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  • Activities and Competitions

    Organizing activities and competitions is fun but there are times you need some fresh ideas. In the activity drop-down menu below, you can find heaps of ideas. What about a Paper Plane Competition?

  • Activities

  • TIP: Keep an action list

    I wasn't particularly good at it myself - I'm an ad hoc person - but it was one of my recommendations when I gave display workshops: Make a rough sketch of how the display will look like Write down what materials and tools you'll need Create a time-line / checklist: This week copying and laminating - Next week: buy or beg materials - Two weeks: covering display boxes with matching paper - Three weeks: collect books matching the display etc. till you reach D-day and start getting nervous....

  • TIP: Staple at an angle

    Removing old display items will be much easier when you hold the stapler at an angle when you tack items to the board. The staples will stick out at one side - perfect to get hold of and pull them out when you change displays.

  • TIP: Use a glue gun

    Glue guns are the most fantastic tools for creating displays. You can attach all sorts of materials like hard plastic, metal, fabric and everything else you can think off. Be careful with your fingers (blow - blow) the glue is very hot and you easily get blisters

  • TIP: Create a 3D effect!

    Create a 3D effect by hanging objects in front of the display board, like fish in a Sea Life display or lanterns in a Spring or Garden display.

  • TIP: Don’t overdue it!

    Too much text, images or books on display too close together distract the eye. It all becomes a blur. Each object needs its own space. Think of a shop window that is more than full with appliances, you can’t distinguish one object from the other, while carefully placed objects attract the attention.

Flying beauties

Posted on June 3rd, 2020 by Anita

This display is a quick turnover from an existing one. Having not much time and wanting to do something different I used the previous set-up with some new additions. Going through my boxes with used materials I stumbled upon the butterflies. There is no happier display than one with flying beauties.

Colorful, happy and cheerful. The laminated images make the butterflies so much more vibrant and strong. And…… you can use them over and over again. Previously used in the display: ‘Floral art and flying beauties’ I’ve used them, again and again, to make other displays more attractive or to create a quick change of setting…..

..

The existing background is from the display: ‘Pandora’s box’ with lots of boxes in different sizes on a black and gold background.

What you need:

  • Laminated butterflies from your own books or from Google – Images (creative commons)
  • Colorful boxes – ready bought or shoe boxes or carton boxes covered in your favorite colors
  • Wrapping paper to your taste (you don’t need to follow my example – use your imagination and be bolt)
  • Title – I used the one of the Floral art and flying beauties but it’s easy to make one from cart or a laminated one
  • If you want to use the lanterns it might pay off to visit: ‘Pandora’s box’ display for a description of how to go about

What to do:

  • Use the wrapping paper to cover the background
  • Staple the boxes to the board. For an extensive description see: Pandora’s box’ display
  • Staple the title to the board between the boxes or do as I did in this display and attach them to a box covered in wrapping paper and put to the topside of the display
  • Attach the butterflies to the boxes and to the board. Make sure you give them movement by stapling them in a ‘wavy’ way. Let the caterpillars bulge or let the wings of the butterflies move by stapling under the wing (in an angle) to make them stand out from the board
  • Get the books out on butterflies, bees or insects and place them on the stands

Stand back and have a look at your display……

Be creative and use this example as an idea to make your own display! Send me your photos and I’m more than happy to put it on this website.

A vibrant display with lots of possibilities  to cheer up a library or class

Filed under: Animals, Flora and Fauna, Nature | Comments Off on Flying beauties

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