This special craft kit comes with a miniature size, fully functional metal file cabinet that is ready to paint and decorate with included supplies. The cabinet measures approximately seven inches tall and just over four inches deep and is an almost exact version of regular-size file cabinet, except that it has a slot at the top so that it can double as a bank. The top drawer locks and two keys are included with the kit.
The kit comes with special paint designed for use on metal surfaces. It's also permanent, so kids should protect their clothing and tables before they begin this super craft. Although a few suggestions are given in the kit's instruction sheet, the project is meant to be rather open-ended. Children can add painted spirals, squiggles, stars, hearts, and decorative borders to their cabinet. A magnetic picture frame is included—children need only add a personal photo. Clear glass stones and magnetic strips are also included so that kids can create special Opti-Art magnets for their cabinet. Kids use the technique of reverse glass painting to create original glass magnets in this project-within-a-project, and the magnets are handy for attaching notes and pictures to the file cabinet.
We have found that too many art kits come with barely enough paint to complete a project, but this set includes a healthy ten pots of different color paints. If necessary, children are free to mix the paints in order to create custom colors for their cabinet. A good suggestion in the kit's pamphlet is to recycle old pieces of cardboard to create "mini" file folders for the drawers. The metal cabinet is very sturdy and looks great no matter how it's decorated! Children enjoy the chance to decorate it any way they please, and the fact that this project creates very functional art means children can admire, show off, and use their sturdy little cabinet for years to come.
