Make your own Harry Potter T-Shirts

Kids made their own Harry Potter shirts at our Lake Branch, and you can do the same!

Kids made their own Harry Potter shirts earlier this year at our Lake Branch; and it was awesome, except for one thing.

You didn't get a shirt.

But we can fix that with the crafting experience of MPL Library Associate Ragan Snead. Follow her instructions, and you'll have your own personal Potterverse shirt to rock. Fabulosa!

Here's what you'll need:

1. A simple, bold Harry Potter design (Spend some time searching the Internet, especially Pinterest, for one you like.)
2. Cardstock
3. Fabric paint
4. Scissors or Exacto knife
5. T-shirt (Any light-colored shirt will work, but the craft is easiest with a white shirt.)

Instructions

1. Pick your Harry Potter-related design. The simpler it is to cut out, the easier your life will be.
2. Print the design on cardstock and cut it out using an Exacto knife or scissors.
3. Put an extra piece of cardstock inside the T-shirt to keep the paint from bleeding through to the back.
4. Paint your design using fabric paint. For our craft, we used fabric paint in spray bottles giving the design a splattered look. With this method, you can get creative with what colors you use and how dark or light you want them.
5. After you are finished painting, let the t-shirt dry for about 30 minutes before removing the stencil. The more paint you use the longer it will take to dry.
6. After the paint is completely dry it can be washed normally.

For more fun and crafty programs at Mentor Public Library, visit our event calendar.

Art for Adults at Mentor Library

Aileene admires her handiwork during a jewelry-making session Monday at Mentor Library's Main Branch.

If you're older than 13, you may wonder why it's the kids who always seem to be getting crafty.

It's the children who get to make cornucopias or build lava lamps or splatter paint everywhere.

But there are plenty of chances for teens and adults to flex their artistic side at Mentor Library too.

Just in the last year, we've hosted free watercolor painting and inking classes.

Rita carefully threads her beads onto her necklace.

On Monday, Terry O'Leary showed how to make beautiful custom earrings-and-bracelet sets. Some people made their jewelry as Christmas gifts. Others loved what they made too much to part with it.

(We need to pause here to thanks the Mentor Community Arts Commission. They sponsored the jewelry-making, watercolor and inking programs. We couldn't do this without them!)

If you missed Monday's program, there's another opportunity to get in touch with your artistic side this year.

On Monday, Dec. 8, at our Main Branch, Jenn Cline from the Ohio Paper Folders will teach a hands-on introduction to origami. See what you can do with just a few pieces of paper. Registration for the workshop begins Nov. 24.

Clare and John search for just the right beads to complete their bracelets.

For more photos from our jewelry-making workshop and other programs, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page.

Making raised salt paintings at MPL's Headlands Branch

At Mentor Library's Headlands Branch, we thought we'd use salt to make a fun craft and teach a little bit about local history on Friday. After all, a lot of kids (and even some adults) don't realize that we live right by a rock salt mine in Fairport Harbor.

So we told the kids about how salt is made and then helped them make raised salt paintings.

Raised salt paintings are easy (if occasionally messy) to make, so we'll include some instructions in case you want to try it with your kids at home.

Kids use craft glue to make patterns on their paper.

All you need is some construction paper, craft glue, salt and watercolor paints.

You start by using your glue to make patterns on your construction paper. It can be anything—hearts, smiley faces, your name. Simple shapes and patterns look great on the paper, so it doesn't have to be complicated.

Then you sprinkle salt on top of the glue.

It might be less messy if you pour the salt yourself, or if you do the craft outside.

You don't have to wait for the glue to dry before you start painting.

The salt absorbs the water in the paint, so it dries quickly. It also spreads the color and gives the artwork texture.

And it looks beautiful.

Give it a try and let us know how it looks!

For more photos from our Raised Salt Painting program, visit Mentor Library's Facebook page. For more programs and events for kids, visit the Mentor Library's event calendar on its website.