Take some colorful stones, or for older students, pieces of glass, and paste them onto a piece of cardboard to form a mosaic. Students can arrange them in any manner that they choose, be it the image of a flower or just an array of abstract color. Stones and mosaic materials can be bought in bulk at a craft supply store. When complete, a piece of string can be taped to the cardboard backing in a semi-circle for hanging.
Have students roll pine cones in acrylic craft paint of their chosen colors. Paste a small tree branch or twig onto an artist's canvas. When the pine cones are dry, they can glue them onto the canvas at the top of the branch, creating the image of a 3D tree. The ledges of the canvas will hang nicely on a nail in the wall.
Have students collect family photos and pictures from magazines that interest them. They can then cut them out and glue them into a collage on an artist's canvas. For more of a challenge, have them make a collage surrounding a theme, like "love" or "city." For added durability, the collage can be coated with a protective craft spray found at any craft supply store.
A simple painting can help students to improve their basic art skills. Expand their horizons by having them work in abstract form or use only two primary colors to create an image. Acrylic craft paints are widely available and safe for use in the classroom. The painting can be completed on a sheet of paper that can later be taped to a wall or framed. This can also be done on an artist's canvas.