Each class in our school does a project for parents to bid on at our school auction. This year our 1st grade class has been given an old school desk to maybe work into our project. Any ideas? I would like to make something that involves each of the children in class but is still cool enough to display in someone's home. The only thing I have seen in my web searches is decopaging the surface with images, maybe black and white pics of the kids? But I need more ideas- any crafty mommas want to help me out?
You don't describe the desk so it is hard to say what can be done. I know it would be nice if the desk was the type that opened up with the hinges to make it some kind of dressing table type deal with a mirror and compartments on the inside to store things.
I would say think outside the box and perhaps the shape of the desk could be used to create something else. Think about some kind of media storage or play area or something like that.
You can buy bags of sea shells or sea glass (worn down glass from the ocean), and bags of broken tile/mirror pieces super cheap Collage the heck out of it, then get one tile with the classes name and year to fixate to one (relatively discrete) portion of the desk :)
You could try having each child paint their hand and stamp it on the chair. Then when it's dry have each child sign their name.
I am doing the same thing for our school fundraiser....I plan to make a little "faux wood floor" to set it on, and refinish it/clean it up a bit. I am going to set a bear in the school shirt on the seat, and conduct a book drive in the class, put the books on the desk with some bookends and an apple and set it up on display like that. I would be nervous about making it look too oddball as it might intimidate people from bidding on it for their home unless your school is an art school and all of the parents & kids very artsy people. Good luck and have fun!
Is it an old (antique) desk?
http://howtonestforless.com/2011/08/18/old-school-desk/
Updated
Is it an old (antique) desk?
you could paint it a solid color like black first. Then have the kids paint on little murals all over it - school themes. You can then decoupage their school photos but also maybe old fashioned school pictures you can find. Old school houses, apples, school teachers, the flag, whatever you can think of. I bet it will end up so cool!
I've seen furniture painted with poetry done by students and it was breathtaking. And absolutely priceless! :)
I'd definitely keep in mind that whatever you do to this item, if you make it too "oddball," nobody will want to bid on it.
So keep it pretty and relatively neutral. Maybe just refinish it together (ensure everyone has protective masks and gloves). Talk about the type of wood it's made of (most likely hardwood oak or maple). Make it a lovely peice that would belong in anyone's home and isn't just something that will end up in an attic. Does it have a little hold for pencils or ink? Line it and put a little flowering plant in there. Just keep it simple.
ETA: I love Kimberly's idea of making it into a vanity. Refinish it and put a nice beveled mirror inside with compartments for all an adult lady's pretties.
