Fireplace Craft

Cut a brown paper bag open on its seam. Cut off the bottom of the bag (you won’t be using the bottom). You should now have a large brown paper rectangle. Repeat, using a second grocery bag.

Tape the two bags together on the back (the printed side). You should now have a large brown paper rectangle.

Using a dark marker, draw the outline of a fireplace on the good side of the paper rectangle. For a small-scale guide or template, click here.

The Bricks: The bricks are made of red paint. You can make them either by using a brush or by dipping a sponge in paint for ready-made bricks.

Using a brush: If you are going to paint the bricks using a brush, first use a pencil to draw where the bricks are going to be. Then paint the bricks, making sure to leave about half an inch of unpainted area between each brick - this will be the mortar between the bricks.

Using a sponge: If you are painting the bricks using a sponge, first pour a small amount of red paint onto a sturdy paper plate. Carefully dip one side of a slightly-damp sponge into the paint. Gently wipe off the excess paint on the side of the paper plate. Press the sponge on the paper where you want the brick to be, using even pressure. Make sure all parts of the sponge come into contact with the paper (if it doesn’t work exactly, you can always touch it up later).

Let the paint dry. Then, using a black marker (or black paint), draw a simple iron fireplace grate in the fireplace.

Using dark brown paint, draw a log on the grate.

After the paint dries, use a black marker to draw tree rings on one side of the log, and lines representing the rough bark.

For the fire, you can either paint flames (using red and orange paint) or glue on orange construction paper, aluminum foil, or red mylar.

For an aluminum foil or mylar fire, cut a few roughly-triangular pieces of foil or mylar. Crinkle the paper, foil, or mylar slightly, then glue the pieces just above the log.