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Okay - I am in no way blaming Carrie for her projects - I am a complete art idiot - we just did the unit 2 project in bigger and it is not turning out at all -- can anyone tell me what I may have done wrong?

I followed the directions but maybe I am using the wrong xxx? I have no idea but its a bum deal when my dc is bummed because he worked hard at it and it flops -- I am probably doing something wrong I just have no idea what!

Please advise!!
Thanks!!!

Which ones?

well most of the ones we did in Beyond last year and the unit 2 in Bigger it is the one that you use the wax paper to make an outline of a fish on the white piece of construction paper then paint water over it and then paint with green, blue, and purple then cover with crinkled plastic wrap to make it look like an under water scene...

My wax paper one didn't work either. The colors look cool but you can not see the fish.

I laughed right out loud about your description of yourself as being an art idiot I feel just like that!!!!! I'm afraid to even try the projects sometimes because most of what I try is such a disaster! I have no help for you, just glad I'm not alone in feeling this way!

My kids just did this project a few weeks ago. My oldest's fish showed up more distinctly (I think) because he draws with a heavier hand than my little guy. You can kind of see how he pressed hard into the paper. He took artistic liberty with the instructions. My little guy's showed up until he got to the squished up plastic wrap part. The fish were white up until he went to town blotting away until they were almost gone. I think he liked that part more than the drawing and painting. He didn't seem to care either way. If it makes you feel any better, we didn't get it right perfectly either. They still enjoyed getting out the paints anyway (and you are most certianly NOT and idiot!)

My DS did enjoy the painting part but was disappointed that the fish didn't show - I tried it again doing it all myself and it didn't work either but I am glad to know that I am not alone - LOL - and thanks for the visual - I need those lots of them

Thanks ladies for the encouragement!!! We will keep pressing on


Is there a place where pics are posted by people that I could try to look at in advance that way I have a better chance of us getting it right???

Again Thank you Ladies!!!

We had trouble with that one too. So we drew the fish with a white crayon and did it over. That worked better.

I write a week in review for Bigger on my blog. We're on week 4 this week, and will post Friday. I usually post lots of pics. I would check the week in review section of the forum here to find other families doing Bigger. There are a few of us who post for Bigger weekly there. I loved seeing pics last year of what was to come for this year. The visuals definitely help me for sure

We didn't have waxed paper so we used a white crayon and I made her press really hard.
This project is still on our fridge from 3 years ago lol!

I wonder if maybe a tips and tricks section could be put in each of the programs so if the directions confuse us moms that we have some where to go.

So glad it wasn't just me! Love the white crayon idea.

That project didnt work well for us, either. We are also having a hard time with the clay activities. I have never used clay before, it is very tiresome for my kids hands.

We are going to need clay? ...is it the stuff she gives recipe for? Oh dear...I guess I should look ahead I usually fly by the seat of my pants and use the guide as open and go...maybe I need to change my ways.

This issue came up a couple of years ago. It was suggested that "modern" wax paper is thinner and doesn't have the amount of wax in it as older "versions," therefore, not as much wax is deposited on the paper. My mom had some wax paper that she's had for a long time. We used that, and it worked.