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String Art for Kids Using Styrofoam and Toothpicks

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In our newest art for kids activity, we’ll be using styrofoam, toothpicks, and string to make some colorful 3-D string art! This is a fun activity for creating patterns and designs in a unique way. (And a great way to reuse packaging materials- great for Earth Day!)

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3-D String Art for Kids~ Buggy and Buddy

 

I’m teaming up again with some super creative bloggers in the Easy Art Projects for Kids Series! This week we’re focusing on string art for kids. Be sure to check out all the creative string art projects for kids shared by the other participating blogs. I’ve included their links at the end of this post! (This post contains affiliate links.)

 

Previous Posts in the Easy Art Projects for Kids Series

String Art Using Styrofoam and Toothpicks

Materials for String Art for Kids

colorful string for string art for kids

Making String Art

Start by pushing the toothpicks into the styrofoam block. We tried to space our toothpicks out evenly across the block.

 

toothpicks in styrofoam

 

Chose your first color of string and tie it to a toothpick. Begin weaving and wrapping your string through the toothpicks. When you’re finished with the color, cut it, and tie it to a nearby toothpick.

 

string art for kids

 

Continue this with other colors of string.

 

string art patterns

 

I couldn’t resist creating patterns with my string art.

 

string art for kids

 

Lucy, my 6 year old, enjoyed creating an abstract string design.

 

string art for kids

Tips

  • I pushed the toothpicks into the styrofoam for Lucy. Older kids could do this step on their own.
  • This would be a great way to upcycle all that styrofoam that comes in packaging!
  • We tried both regular styrofoam and smooth styrofoam. Both work equally well, but the smooth styrofoam doesn’t leave a mess like the regular styrofoam.
  • We used flat toothpicks rather than round to avoid any poking issues.

 

String Art for Kids~ Buggy and Buddy

Be sure to check out these other easy art project for kids using the string:

Rainbow Yarn Prints from Blog Me Mom

String Art Easter Cross from Housing a Forest

Rubber Band Art from Babble Dabble Do

 

 

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Comments

  1. Suja says

    April 7, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    This is such a stunning project! Love the gorgeous images. Can you imagine the fine motor workout they get when the littles are unleashing their creativity.. Ohhh forgot about the MATH part.! Amazing one Chelsey 🙂

    Reply

  7. Mayestra says

    February 18, 2015 at 8:08 am

    Greetings from Sunny San Antonio, TX!
    I thank you very much for sharing this idea. We used to make something similar when I was growing up, during family night. But my dad would make the designs on wood with nails, and we would use string as we were learning, and later we would allowed to use jewelry wire… i remember giving one to one of my elementary teachers and she loved it! it was such a nice time! I want to do it with my ELLs (I teach ESL, I pull small groups in grades 1st -5th), but the blocks are expensive when I multiply the cost x52 kids! But your post gave me a great idea: use cereal boxes, reinforce with duct tape! i will try it later in April or May and pass along some pictures!
    Mayestra (‘teacher” ins Spanish, but pronounced as a pre-k student).

    Reply

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