# Mixed Media Family Portraits > Spray paint old shoebox lids a light color, draw a family or self portrait on each one with a fine-tip permanent marker, then decoupage a tissue-paper background and decorate with glitter, sequins and beads. A recycled-art project for the first weeks of school that can run over several short sessions. - URL: https://www.funlittles.com/back-to-school-art-for-kids-mixed-media-family-portraits/ - Ages: 4–8 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium - Time: prep 25 min, activity 1 hr - Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class - Skills: fine-motor, scissor-skills, drawing, collage, self-expression ## Materials (one batch) - 1 piece Shoebox lids (household) - 1 can Spray paint in a light color (e.g. Rust-Oleum Candy Pink) - 2 piece Fine-tip permanent marker - Pencils (optional) (household) - Colorful tissue paper - Glue - 1 piece Paintbrush and small cup for glue (household) - 1 piece Scissors (household) - Glitter - Sequins - Beads - Small gold string (optional) ## Safety - Adult does the spray painting, outdoors or in a well-ventilated space and away from kids. Let the lids dry completely before kids handle them. - Permanent markers don't wash out of clothes or tables. Use smocks or old shirts and cover the table. - Beads and sequins are small parts and a choking hazard for kids who still mouth things. Supervise closely. - Supervise scissor use during the cutting and tearing step. - Shake glitter gently and keep it away from eyes; wash hands after. ## Before you start - Collect one shoebox lid per child. - Adult: give each lid a coat of light-colored spray paint and let it dry completely. ## Steps 1. Set out the painted lids, a couple of fine-tip permanent markers, and pencils for kids who want them. 2. Sketch your picture lightly in pencil first if you want to plan it out. 3. Draw a self portrait or family portrait on the lid with the permanent marker. 4. For a family lid, take turns so each person draws themselves. 5. Let the portraits sit overnight, then come back to decorate. 6. Cut or tear tissue paper and glue it around the figures as a background so they stand out. 7. Glue tissue paper onto the people to give them clothes. 8. Brush one more layer of glue over the tissue paper and give it a good shake of glitter. 9. Glue sequins around the border, and add beads on a little gold string for a necklace. 10. Stand the finished portraits up to show them off. ## Tips - I would probably stick with pink or any other lighter shade instead of purple, since we sketch on the painted lid. - Drawing with a pencil first helps the younger ones choose the image they want to create on the shoebox lid. - We took turns drawing ourselves on the squarer lid. I finished mine first and the girls drew themselves later. This was probably the most fun part of the activity. - It can be done in one sitting, but my kids took a few sessions. It's up to them really! I usually leave the supplies out and they come and work on them every now and then. - Younger kids might need help finishing off the tissue paper near the edges. Great practice for cutting and gluing. - Don't throw away all those shoe boxes after you're done with back-to-school shoe shopping. ## The original post by TurkeyMom (2015) T The children are going back to school in a few short weeks after a gloriously fun summer. New teachers, new classroom, new school, possibly a we new friends. Often first week of back to school season involves a few fun back to school art projects and other activities. When we did this recycled art activity we didn't envision it to be a good back to school activity. This art project just happened when we happened to notice a bunch of shoe box kids we have collected ( don't throw away all those shoe boxes after you are done with your back to school shoes for your kids) { [all art activities here](https://www.funlittles.com/category/art-projects/) } ### Art with recycled materials : Mixed Media Portraits with shoe box lids Materials - Shoebox Lids - [Rust-Oleum Candy Pink Spray Paint](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002BWOS5S/?tag=blmemo-20) - [Glitter](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F8T4O0/?tag=blmemo-20) - [Sequins](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CJDUXTY/?tag=blmemo-20) - Beads - Glue - Tissue Paper - [Fine Tip Permanent Marker](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00144862U/?tag=blmemo-20) I collected three of those kids and gave them a coat of spray paint. I would probably *stick with pink or any other lighter shade* instead of purple since we are going to sketch on the painted lid. Once the lids dry it is time to create the portraits - self portraits [family portraits](https://www.funlittles.com/thanksgiving-art/) whatever you wish. Set out the painted lids and a couple of fine tip permanent markers. Pencils if the kids prefer. Drawing with a pencil first helps the younger ones choose the image they want to create on the shoebox lid. Both the children ( 4 & 6) chose to create family portraits on their respective shoebox kids. For the more square lid they wanted to go a different route . We took turns drawing ourselves. I finished mine first and the girls later drew themselves. This probably was the most fun aspect of this art activity. Then we let the family portraits sit overnight. It could be art project that can be done in one sitting but my kids took a few sessions. It's up to them really! I usually let the supplies sit outside and they come and work on them every now and then. The next session involved sprucing up the recycled art. I set out colorful tissue paper, glue, glitter, beads and some sequins. I don't really have action shots of the process since this part of the art activity was done over a course of 2 days and was often done on a whim without a set plan or time. So camera did not come out. Decorating the family portrait involved lots of cutting, tearing, layering and gluing. Simple decoupage activity so to speak The children can cut the colored paper and glue them as s background for the portrait to simply make the figure stand out. Younger kids might need help with finishing off near the edges. Great practice for cutting and gluing. { [Fine Motor Activities](https://www.funlittles.com/category/fine-motor-activities/)} Once the kids are satisfied with the layering, one more layer of glue goes on top of the colored paper. Then a good shake of glitter on top of the glue to have the glitter stick to the colored tissue paper. Other details included are the border around the lid with sequins, clothes for the people using tissue paper and a necklace made using a small gold string and beads. The possibilities are endless! Art with recycled materials are the best, aren't they? Remember our [art studio in a box](https://www.funlittles.com/recycled-crafts-art-studio-in-a-box/)? Pin these images to save this idea.