow paper, folded guide lines, and pre cut
circles for wheels.
If you are not sure if your students can draw the rectangles, then MATERIALS
use my templates on the page after the tutorial. You can create
ones to trace from chipboard or cardboard. (Cut 24” x 18” into 6” panels)
• Chipboard to make templates (optional)

DIRECTIONS
• Black card stock paper
1. PREP: Fold paper in half three times to make guide lines shown.
Prepunch black card stock circles: seven small and one large. • Glue sticks
Glue the wheels down, touching the bottom of the paper in each section
• Black marker, permanent fine tip
as shown.
• Tempera cake paints
2. Draw one car of the train in each section. Use the creased fold lines to
help draw square shapes. When complete, the lines are traced with a black • Paper punch, 1” and 1.5”
marker. The train connectors may be filled in with the marker.
3. Paint the train cars. Tempera cake paints let students easily access
many colors and use a smaller amount of paint.
If working with kinders, I would consider stopping here. Sometimes neat

work gets hidden in that final step.
4. EXTRA STEP: Paint the background a color that has not been used in
the cars. You’d probably get your best results if you wait to do this in a
second class. It will keep the colors from running together.

half three times to make
guide lines shown.
Prepunch black card
stock circles: seven small
and one large.
Glue the wheels down,

touching the bottom of
the paper in each section
as shown.
2. Draw one car in each

section. Use the creased
fold lines to help draw
square shapes. When
complete, the lines are
traced with a black
marker. The train
connectors may be filled
in with the marker.
3. Paint the train cars.

Tempera cake paints let
students easily access
many colors and use a
smaller amount of paint.
If working with kinders, I

would consider stopping
here. Sometimes neat
work gets hidden in that
final step.
4. EXTRA STEP: Paint

the background a color
that has not been used
in the cars. You’d
probably get your best
results if you wait to do
this in a second class. It
will keep the colors from
running together.
TRAIN
TEMPLATES
ENGINE RECTANGLE
YELLOW CAR RECTANGLE

CABOOSE RECTANGLE
AND
PURPLE CAR RECTANGLE
Dinos Came Back SUGGESTED BOOK
“If the Dinosaurs

Vocabulary Words: Rectangle, square, half circle, triangle
Came Back”
by Bernard Most
This dinosaur collage project is great for cutting practice, with
plenty of room to get creative with the background drawing.
The “If the Dinosaurs Came Back” book is especially inspiring

with its simple line art and colorful dinos that are walking all MATERIALS
around a large city. • Drawing paper, 6” x 18”

• Card stock paper: Red, yellow, pink, etc.

DIRECTIONS
1. PREP: Make copies of the dino shapes on several different colors • Black permanent marker, chisel tip
of card stock. Draw a background city with a thick marker. Make the
• Black permanent marker, fine tip
buildings all touch each other so the city looks as large as possible.
• Scissors
2. Choose your printed dino template and cut out. The scraps are
used to cut small triangles, if desired.
• Glue stick
3. The dino is assembled on the city paper, and glued down. A face
is completed with a fine tip black marker. Make sure the pieces are
glued well, especially if the art is going in to the journal. The folding
tends to make loose items fall off.
4. EXTRA STEP: Add more dino details by cutting small triangles

for spikes, or cutting the head to make it a little more realistic.

1. PREP: Make copies of the

dino shapes on several
different colors of card
stock. Draw a background
city with a thick marker.
Make the buildings all
touch each other so the
city looks as large as
possible.
2. Choose your printed

dino template and cut out.
The scraps are used to cut
small triangles, if desired.
3. The dino is assembled

on the city paper, and
glued down. A face is
completed with a fine tip
black marker. Make sure
the pieces are glued well,
especially if the art is
going in to the journal.
The folding tends to make
loose items fall off.
4. EXTRA STEP: Add

more dino details by
cutting small triangles
for spikes, or cutting the
head to make it a little
more realistic.
DINO TEMPLATES
DINO TEMPLATES
Draw a Daschund SUGGESTED BOOK
“10 Little Hot Dogs”

Vocabulary Words: Long, short, stripes by John Himmelman
This long and narrow paper helps to draw a cute “hot dog”
dog that fills the paper.
Once the long body and very short legs are complete, some
fun clothes may be added to this little pet.
MATERIALS
DIRECTIONS
1. PREP: Fold paper in half three times to make crease lines as (Cut 24” x 18” into 6” panels)
shown.
Draw the dog following the four steps shown. Use the fold lines to
help place the pencil lines in the right spot. • Markers (I use Stabilo® Power Markers)
2. Add some clothes of your choice to your dog. Trace all the lines
3. Color the sweater with a fun pattern and then color in your dog.
Color neatly so there are no white spots.
4. EXTRA STEP: Add some background to you dog drawing. Is he

or she inside or outside? Draw and color some clues to show where
they are.

1. PREP: Fold paper in 1. 2.

half three times to make
crease lines as shown.
Draw the dog following

the four steps shown.
Use the fold lines to help
place the pencil lines in
3. 4.
the right spot.
2. Add some clothes of

your choice to your
dog. Trace all the lines
3. Color the sweater

with a fun pattern and
then color in your dog.
Color neatly so there
are no white spots.
4. EXTRA STEP: Add

some background to
you dog drawing. Is he
or she inside or
outside? Draw and
color some clues to
show where they are.
Halloween Sunset
Vocabulary Words: Shadows, silhouette
Sunset paintings can be pretty easy to do if you just use a

permanent marker and bleeding tissue paper. The squares
of tissue let you control your gradation, something that is
much trickier with paint.
SUGGESTED BOOK
“Yeti, Turn Out the Light”
by Greg Long and Chris Edmundson
MATERIALS

• Black permanent marker, fine tip

(I used Staples Duramark )
• Bleeding tissue paper

(I used Spectra Bleeding Art Tissue)
• Water and paint brush
DIRECTIONS
PREP: Cut the darker warm shades of bleeding tissue paper into
large squares, about 2” x 2” or so.
1. Draw in pencil: Ground line, tree, branches, cat, owls, pumpkins,

etc.
2. With extra paper underneath, trace the art with the chisel tip
marker and fill it in. Be careful, the markers may go through the
paper. Make sure all the art is solid black, no scribbling.
3. Brush paper with water and place tissue squares on top. To get a
layered look I made large bands of red, pink and orange. Brush
water on top of the tissue too, and let sit for a few minutes.
4. Remove the tissue and let dry. Press under books to remove
wrinkles.
©artprojectsforkids.org EXTRA STEP: Go back with the fine tip marker and add lots of thin
branches and grass.
1. Draw in pencil: 2. With extra paper underneath, trace 3. Brush paper with water and place 4. Remove the tissue and let dry.
• Ground line the art with the chisel tip marker and tissue squares on top. To get a Press under books to remove
• Side of tree fill it in. Be careful, the markers may layered look I made large bands of wrinkles.
• Add branches go through the paper. Make sure all red, pink and orange. Brush water on
EXTRA STEP: Go back with the fine
• Add cat, owls, pumpkins, etc. the art is solid black, no scribbling. top of the tissue too, and let sit for a
tip marker and add lots more thin
Note that no faces are needed. few minutes.
branches and grass.
Big Whale, Little Boat

Vocabulary Word: Large, small, proportion or scale
Draw a whale with a different point of view by having him

swim vertically instead of horizontally. The long and narrow
paper will help students fill the page, especially if you start
with the folded guide lines.
Add a little boat for scale and you have the makings of a very
fun drawing.
SUGGESTED BOOK
“A Whale of a Tale!”
by Bonnie Worth
MATERIALS

• Markers
(I used Stabilo® Power Markers)
DIRECTIONS
1. To draw the whale: Fold paper to get guide lines. Follow steps
shown. Round the corners of the whale. Add small boat and fish
for scale.
2. Trace the drawing with a black marker.
3. Color the drawing neatly with markers.
4. EXTRA STEP: Use gray marker to go back and color some

more on one side to create a shadow. Use the marker the color
of the water to go back and add waves. Two layers of the same
color makes the art a shade darker.
1. 2.
3. 4.
1. To draw the whale: 2. Trace the drawing with a black 3. Color the drawing neatly with 4. EXTRA STEP: Use gray marker to go
• Fold paper to get guide lines. marker. markers. back and color some more on one side
• Follow steps shown. to create a shadow. Use the marker the
• Round the corners of the whale. color of the water to go back and add
• Erase old pencil lines. waves. Two layers of the same color
• Add small boat and fish for scale. makes the art a shade darker.
Giraffe
Vocabulary Word: Tall, long, straight, curve, spots
One of the tallest animals around is easy to draw if you

just start with some basic shapes. A simple body, legs, and
neck will save time for drawing lots of neat spots up and
down his or her neck. Try making them with just the
brown marker, no outlining, for a softer furry look.
SUGGESTED BOOK
“Oh Dear, Geoffrey!”
by Gemma O'Neill
MATERIALS

• Markers
(I used Stabilo® Power Markers)
DIRECTIONS
1. To draw the giraffe:

• Fold paper to get guide lines.
• Start with back shape. Add legs and details as shown.
• Erase extra pencil lines.
3. Draw and color spots on the back and neck. Try to make the
large ones near his back and smaller ones near the front.
4. EXTRA STEP: Draw a nice background with leaves for your

giraffe. Color everything neatly with markers.
1. 2.
3. 4.
1. To draw the giraffe: 2. Trace the drawing with a black 3. Draw and color spots on the back 4. Draw a nice background with leaves
• Fold paper to get guide lines. marker. and neck. EXTRA STEP: Try to make for your giraffe. Color everything neatly
• Start with back shape. Add legs and the large spots near his spine and with markers.
details as shown. smaller ones near the front.
• Erase extra pencil lines.
Fairy Tale House

Vocabulary Word: Rectangle, triangle, circle, tall
Encourage students to draw a more unusual house that fills up

this extra tall sheet of paper.
No templates are needed for this as wobbly lines will only

make it look more unique. Windows can be wherever they
want, and don’t even have to match. Take some clues from the
suggested book and design your own house.
SUGGESTED BOOK
“If I Built a House”
by Chris Van Dusen
MATERIALS

• Crayons
• Texture plates
(I used plastic
embroidery mesh)
DIRECTIONS
1. To draw the house:

• Fold paper to get guide lines.
• Start with ground, walls and roof.
• Add the steps and door.
• Draw windows.
• Draw potted plant and sky.
3. Color the house with your favorite colors.
4. Add some plants around your house, and finish with a sun and
sky. EXTRA STEP: Place a plastic embroidery mesh underneaath
your drawing and color again to add texture.
1. 2.
3. 4.
1. To draw the house: 2. Trace the drawing with a black marker. 3. Color the house with your favorite colors. 4. Add some plants around your house,
• Fold paper to get guide lines. and finish with a sun and sky. EXTRA
• Start with ground, walls and roof.
STEP: Place a plastic embroidery mesh
• Add the steps and door.
underneaath your drawing and color
• Draw windows.
• Draw potted plant and sky. again to add texture.
A R T P R O J E C T S F O R K I D S
Extra Long Projects
RECYCLED
ART JOURNAL
Extra Long
RECYCLED
ART JOURNAL
Projects
Projects
A R T P R O J E C T S F O R K I D S
Extra Long Projects

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RECYCLED

Art Projects for Kids

House pages 28-29 Binder Art page 30-31

, toy boxes, anything that is clean,

Line Art Flowers

“Up in the Garden and

DIRECTIONS • Drawing paper, 6” x 18”

Folded art in journal

1. PREP: Use paper

2. Glue smaller circles

3. With a medium tip

4. EXTRA STEP: With a

Three Little Birdies

“Wow! Said the Owl:

• Roll of masking tape for tracing

Folded art in journal

1. PREP: Fold paper in

2. Trace the bird with a

3. Place yellow and red

4. EXTRA STEP: Paint

Three Lovely Ladybugs

• Drawing paper, 6” x 18”

Folded art in journal

1. PREP: Fold paper in half

2. Trace the ladybugs

3. Place blue and red

4. EXTRA STEP: Paint the

Three Little Puffer Fish

“Poor Little Guy”

DIRECTIONS • Roll of masking tape for tracing

Folded art in journal

1. PREP: Fold paper in half

2. Trace the fish with a

3. Place yellow and

4. Paint the background

The Very Squishy Caterpiller

Folded art in journal

1. PREP: Fold paper in

2. Connect the lines on

3. Draw some crayon

4. Carefully color in the

Draw a Train SUGGESTED BOOK

Drawing straight lines to make squares or rectangles is not

• Chipboard to make templates (optional)

If working with kinders, I would consider stopping here. Sometimes neat

1. PREP: Fold paper in

Glue the wheels down,

2. Draw one car in each

3. Paint the train cars.

If working with kinders, I

4. EXTRA STEP: Paint

YELLOW CAR RECTANGLE

Dinos Came Back SUGGESTED BOOK

“If the Dinosaurs

The “If the Dinosaurs Came Back” book is especially inspiring

around a large city. • Drawing paper, 6” x 18”

• Card stock paper: Red, yellow, pink, etc.

4. EXTRA STEP: Add more dino details by cutting small triangles

Folded art in journal

1. PREP: Make copies of the

2. Choose your printed

3. The dino is assembled

4. EXTRA STEP: Add