Arts and Crafts

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sierra Leone

One craft in Sierra Leone is gluing straw or reeds onto wood to form a picture.

Straw Picture

Materials needed:

Straw (or reeds--take apart old brooms, use thin willow branches, flat toothpicks could also be used)
Glue
Corrugated cardboard
Acrylic or tempera paint
Paintbrushes
Newspapers
Scissors
Utility knife
Spray shellac
Pencils

Give each crafter a piece of cardboard, about 9" by 12". Have them sketch their picture in pencil. The background can be painted in bright colors, but the main object will be made with the straws. Choose simple objects. A cross could be done effectively, or a hut, animal, bird, or simple geometric design.

Once the design is penciled in, start to glue straws at close intervals to fill the main design. If the design has curved edges, a utility knife can be used to cut the shape after the straws have been glued down. This will require adult supervision for younger crafters. If the design is straight, the straws can be cut to the desired length before they are glued in place.

After the straw work is done, paint the rest of the picture. When the paint is dry, you can spray the straw with shellac to give it a nice shine.