One of my daughter’s school project was exploring artists. With little time to spare (due the following day!!) and a Matisse exhibition in town and a little pinterest for inspiration (saw a balloon covered in leaves) and inspiration hit hard – we would make a matisse cut out egg!
We cut some shapes in card, made some modge podge glue (flour and water cooked together!)
then started gluing the shapes on a balloon (standing on a glass)
– we left to dry overnight and popped the balloon the next day!
I was highly dubious that it would work, but it did!! Very happy results…
April 15 update:
I am really happy to say that the Matisse egg has been a bit of a hit on Pinterest over the past few months, and I have been very touched to see it so appreciated.
it has been featured in a number of great creative blogs (thank you so much Hello Wonderful!, Buzzfeed, 2soulsisters) and it’s truly been wonderful to hear that this has inspired so many people.
You can find further craft ideas here such as the nature drawing table, leaf crafts and woodland creatures.
I am also an illustrator, creating custom portraits – you can find my shop on Etsy, find out how I work and my price list. I do take international orders.
I am thinking of making matisse egg kits – downloadables, templates or printed – would love to hear if anyone would be interested!
Karuski's little shop of colours 
I’m so glad you shared this project as I too saw it on Pinterest and wondered how it would turn out. I’m planning on teaching my kids History of Art over the summer break so this was an option for the Matisse lesson. It looks like you and your daughter had fun.
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The Pinterest one is my own! My biggest hit 🙂
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Ha! Brilliant. How funny. I confess I had not looked at the pin closely, just added it to my list of possibilities for the homeschooling summer project. I’m not surprised it’s been a big hit, however, as it looks like a great deal of fun.
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I tried this and it did not work. I used paper instead of card stock and store bought mod podge.
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Sorry to hear that Connie – I think you do need the thickness of card to make this work, if you can face trying again!
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Looks amazing
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Reblogged this on Word Plodder.
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What kind of glue did you use? I just adore this project. Thanks so much for sharing! My third graders love Matisse!
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I made my own by boiling some flour and water together!
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Thank you – it was such a fun thing to make, and very possible for little people!!
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If you do it with them – would love to see pictures!!
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What kind of home made mod podge do you think works better, the glue and water or the flour and water? Also what ratio did you use?
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I use a 1:1 ratio flour and water and cooked it so that it was thick but still runny. Haven’t tried the glue version as I liked this texture! Let me know if you try it, would love to know!
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Would real mod podge work better? It might not release the balloon?
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I haven’t tried it, but as long as it’s well dried, I reckon it should work fine! Worth a try!!
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Did the balloon stick to the pieces of paper or did it remove easily? I would like to try this with my students, thinking about using a glue mixture i use for paper mache.
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i’ve done a couple of times with papier mache glue and it came off pretty cleany both times – you should be fine! Would love to see the results 🙂
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Hi Did you use card stock or thinner paper?
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I used coloured regular craft paper, nothing too thin or too thick – i think something too thin would risk not keeping the shape, and too thick might not take the modge podge as well!
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Yes would love leaf templates! !! Thanks
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Trying it with hand shapes for a special friendship project.
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Would love to see this!!
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I just tried this project. I used regular Modge Podge. As it was drying the balloon started to deflate. I placed it outside to dry. Turned out pretty good- but left a clear film over al of it, which is fine. I just turned it upside down and set it in a bowl and added modge podge inside as well to make it more secure
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That sounds like a great way to improve on it! Thanks for sharing your tip, Christen! Send me a pic, i’d love to see it!
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I love this idea and think the kit would be a great idea! I am an elementary art teacher and would definitely buy for my students…
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Greetings! What a great lesson plan. I am an art teacher in Red Bluff, CA. I am interested in your Matisse egg kits – downloadables templates if you have them available. I plan to teach this lesson with a mixed age group and I can see how a template would make the piece a lot easier to do for little ones!
Thank you,
Diane Penner
dpenner@mercy-high.org
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will it work with construction paper? doing this with an elementary art class This week!
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I love this and am planning to do it with my class next week so did a practice one today. Sadly, when I popped the balloon the whole thing collapsed?! I used ova/water and craft card (not too think/thin) Any tips??
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Hi Debbie, sorry not to get back to you MUCH sooner! it might have been that it wasn’t fully dry? I wonder if applying a thin layer of talcum powder on the balloon might work?
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I’d like to know how you make modge podge glue
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Sorry it’s such a long time since you wrote, there are lots of recipes online for modge podge and they might need testing out! I used flour and water to create a paste. It did leave a bit of white residue, so for a nicer finish,it might be worth trying the real thing!!
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Very nice ! I want to make it but can I use normal glue?
Will it work ?
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