Art Made Easy – Activa Review

Summer is a great time to do some homeschool crafts using Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit from ACTÍVA Products. All the kids have been enjoying this fun and creative product for some indoor fun when the day has gotten too hot to be outside and we need an indoor break.

WHAT IS RIGID WRAP AND CELLUCLAY?

It’s pretty cool actually. the Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit that we received came with:

Two rolls of Rigid Wrap plaster cloth
8 ounces of CelluClay
Instructions for 12 craft projects for you to try
Access to a FREE eBook which includes a ton of ideas for using the products in the Quik Sculpting Kit.

The book has templates included if you need them for specific products. Though the ideas presented in both the instruction book and the eBook are aimed at children, adult, older children, and advanced crafters could definitely make use of the ideas as a springboard for more fun ideas. There are many ideas for boys and girls, younger and older like making butterflies, mummies, masks, bowls, and even a volcano. We did some projects from the book, including using the templates provided at the back, which was great. But your imagination is definitely the limit with the Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit.

HOW DOES RIGID WRAP and CELLUCLAY WORK?

Rigid Wrap is a plaster gauze/cloth that works very much like a cast for a broken bone! When wet, the wrap becomes a plaster that is easily smoothed over your creation to give it a nice consistency and even finish. It is very uncomplicated, just add water! My kids were able to figure out how to use it by reading the directions and starting right away. I didn’t have to help at all. Well, except for laying down stuff on the table because I KNEW they would make a mess! But art is messy, right!!! Embrace it!CelluClay is an “instant paper maché” that is simple to prepare and easy to use. Again, so easy, all you have to add is water! And again, the kids were able to get it right the first time all by themselves.

CelluClay is an “instant paper maché” that is simple to prepare and easy to use. Again, so easy, all you have to add is water! And again, the kids were able to get it right the first time all by themselves. Now my 7 year old had help from my 12 year old, in the interest of full disclosure, but still, they were able to do it no problem.

They each chose a project and got started. The girls decided on bowls – why I don’t know, probably to store all those items they have acquired over the summer. And my son, of course, chose a dinosaur. The dinosaur required a template from the eBook, which I cut out for him. We then cut out a stencil on cardboard and he got busy.

Once we decided on a project my daughter began cutting strips on the Rigid Wrap and then mixed up the CelluClay. We did that in a ziploc bag for easy mixing and cleanup. It was easy to mix because you could squeeze the bag once zipped up until mixed well. You can add more powder or more water to adjust the consistency. She actually nailed it the first time so…off we went to create. The girls followed the directions for the bowl. I cut out the dinosaur template and then made a cardboard template for my son. My daughter cut him some rigid wrap strips and he got started.

You dip the rigid wrap strips in water and they easily mold the shape you want. You move them and smooth them to make the shape you want. You then cover the rigid wrap with the CelluClay, which was easy to work with also. Once you have all the little gauzy holes covered, and your project is in good form and shape, you put aside to dry.

IT DOES TAKE SOME TIME TO DRY. I would say 24-48 hours to dry all in all. But we just sat it out in our garage and got back to it the next day for the bowls and the following day for the dinosaur. The dinosaur being 2 sided, we had to flip it so I think that’s why it took 2 days to dry.

Once your projects are dry, it’s time to paint them. The clay dries quite hard so it’s easy to handle once it’s dry. I was out of acrylic paint so I had to run and get some but that’s ok, we were out because we use it. I am thinking of trying out tempura on it next to see how that works. But these projects pictured had acrylic paint.

Cleanup with easy with Rigid Wrap and CelluClay. The clay and powder washed right off and the residue, which there was a little powder on our clothes etc, washed out with no issue. The dust on our table etc washed up no problem as well.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Overall, the kids said they loved working with the Rigid Wrap and CelluClay and are already planning more projects. Like all art projects, I have to prepare the area because I’m always worried about messes since we have to work on our kitchen table since we don’t have a hobby table or anything like that. So they have to ask to use. AND THEY HAVE ASKED. We are in the process of working on a butterfly now and my daughter really wants to make the mask but I do need more materials for that and I don’t have them in the house. Some of the projects in the ACTÍVA Products’ Favorite Sculpture KIDS CRAFTS ebook require additional crafting materials like foam balls and mask forms and I don’t have them in the house so we have to make a trip to get these items. But I love that they are excited to try new projects.

All in all, I think this product is a hit and something that would make art time fun and easy for those that need some help coming up with some fun art projects ideas that are more involved than construction paper, crayons, and glue sticks. There are actually lots of crafting ideas on the ACTÍVA Products website. There are even lesson plans for projects involving their products, we are totally gonna try the biome art project this year. So be sure to check out the website and their social media pages for great ideas. And click on the banner below to see what the rest of the Homeschool Review Crew made with their ACTÍVA Products.