With the new school year upon us I thought I might post some basic craft recipes in case you are like me and have decided that your family needs to do more crafts. My children love them and ask all the time to do them. When I only had a couple kids it was easier to do them but as I had more we moved away from them a bit. I want to get back into the habit of doing crafts with my kids on a regular basis. I think they provide a great hands-on learning plus we normally have a wonderful time doing them as well!
Basic FingerPaint:
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons salt
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 1/4 cups warm water
Saucepan
Whisk
Food coloring or powdered tempura paint
Put flour and salt in a saucepan. Add cold water and beat with a whisk or rotary beater until smooth. Add hot water and boil until mixture is thick. Beat again until smooth. Keep in refrigerator and color as needed with food coloring or powdered tempura paint.
Modeling Clay:
2 cups salt
2/3 cup water
Saucepan
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
Stir salt and water in a saucepan over heat for four to five minutes. Remove from heat. Add cornstarch and cold water. Stir until smooth; return to heat and cook until thick. Store in a plastic bag.
Homemade Paste:
1/2 cup flour
Cold water
Saucepan
Add some cold water to the flour until it is as thick as cream. Simmer and stir in a saucepan for five minutes. This is a wet paste that takes a little bit to dry.
Glue:
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 teaspoon white vinegar
Small saucepan
Small bowl
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3/4 cup cold water
Mix water, corn syrup and white vinegar in a small saucepan. Bring to a full, rolling boil. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with cold water. Add this mixture slowly to the hot mixture stirring constantly until the mixture returns to a boil. Boil for one minute and then remove from heat. When slightly cooled, pour into another container and let stand overnight before using.
Paper- Mache Paste:
1 cup water
1/4 cup flour
5 cups lightly boiling water
Large saucepan
Mix flour into one cup of water until the mixutre if thin and runny. Stir this mixture into the lightly boiling water. Gently boil and stir for two to three minutes. Cool before using.
Colorful Creative Salt:
1/2 cup salt
5 to 6 drops food coloring
Wax paper or microwave safe container and microwave
Add food coloring to salt and stir well. Cook in microwave for one to two minutes, or spread on wax paper and let air dry. Store in airtight container. Use like glitter.
You can find Michelle writing about her family, their homeschooling journey and life in general at her blog Pass the Flu Bug Please.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Yay!!!! Thanks for sharing, looks like we are going to have so much fun soon.
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Thank you so much for sharing this! I always mean to search for these types of "recipes", and forget. I'm going to follow you now. :)
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I'm glad they will be helpful! The kids were excited to see me get the recipes out. They can't wait to start crafting!
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Hi all- I'm wondering what those with younger kids think of the "mess-free" products now available. My 2 year old got a pack of mess-free painting for her birthday and I have mixed feelings about it. It seems like some of the fun and creativity is in the "mess" of art. Just wanted to hear other's experiences and opinions.
Thanks,
Addie
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Addie, I agree with you… some of the fun IS in making the mess! I'm not thrilled with messes per say but I also know that it's such a great feeling to have your hands sticky with glue, or fingers gooey with paint. We keep tons of baby wipes nearby for quick clean up.
We also don't use the more commercial products, especially the mess free, because of the cost!
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