Introduction: DIY Ombre Penny Art Project!

About: Hi! My name is Natalie! I have an awesome husband that lets me be a Play-at-home mom of 3! We homeschool and do projects daily! Check out my blog Doodlecraft for more awesomeness!

DIY Ombre Penny Art Project!

This is a super fun science project for kids!
Great little Back to School project--or possibly a fun elementary science fair presentation!

You will need Pennies!  We used 96!
A frame, no glass
some fabric...we used burlap...something heavy is best!
Vinegar
salt
Hot glue

Yes, that easy!

Step 1: Sort Supplies and Pennies!

How many pennies?
Find a frame you like...remove glass.
Cut some cardboard for a backing if frame doesn't have one.  Trim the backing board slightly, so it fits back into the frame when covered with material...this will depend on the material you've selected.  I used thick burlap, canvas or denim or duckcloth is good too!
Cover the backing with fabric and hot glue in place.

Now, line a row a pennies across the top and the side.  Multiply to see how many pennies you'll need.

Have your child(ren) sort through all the pennies and put them into color categories.
Shiny copper, dark brown, hints of black, and teal.

Now you want to have about an even amount of each variety...

If you are like us, you'll only have 1 or 2 teal ones!

Step 2: Use the Power of Science!

Now, the science...(okay, I'm no scientist and didn't have the equations and chemical changes to impress my kids)

Take some mid-range colored pennies
and put them in a glass dish.

Add 1/4 cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt.
Immediately they will brighten and become shiny.


Step 3: Changing of the Colors!

Let them soak about 5-10 minutes.
Pull them out and set them on a plate...
don't dry them off...

Over the next 2 hours they become slimy looking

and turn very bright turquoise--or verdigris.  The fun part is watching the change!  Every 20 minutes the kids would check to see how green they were becoming!  Some were completely changed, some very little difference!

Step 4: Arrange and Display!

Our pennies dried over night.
Arranged them on the burlap.
I let the kids decide which were brighter and didn't
care too much if they weren't exactly so.
Then hot glue them onto the burlap!
Picture perfect!

Fit your backing into your frame!  Hot glue in place and display!
Cool Ombre effect made with pennies!

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Finalist in the
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Participated in the
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