Valentine's Window Color Collages

Brighten your windows from the dull winter landscape with some bright Valentine Color Collages.

You will need:
an empty box (paperboard is best)
transparent contact paper
various red and pink materials
scissors
ruler
pen
ribbon for hanging
awl or hole punch

Have children begin collecting red and pink materials in a basket.
Then begin with a box.

We used an empty shoe/boot box that was shiny & purple.

We also re-purposed a food container. 
We used corrugated cardboard but paperboard is easier to work with if you have it. 

Open the box. 

Cut the flaps off the boxes so you have 2 flat pieces.

Flip the cardboard so the printed side is up. Make a frame template by tracing along a ruler on all 4 sides of your cardboard piece. 

Punch a hole in the middle to make an access hole for scissors. 

Making diagonal cuts, cut the center out of your frame. 

Cut the center out of each cardboard piece, giving you a front and back frame. We offered children red and white paint to decorate the plain cardboard frames. We didn't need to paint the purple frames.

Now you will need to cut 2 pieces of transparent contact paper a little larger than the inside of your frames. 

Peel the paper off of the film and lay the sticky side up. 

Tape the film down on each side so it sticks to the frame. 

If working with younger children, this will be their cue to start the fun!

Have children add red and pink objects to the sticky surface. When they are satisfied with their work, place the 2nd frame with the 2nd piece of film over their work. Press the 2 sheets of film together. 

Use a hole punch or awl to create 2 holes in the frame for hanging.

We stapled the four sides of our cardboard frame with a heavy duty stapler. 

Instead of hanging, we propped it on our window sill. 

Happy Valentine's Day!