Bring Back Spirograph Art!

I don't know anyone who hasn't grown up using a Spirograph, seen someone use one or seen one sitting on a shelf somewhere. I remember using one of those pens that have four colors in them (red, green, blue and red) to create my designs. The memories are so fun to revisit and I wish I had some of those creations now.

Over the years, the basic Spirograph kits has gone through some slight changes. The projects come out looking the same, though, so that's a non-issue. According the the Amazon.com listing, each spirograph "includes tray with built-in storage, 7 gears, gear template, drawing template, pen, paper and instructions."

When thinking of uses for a Spirograph, the first though typically leads to a child's art or graph project. And, despite the fact that these items are sold in the toy department, this doesn't always have to be the case. While they do lend to many creative moments for children of all ages, why does it have to be reserved just for them? It doesn't.

Here are some mixed media art project ideas using a Spirograph:

1: Cover an entire piece of paper with a "collage" of Spirograph designs. Cut it up into 2 inch x 3 inch pieces of paper and use them as backgrounds for ATC designs.

2: Find the center of a piece of paper and created a design that is, roughly, a 6 inch circle. Cut it out so there's a small border around the edge of the design. Use this circle design on handmade book covers, wrapped around the spine of books, altered book backgrounds, greeting card embellishing and for scrapbook embellishing. Create several of all different sizes to add to larger paper project spreads.

3: Cover a piece of paper "scrapbook paper" style and use it as backgrounds, to cut into borders, to use to punch die-cuts out of and as the interior pages for the inside of a handmade book cover.

4: Create designs in several different sizes and cut them all out, reserving the same small white border around the edges of the piece. Fold them in half, punch a hole and use them as gift tags.

5: Using colors (both for the pens and papers) that fit the holiday theme, created designs that look like wreaths. Cut out around the edges and in the center. You may choose to laminate them for longevity. Punch a hole on the top and add a piece of ribbon or yard to use as a tree hanger. Consider laying smaller designs over larger ones.

I like to design several sheets ahead of time using multiple methods so they're ready to go when I need to make an unexpected card or handmade gift. I also keep Spirograph design cut-outs available for collage work, assemblage art pieces, scrapbook embellishing and anything else that needs that die-cut style element added.

In the past, I've also taken pieces of brown wrapping paper and covered it with Spirograph designs. These papers were used to wrap gifts, to use as book covers and to use as shipping paper when something creative was sent through the mail.

As you can see, there are a lot of opportunity for creativity with the Spirograph. So, dust off the one you used as a child or head out the store and buy a new one. You'll be surprised how many of your own ideas will start presenting themselves once you get going.