This uses a technique that, as far as I am aware, is unique to this craft – a technique that you would usually completely avoid – screwing up your artwork!
You can use any crayoned picture for this. If you want the best result then bold areas of color, heavy use of crayon and some areas of white paper seem to work really well. But it is the process in this paper craft or art that is so much fun for children. The picture you end up with is just a bonus.
So start off with a crayoned picture. I remembered this cool technique for making a pattern when I came across this Crazy Circles post. I used to love doing these, so I tried doing them again, and hey – I still love doing them.
Then once you have your beautiful, carefully crafted, perfect picture – you screw it up!! Yep, good and proper – screw it up into a tight little ball, even do it again if that was fun. Carefully un-crumple it and smooth it out flat. You may have a few tears in the edges of it – that is not a problem.
Now brush on some dye, or food coloring, or runny paint all over the picture. Something that can soak into the paper and be resisted by the crayon. Once you have covered the whole page, use a paper towel to wipe off the excess color. Leave it dry and admire your creation.
Once you have finished admiring it then keep it handy, as this sort of decorated paper is perfect for lots of other paper crafts for children – and grown-ups too of course!
