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Vibrant Firework Art with Chalk Pastels: A New Year’s Arts and Crafts Favorite
Looking for a colorful and engaging project to light up your celebrations? This firework craft using chalk pastels and black paper is a stunning way to capture the excitement of fireworks in the night sky. Ideal for all ages, this activity is perfect for new year’s arts and crafts but also works beautifully for other festivities like the Fourth of July, Chinese New Year, Diwali, and more.
How to Use Chalk Pastels Without the Mess
We love using chalk pastels but they can be a bit messy 🙂 Here are a few easy ways to keep the mess of using chalk pastels contained, while still enjoying the creative process:
- Use a Table Covering
Place an old tablecloth, newspaper, or a disposable plastic sheet on your work surface to catch stray dust and pastel crumbs. - Work on a Tray
Use a shallow tray or a large piece of cardboard under your paper to keep the dust contained within a defined area. - Keep Wet Wipes or a Damp Cloth Handy
Chalk pastels can get on fingers quickly. Keep wet wipes or a damp cloth nearby to clean hands before touching other surfaces. - Limit the Pastels in Use
Only take out the colors you need for the current project, rather than the whole box. This reduces the chance of smudging or dropping them. - Work in a Well-Ventilated Space
If you’re worried about pastel dust, work in an area with good airflow to help disperse the dust more safely. - Tap, Don’t Blow, Excess Dust
When removing excess chalk pastel dust from your paper, gently tap the edge of the paper over a trash can or designated surface instead of blowing on it to avoid spreading dust everywhere. - Use Fixative Spray Immediately
Once the project is complete, spray it with a fixative or hairspray to lock the pastels in place and minimize further dusting. - Wear an Art Smock or Apron
Protect clothing by wearing an art smock, apron, or even an old t-shirt dedicated to crafting.
With these tips, you can enjoy creating with chalk pastels while keeping the mess to a minimum!
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Here are a few other fun activities that you can check out:
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In this blog post, I’ll guide you through the steps to create this stunning firework art piece, which you can add to you collection of New Year’s arts and crafts. The best part? It’s super easy and you’ll only need a few materials. Let’s get started!
Step by Step Tutorial
Appropriate for Children Ages 6 and up
Difficulty: Easy
Total Time: 60 minutes
Materials:
- Chalk pastels (we used the Mungyo Chalk Pastels)
- Black Cardstock (8.5X 11″)
- Pencil for drawing your fireworks
- Hair spray or fixative to prevent the pastel from smudging (optional)
Instructions:
Step 1 – Prepare your materials
Step 2 – Draw lines
Using a pencil or white pencil crayon, lightly draw a few lines in a burst pattern on your black paper. I drew one larger firework and a few smaller ones around it.
Remind kids that they don’t need to draw every line of each fire, just a rough sketch to give them a starting point.
Step 3 – Choose a few colors for each firework
We used 3 or 4 colors for each firework drawing.
1. Trace over one of your firework sketches with one of your colors. We started with our largest firework.
2. Using a different color, add more lines to your firework.
3. Continue layering until you’ve used all of the colors you chose for this particular firework. You can curve your lines slightly to give it that bursting effect (see the images below).
Step 5 – Move on to your smaller fireworks.
For this next firework, we created a star pattern, layering the colors accordingly. Then we moved onto another small firework but this time we arched the lines, like we did with our larger firework. Encourage your kids to experiment with their own firework designs and color combinations.
*Tap any excess chalk pastel into the garbage or onto a designated surface.
Step 5 – Add white chalk pastel
Once your fireworks are all drawn in chalk pastel, add a few lines of white chalk pastel on top. You can also add some white to the tips.
Step 6 – Add Twinkles
You can add specks of light or twinkles to your background. Using a white chalk pastel, add little dots to the background to create an illuminating effect.
Tips to Prevent Smudging:
- Handle your artwork carefully by the edges.
- Use a fixative spray to set the chalk pastels in place.
- Frame your finished piece under glass to keep it protected and smudge-free.
Step 7 – Share and enjoy!
Why Chalk Pastels and Black Paper Work Magic
When it comes to creating a firework craft that truly pops off the page, the combination of chalk pastels and black paper is unbeatable. This pairing mimics the dazzling effect of fireworks against the night sky, making it perfect for new years arts and crafts or any festive occasion. Here’s why this dynamic duo works so well:
1. Bold Contrast
Black paper provides the perfect backdrop for chalk pastels, enhancing their brightness and making colors appear more vibrant. The stark contrast mimics the night sky, ensuring your firework designs stand out with explosive energy.
2. Vibrant Blending
Chalk pastels are known for their smooth, blendable texture. When used on black paper, the colors layer beautifully, creating glowing effects that resemble real fireworks bursting in the dark. The soft strokes allow you to experiment with gradients, from the fiery center of a firework to the gentle fade of sparks.
3. Realistic Night Sky Effect
The deep black paper naturally represents the night sky, eliminating the need for a painted or pre-drawn background. It simplifies the craft while keeping the focus on the colorful bursts of light.
4. Creative Freedom
Chalk pastels allow you to layer, smudge, and combine colors effortlessly, making it easy to experiment with different firework designs. The black paper’s non-reflective surface ensures every stroke and blend looks rich and saturated.
5. Accessible and Versatile
This craft requires minimal materials, yet the results are stunning. It’s a budget-friendly option for new years arts and crafts, as well as a fantastic choice for other celebrations. Let’s get started!
Get Creative!
Fireworks are a timeless symbol of celebration, and recreating their vibrant bursts in art is a fun and creative way to commemorate any occasion.
Chalk pastels and black paper are unparalleled in capturing the brilliance of fireworks, making them an ideal choice for both New Year’s celebrations and other festive occasions. This simple yet striking craft offers endless opportunities for creativity, allowing you to bring vibrant bursts of color to life. Let your artistic vision shine and celebrate in style with this magical, versatile project!
If you create these fireworks with your kids or students, please let me know! I’d love to add your creations to our gallery, so upload your photos or send them directly to me at: [email protected] Thank you!
You can also tag us if you post your masterpieces on Instagram or Facebook.
Here are some other art activities that you’ll want to check out!:
Looking for even more cool activities? You might be interested in our Roll a Snowman Game. Click here or the image below to learn more .
If you love to tangle as much as we do, you’re going to love our zentangle paper globes. Click HERE to check them out or click on the images below.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for more activities designed to encourage mindfulness and spark creativity, check out my printable resources below or visit my shop!
Don’t forget to download our free 15 page Mindfulness coloring book to help add a few mindful moments to your child’s day. Just click here or the image below!
