Icon Wall Hanging

Icon Wall Hanging

Materials:

White sheet or piece of sturdy white material with smooth surface. A natural fiber is best. About 3’ x 5’

Several black permanent markers

Fabric paint of appropriate colors, or if you already have craft paint, get a bottle of fabric medium- when mixed with the craft paint it makes yours fabric paint

1” brushes (one for each child who will participate)

1” diameter dowel- length the finished width of hanging + ½ inch on each end

Paper icon pattern of the Theotokos, Jesus or a saint (those from Fr. John Matusiak are
good)- pick something simple- use black and white cartoon-like patterns

(similar to this)

Directions:

Cut your fabric to size- I suggest 3’ x 5’ at least.

Draw the icon outline on the fabric, centering it. If someone is good enough to do this free hand, fine, otherwise there are machines which will enlarge the pattern and throw it onto the fabric so that the pattern can be drawn onto the fabric in the larger size. These are available at stores like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or AC Moore.

Go over your outline neatly with black permanent marker. (you will probably want to do this yourself)

Decide what color each section will be, and assign each section to one or two children. Let them work independently in painting on the color- if there are too many children around the hanging, you will surely have a mess. Have children paint so that the color is solid and opaque- no bits of white here and there, and tell them not to cover the black outline.

This can be done as a spare time activity when a child is finished with work, or as something extra at the end of class. Take your time- it is not a one class activity. It can also be done as a retreat day activity. You will probably want to attach it to the wall low enough so that children can reach to paint, and just leave it there if possible, until finished.

When the painting is done and dry, make a small hem around three of the sides, and fold over and sew about a 3” sleeve on the top, where you will slide a pole.

Stick a sturdy thumbtack on each end- from these you can attach a cord for hanging.