  can be indicated by using styrofoam and not coating it with the paper mache mix. A finer textured snow is made by spraying the Christmas spray-can “snow” over the modelled paper mache base, and adding sparkle by glueing specks of salt in place. The spray-can snow is a good material to use in putting snow on tree branches. One last minute tip ... when you use a brush with the Tri-Tix rubber cement, soap the bristles thoroughly before using. Get the brush wet, then scrub up a good lather with Ivory or similar bar soap; squeeze most of the lather out of the brush, but do not wash it out. Then, in its lathered state, use the brush with the Tri-Tix. Wash it out immediately after use. The soap remaining in the brush during the glueing process will make the brush easy to clean. A final word....Remember always, that it is not necessary for a person to have trained artistic ability to produce interesting exhibits. Imagination and the ability to try something new are the only requirements. Materials can be found, sometimes, in most unlikely spots ... aquarium supply stores, novelty shops. Once one has become conscious of the possibilities, miniature things leap into view from the store shelves, and whole forests of trees can be seen in a weed. CIGAR BOX DIORAMAS These little displays can be used in many ways. They are simple enough that a child can make them, effective enough to stimulate interest in the subject portrayed. They can be made by the teacher and used to spark interest in new units or made by the students as projects for the unit. They are useful as follow-up projects after a field trip to a museum, industry, or other place of interest. One need not be an artist to create interesting and acceptable displays. There are many items available from novelty stores, souvenir counters, or ten-cent stores, which can be adapted to use in the cigar boxes. Pictures clipped from magazines can be used for backgrounds, as can the large picture post-cards now found nearly everywhere. The person who exercises imagination, seeing space ships in plastic hair curlers and rocket ships in metal pencil protectors, will enjoy making the exhibits and will be able to share the creative experience with others. ARMINTA NEAL |
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