Need a Group Craft Project? Make a Mural

Everyone has a creative side, and individual craft projects can be a great way to express it. But what if you have a group? Certainly they can all work on their own ideas, but here's one that gets everyone involved - a mural.

Murals don't have to be huge, complicated things that are really messy to make and take up an entire wall. There are other ways to create them.

For one thing, you don't have to paint directly on the wall. Instead, use paper. That way, the mural can be taken down when the time comes to replace it or to just show the wall behind it. It's possible to find large sheets, or even rolls, of good sturdy paper for this purpose. A good choice might be freezer paper, which is waterproof on one side. Just be sure to put the waterproof side against the wall and do the painting or other decorating on the other side.

What to put on the mural? That can be an individual or group decision. In other words, each artist can do whatever they want, or the group can decide on a theme. It really depends on who's doing it (children, adults, or both) and why you're all doing it (for fun, for therapy, etc.)

When it comes to decorating methods, paint is the obvious choice. Brushes can be messy, though, so if the participants will be painting the "usual" way, put something on the floor to serve as a drop cloth. Finger paints are another choice; they're easy to use and easy to clean up. But if you want to be even neater, give everyone markers. They come in many different colors and can make lines of many different sizes, from very thin to very thick. And don't just use regular markers. See-through highlighters can create their own special effects - as can glitter glue pens, available at most craft supply stores.

Handprints are another option - as are footprints, if you start with the paper on the floor and move it after the paint has dried. Stamping and stenciling are other ways to get images - or words - onto the paper. Stamps can be the traditional variety found in many stores, or you can cut simple designs into a raw potato and use that for the stamp. For ink, you can use regular stamp pads or apply paint or markers to the stamps. Stencils can be store-bought or handmade (with designs cut out of thin cardboard).

Don't forget that murals don't have to be just painted. Children might want to include small items, like leaves or feathers, or pictures cut out of magazines. These can be attached to the paper with glue sticks, and can turn the mural into a collage - or if you want to be even more sophisticated, a "mixed media work"!

When the mural's finished the participants can all sign it, either near their own contributions or together in one corner. They don't have to do that, of course, but if the mural has a special purpose signatures might be an important consideration.

However you make them, and whatever their purpose, murals can be a great way to combine individual and group creativity. The next time you're looking for projects for a group, consider doing just one big one - a mural.