Create life-size sculptures of people with packing tape. You will need a roll of clear packing tape, plastic wrap, a scarf or piece of pantyhose and scissors. Do this project in teams of two or three, if possible. Choose one person to be the model and the other to do the sculpting. Cover the model's hair with a piece of pantyhose or a tightly tied scarf. Be sure the person is wearing form-fitting clothing. Wrap the first layer of packing tape around his body with the sticky side out. The next two layers are made with the sticky side in. Do not completely cover the nostrils or mouth.
Once the person is fully wrapped, carefully cut off the plastic and then use the tape to repair the cut area. Different body parts can be done separately and then attached with packing tape.
These sculptures can be left as is, or filled with strands of Christmas lights, stuffed with tissue paper or other lightweight items.
Shrines do not have to have religious connotations. Create shrines dedicated to a favorite beverage, sports team, restaurant, or literary or musical artist. Craft stores carry papier mache boxes that will work for this project. Cardboard or wood boxes can also be used. A small 4" X 6" box works, as does a large box turned on it's side vertically with the lid removed. Gather items that depict your object of affection. Starting at the back, arrange the items in the open box. Paint or decoupage the outside of the shrine so that it will look complete from any angle.
Two or three items artfully arranged may be all that is needed to express the feelings you have. Other shrines are full of small objects, words and images.
Altered books are multi-media projects. Start with old hardcover books. Toddler books that have hard cardboard pages work well for beginners, since the pages can be collaged directly. Use glue sticks to collage images on the pages, paint, fabric and found objects. Choosing a theme before beginning keeps the project manageable. Consider a favorite poem, sport or game.
Cut a shape out of the center of one page with a utility knife. Glue this page to the one behind it. This creates a spot for a miniature object to rest. Making altered books is a chance to experiment with different art materials and techniques.