Model an air-freshener container sculpture on an animal figurine as a guide for color and design.
Used air freshener containers don't have to go into the garbage. If the container is sealed and can stand alone, the container can be recycled into a creative animal sculpture. Recycling used air freshener containers can teach children about animals and various artistic mediums, as well as challenge their imagination. Using an air freshener container as a base allows children to begin with a tangible object upon which they can build their own animal sculpture. Materials such as acrylic craft paints and assorted fabrics are available at many craft supply stores.
Instructions
1. Use a stand-alone air freshener container that is either completely dry or with only a few dried-out components. The air freshener container should be solid --- such as one which twists to open or close --- and should not be a plug-in air freshener.
2. Close the air freshener container. The container does not have to be air tight, but must be fully closed.
3. Draw a sketch of your intended final project on a sheet of paper. Consider whether the air freshener will be the head, body or entire animal.
4. Cut pieces of craft foam into different shapes to create a head, arms, legs or any other major feature you'd like to add to the air freshener container sculpture. For example, you would cut a head, legs
ears and a snout out of craft foam if you were creating a bear and using the container as the body. Cut smaller additions such as wings, tails and fins from the craft foam as well.
5. Use a hot glue gun and glue sticks designed for plastic to attach your craft foam pieces to the air freshener container. After a piece is glued, hold the piece in place for 30 seconds to one minute to let the glue cool, then move on to the next piece.
6. Paint the air freshener container and craft foam additions in the base color of the animal you are creating. For example, if you were creating a parrot, you could paint the container and craft foam additions in green. Use acrylic craft paints and apply them with a soft-bristled paint brush. Allow the paint to dry completely.
7. Cut pieces of different fabrics and glue them to the air freshener container to represent manes, beards or long fur. For example, if you were creating a lion, you might use a piece of faux-fur fabric to create a mane. Attach the fabric to the air freshener container using a hot glue gun or craft glue.
8. Cut pieces of felt or craft foam of different colors into different shapes and attach them to the air freshener container. For example, if you were creating a penguin, you could cut out a white oval of felt or craft foam and attach it to the container to represent a penguin's white belly. For a parrot sculpture, you could cut strips of red, yellow and blue felt or craft foam and attach them to the container and the craft foam wings to present a parrot's bright feathers.
9. Mix one part salt, one part water and two parts flour to create a salt dough. Blend the mixture well, then form small pieces such as eyes, beaks and claws for your air freshener container animal. For example, you could shape claws out of salt dough if you were sculpting a cat figurine. Set the finished pieces on an ungreased baking sheet.
10. Bake the salt dough pieces in an oven at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 120 minutes, depending on the size of the piece. Check the salt dough every 10 minutes while it bakes to avoid burning it. When the pieces are a light golden-brown color, remove them from the oven. Allow salt dough objects to cool until they're no longer warm to the touch. Paint the pieces according to your design plan for your sculpture and allow them to dry completely. Attach the painted pieces to the air freshener container with a hot glue gun or craft glue.
11. Add the final touches to your air freshener container animal such as bobble eyes, final felt or craft foam details, paint touch-ups or feathers. Allow the sculpture to dry completely before putting it on display.
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