Make Your Own
Art Supplies
And Other Fun Stuff
Over 100 Recipes & Ideas Using Household Supplies
 Paints & Inks
 Playdough & Clays
 Glues & Sticky Stuff
 Plus Many More
Make Your Own Art Supplies
What was it like long ago when art materials were too
expensive or hard to find? What materials could you use
to paint, draw and sculpt?
Many everyday household items can be used to make clay,
paste, paints, and other creative craft materials.
Don't be afraid to experiment.
Besides, making or discovering new art supplies can be just
as fun as using them.
Table Of Contents
Page 1
Dough & Clay
Air Dry Clay
Alum Play Dough
Applesauce Sculpty Stuff
Baker’s Clay
Bread Clay
Carveable Stone
Cinnamon Dough
Coffee Grounds Dough
Cornstarch and Salt Fundough
Cornstarch Clay
Creative Play Clay
Dryer Lint Modeling Material
Extra Soft Pulp
Fake Wood Casting Compound
Faux Recipe
Frosting Dough
Fruity Putty
Funny Putty
Goofy Putty
Honey Peanut Butter Dough
Hypoallergenic Clay
Indoor Sandcastle Stuff
Industrial Salt Dough
Kool-Aid Dough
Marzipan Dough
Oat Dough #1
Oat Dough #2
Peanut Butter Dough
Pearly Clay Beads
Professional Sand Castle Stuff
Rock Dough
Salt Dough
Sawdust Dough
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Table Of Contents
Page 2
Things to Draw With
Chalk
Designer Cloth with Crayons
Giant Paul Bunyon Crayons
Shaped Crayons
38
39
40
41
Paints & Inks
Artist Quality “Oil” Paint
Bubbly Sudsy Ink
Changing Cabbage Ink
Colored Rice or Pasta Shapes
Crystal Paint
Dazzling Paint
Deluxe Finger Paint
Deluxe Poster Paint
Dimensional Paint
Disappearing Ink
Earthy Dyes
Egg Dye
Egg Yolk Paint
Marble Paper
Monet’s Water Color Paints
Moooo Paint
Ooey Gooey Finger Paint
Poster Paint
Pudding Finger Paint
Puffy Paint
Royal Icing Paint (not for eating)
Scratch-n-Sniff Watercolor
Spreadable Paint
Transfer Ink
Translucent Paint
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
Table Of Contents
Page 3
Glues & Sticky Stuff
Batik Flour Paste
Bookbinding or Leather Glue
Classroom Paste
Homemade Stickers
Paste
Resin Paper Mache Paste
School Glue
Sticker Goo
Waterproof Glue
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
Fun Things to Eat
Christmas Tea
Edible Fishbowl
Edible Paper
Fizzling Drinks
Ice Cream in a Bag
Lemon Fizz
Nilly Dillyicious Pops
Rock Candy & Coffee Stirrers
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
Fun Extras
Active Volcano Lava
Bath Salts
Bird Treat
Discovering Hidden Messages
Eyes
Fake Ivory
Flower Preservative #1
Flower Preservative #2
Growing Crystals
Guts
Leathery Fake Skin
Monster Bubbles
Ocean Wave Toy
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
Table of Contents
Fun Extras
Paper Mache
Plaster of Paris Draped Cloth
Shiny Wet Snow
Shrinking Plastic Stuff
Slime
Snow Flakes
Super Bubbles
Tissue Paper Sculpture Mix
Volcano Cloud
Whale Blubber
Page 4
(Continued)
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
Air Dry Clay
Page 5
What You’ll Need
1/4 cup thick tacky glue
1/3 cup cornstarch
How to Make It
Stir both ingredients together until the dough is flaky and then
knead it to a smooth consistency. Roll out the dough 1/8 to 1/4
inch thick and cut shapes or model shapes by hand. Allow to air
dry overnight. This is a pretty easy recipe that produces a
durable result without baking.
Alum Playdough
Page 6
What You’ll Need
3 teaspoons alum (available in the grocery store spice section)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup boiling water
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
How to Make It
Combine the dry ingredients in the mixing bowl. Add the boiling
water and the oil. Mix thoroughly. At this point you can add
tempera paints to create a desired color. Model the dough and let
it air dry overnight or store unused dough in an airtight container
Applesauce Sculpty Stuff
Page 7
What You’ll Need
3 3/4 ounces of ground cinnamon
23 ounce jar applesauce
How to Make It
If you like apples and cinnamon this dough's for you. Mix
ingredients until the dough is stiff. Roll out and use cookie
cutters or mold into shapes. Bake in 200 degree oven for 20
minutes or let air dry for a couple of days. The scent will last a
long time. Great for Christmas ornaments.
Baker’s Clay
Page 8
What You’ll Need
4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 teaspoon powdered alum (available in spice section)
1 1/2 cups water
Food coloring
How to Make It
Mix all ingredients in bowl. If too dry work in extra water with
hands. Bake on un-greased cookie sheet for 30 minutes in 250
degree oven. Turn and bake another 1 1/2 hours. Remove and cool.
When done, sand lightly if desired and paint.
Bread Clay
Page 9
What You’ll Need
6 slices white bread
6 tablespoons white glue
1/2 teaspoon dish washing detergent
Food coloring
How to Make It
Wondering what to do with that stale bread? Make bread clay!
First you must remove the crusts. Put the crusts out for the birds
to eat. Combine the bread and the glue until smooth and then add
the detergent. Shape and let dry for 24 hours before painting.
This clay has a porcelain look and feel to it.
Carvable Stone
Page 10
What You'll Need
3 parts vermiculite (A soil found at garden stores)
2 parts plaster of paris
2 scoops water
How To Make It
Mix vermiculite, plaster of paris and water. Pour mixture in a
paper container such as a milk carton. Wait fifteen minutes. Peel
away paper. The "stone" will be soft. Mold with your hands or
carve using a spoon. If you want to keep working on your carving,
keep it in a plastic bag.
Cinnamon Dough
Page 11
What You'll Need
1 cup cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup applesauce (Let drain in a strainer for several hours)
2 teaspoon white glue
How To Make It
This dough is not for eating but it sure smells good! Mix together
the cinnamon, cloves & nutmeg. Next add the applesauce & glue.
Work the mixture with your hands until smooth and well mixed.
Put on wire rack to dry at room temp for several days. The spicy
cinnamon smell makes this recipe great for the holidays.
Coffee Ground Dough
Page 12
What You'll Need
2 cups used, dry coffee grounds
1/2 cup salt
1 1/2 cup cornmeal
Warm Water
How To Make It
Mix dry ingredients together. Add enough warm water to moisten.
This dough has a unique texture and is good to roll, pat, and pound.
Cornstarch & Salt Fun Dough
Page 13
What You'll Need
4 cups salt
1 cup cornstarch
Water
How To Make It
Combine salt and cornstarch in an electric skillet. Add enough
water to form a paste. Cook on a medium heat setting, stirring
constantly. The dough will not be sticky like flour dough and will
not mold because of the high salt content.
Cornstach Clay
Page 14
What You'll Need
1 cup cornstarch
2 cups salt
1 1/3 cups cold water
Food Coloring
How To Make It
This is a gooey clay that is great for sculpting. Bring the salt and
2/3 cup water to a boil. In a separate bowl mix the cornstarch
with 2/3 cup water. Add the cornstarch mixture to the salt water
and knead into a clay. This clay should be air dried and then
painted. To prevent cracks when drying cover with a damp dish
towel. Keep unused clay in the refrigerator in an airtight
container. No-baking required.
Creative Play Clay
Page 15
What You'll Need
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
2/3 cup warm water
Food coloring or poster paint
Shellac or clear nail polish
How To Make It
Mix baking soda and cornstarch in a saucepan. Add water. Stir
until smooth. Place over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cook,
stirring constantly, until mixture looks like mashed potatoes.
Remove from heat and pour onto mixing board to cool. When clay
is cool enough to be handled, knead. For color, knead food coloring
into the clay until well blended. Or paint finished, uncolored
objects with poster paints. When pieces are completely dry,
brush with shellac or clear nail polish. Shellac is optional for
figures colored with food coloring.
This recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups.
How to use it: With a rolling pin and cookie cutters or knife, you
can roll and cut out creative play clay to make cut out shapes.
This mixture can also be molded into almost anything. It hardens
quickly, so work with only a small amount at a time. The larger the
object, the longer it will take to dry. Store in plastic bags or in
airtight containers. This clay will keep for several weeks.
Dryer Lint Modeling Material
Page 16
What You'll Need
3 cups Lint (from laundry dryers)
2 cups cold or warm water
2/3 cups Non-self-rising wheat flour
3 drops oil of wintergreen
Old newspaper
How To Make It
Put lint and water in a large saucepan. Stir to dampen all parts of
the lint. Add flour and stir thoroughly to prevent lumps. Add oil
of wintergreen. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until
mixture holds together and forms peaks. Pour out onto several
thicknesses of newspaper to cool. Press into molds. This material
will dry in 3 to 5 days to a very hard, durable surface. When wet
it has a felt like consistency. It dries to smooth or rough,
depending on how it is used. When pressed into a mold, a hard,
smooth finish is obtained. Stored in an airtight container, it will
keep for several days.
Extra Soft Pulp
Page 17
What You'll Need
Paper Napkins, Cleansing Tissues, or Toilet Tissue
Thin Paste or white glue
How To Make It
Crumple napkins or tissue and cover with paste. Model to desired
shape. Use to add details such as noses, ears, eyebrows, and so
forth. Note: This mixture does NOT keep and must be used
immediately.
Fake Wood Casting Compound
Page 18
What You'll Need
1 cup flour
1/2 up salt
1 cup used coffee grounds
1/2 cup cold coffee (or water)
How To Make It
Make logs for totem poles or for building a miniature log cabin.
Combine all ingredients. Blend well. Shape into logs or other items.
Bake in a low oven.
Faux Recipe
Page 19
What You'll Need
2 teaspoons white glue
1/2 cup water
Plaster of Paris
Tempura paint
How To Make It
This faux sculpture recipe produce a special effect that makes
your project look like it is something it is not.
First mix glue and water in a bowl. Stir in plaster of Paris until
thick and add tempura paint by dropping drops in but not mixing
completely. Use a knife to make "marble" streaks. Do not over
blend. If you do you will loose the marble effect. Pour into molds.
Allow to air dry.
Frosting Dough
Page 20
What You'll Need
1 can frosting mix
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup peanut butter
spoon
bowl
How To Make It
Mix all ingredients in bowl with spoon. With clean hands, knead
into workable dough. Model as with any dough.
Fruity Putty
Page 21
What You'll Need
0.3 ounce package of sugar free fruit flavored gelatin
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 cups boiling water
How To Make It
Mix the dry ingredients in a pan. Add the boiling water and
cooking oil. Stir over medium-high heat until the mixture forms a
ball. Place the ball on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight
container.
Funny Putty
Page 22
What You'll Need
1 tablespoon liquid starch
Food coloring
2 tablespoons white glue
2 small mixing bowls
Mixing spoon
Zippered plastic bag
How To Make It
Combine white glue and food coloring in a small bowl. Pour liquid
starch into a second small bowl. Pour the glue mixture on top of
the liquid starch. Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes or
until the glue absorbs the liquid starch. Remove the putty from
the bowl and knead. The more you knead it, the better the
consistency will be. Store your funny putty in a zippered plastic
bag.
Goofy Putty
Page 23
What You'll Need
1 tablespoon white glue (Elmer's only)
1 tablespoon Borax
Food coloring
1 cup water
Empty plastic soda bottle with cap
Zipper-lock bag (quart size)
How To Make It
Add borax to water. Stir until most of the powder dissolves.
Store the Borax Water in a jar or bottle, and label “ Borax &
Water”. This will make many batches of putty. Measure glue into
a zipper-lock bag. Add 1 teaspoon of plain water to the bag and
mix. Add a drop of food coloring to this mixture. Now add 1
tablespoon of “Borax Water” to the bag of watered-down glue.
Seal the bag and squeeze for 2 minutes in order to thoroughly mix
the liquids. Notice that the liquids are starting to form a puttylike substance. Remove the putty from the bag and continue to
squeeze and have fun with it.
Honey Peanut Butter Dough
Page 24
What You'll Need
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup honey
2 cups powdered milk
How To Make It
This dough is naturally yummy! Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
Knead until smooth with your clean hands. Form the dough into
shapes and then eat them for a snack.
Hypoallergenic Clay
Page 25
What You'll Need
1/2
1/2
1/4
1/2
cup
cup
cup
cup
salt
hot water
cold water
cornstarch
How To Make It
Mix salt and hot water in a pan and heat to boiling point.
Stir cold water into cornstarch in a separate bowl. While stirring,
slowly add cornstarch mixture to boiling water. Continue stirring
to break up any clumps and lumps. Cook this mixture over low heat
while stirring constantly. Cook until mixture is stiff like pie
dough. Remove from heat and turn out onto a non stick surface to
cool. As soon as clay is cool enough to handle, knead like bread,
until smooth and pliable. This clay dries and hardens in about a
day or two. Depending on the humidity. When it is dry it is a white
color and can be painted with enamels. To store clay, put in a
Ziploc bag or other airtight container. It needs no refrigeration.
This clay is very translucent when it is soft and maintains most of
that once it is dry. As far as a clay goes, it stores well in an
airtight container. If left out, it will dry within 24 hours. You can
also bake at 200 degrees for 1 hour.
Indoor Sandcastle Stuff
Page 26
What You'll Need
2 cups clean, fine sand
1 cup cornstarch
1 cup water
How To Make It
Bring the beach inside — even in the winter! The cornstarch in
this recipe holds the sand together. Mix all three ingredients over
a low heat (200). Remove when the mixture firms.
Pack mixture into cups or other molds and let stand a few minutes.
Turn cup upside down. Use utensils to “carve” into your sand
sculpture.
Industrial Salt Dough
Page 27
What You'll Need
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon oil
Food coloring
How To Make It
This is a long lasting dough that requires cooking. Mix all
ingredients in a sauce pan and cook over medium heat until smooth.
Let the mixture cool slightly and knead. The dough will be very
pliable and easy to sculpt. Place in plastic bag or airtight container
to store. Bake in a low oven and paint.
Kool-Aid Dough
Page 28
What You'll Need
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 package unsweetened Kool-Aid
1/2 cup salt
1 cup boiling water
How To Make It
Choose your flavor! This dough smells and looks pretty but tastes
yucky! First combine and mix flour, salt, and Kool-Aid. Next add
boiling water and oil. Stir until the mixture begins to form a ball.
Knead until smooth. Keep in an airtight container in the
refrigerator. This is like the real playdough and does not dry out
very well. It will shrink and crack, but is a lot of fun to play with.
Marzipan Dough
Page 29
What You'll Need
Ready-made marzipan dough from the grocery store
Food coloring
How To Make It
Traditionally this dough is shaped into little fruits. Mix food
coloring into the dough and shape into miniature fruits such as
bananas, oranges, apples. The dough has a sweet almond taste.
Oat Dough #1
Page 30
What You'll Need
1 part flour
1 part water
2 parts oatmeal
How To Make It
Oatmeal's not just for breakfast anymore! Simply mix all
ingredients with your hands.
Mold into shapes or roll and cut with cookie cutters
Oat Dough #2
Page 31
What You'll Need
1 part cornstarch
1 part water
2 parts oatmeal
How To Make It
Mix all ingredients with your hands until dough forms into a ball.
This dough has more of a rough texture and will dry hard.
Peanut Butter Dough
Page 32
What You'll Need
1
1
1
1
cup
cup
1/4
1/4
peanut butter
Karo syrup
cups powdered sugar
cups powdered milk
How To Make It
This dough is sweet and very yummy.
Mix together with your clean hands. Mold into different shapes
then have fun eating your creations.
Pearly Clay Beads
Page 33
What You'll Need
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup cornstarch
Toothpicks
How To Make It
Pour the salt into the boiling water. In a mixing bowl, combine the
cornstarch and the cold water. Add the cornstarch mixture to
the salt solution. Cook over low heat, while stirring continuously.
When mixture becomes like a stiff cookie dough, remove from
heat and allow to cool. After cooling, knead until the clay is
pliable.
Roll into balls (try and make them all the same size) and stick a
toothpick through the center. Bake at 200 degrees for 1 hour.
Remove toothpick, once cool, and thread to make necklace or
bracelet.
Professional Sand Castle Stuff
Page 34
What You'll Need
10 parts sand
1 part white glue
3 parts water
How To Make It
No more washed away sand castles! This mixture of sand and glue
to will help hold together your work of art. Mix sand, water and
glue together in a large bucket. If the mixture is too think, add
more water. Expect your sand sculpture to last weeks — even if it
rains!
Rock Dough
Page 35
What You'll Need
1 cup flour
1 cup used coffee grounds
1/2 cup salt
1/4 cup sand
1 cup water
1 tablespoon powdered tempera paint (optional)
Mixing bowl
Mixing Spoon
How To Make It
Combine all dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Add water,
and stir until the mixture is the consistency of bread dough. Add
1 tablespoon powdered tempera paint to tint the stone if desired.
Form shape desired and let air dry for 2 –3 days or bake on a
cookie sheet in a 150 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
Salt Dough
Page 36
What You'll Need
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon cooking oil (optional)
How To Make It
This is the most basic and time tested dough mixture. First mix all
the ingredients together. Add the water and cooking oil. Next
knead the dough for at least 10 minutes. The kneading will make
the dough smooth and shinny. Flour your hand to prevent the
dough from sticking. This dough can be baked in a low (250
degree) oven and then painted. Spray with a varnish for added
shine.
Sawdust Dough
Page 37
What You'll Need
1 cup clean sawdust
1 tablespoon liquid starch
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup water
Sand paper
Cookie cutters or molds
Cardboard
Aluminum foil
White craft glue (optional)
How To Make It
Mix ingredients together in a bowl until a stiff dough is formed.
Add extra water or craft glue if the dough is too dry. Press
firmly into molds and carefully turn out onto cardboard covered
aluminum foil. Another method is to pat the dough flat on the
aluminum foil covered cardboard and cut out shapes, removing
excess dough. Gently pat the edges to flatten any jagged edges.
Allow to dry thoroughly. Drying may take two to three days. Once
your creations are dry, sand off any rough edges and coat with
varnish or polyurethane. Experiment with different types of
woods. Pine give a different result than a hardwood.
Chalk
Page 38
What You'll Need
6 eggshells
1 teaspoon flour
1 teaspoon hot tap water
1 medium size rock
Paper towels
How To Make It
Make your own chalk with ordinary eggshells! First, wash and dry
the shells. (it doesn't matter if they are broken) Next, grind the
eggshells in a bowl with a rock until the shells become a fine
powder. Finally, combine one tablespoon of eggshell powder, one
teaspoon of flour and one teaspoon of hot water. Put the mixture
in a paper towel and shape and roll into chalk sticks. The chalk
sticks will need to dry for 4 days before they can be used.
Designer Cloth with Crayons
Page 39
What You'll Need
Cloth
Crayons
Iron
Large Piece of Board
Thumbtacks
Newspapers
1/2 cup Vinegar
1 cup water
3 tablespoons salt
1 quart water
Pressing cloth
How To Make It
Make sure that all the sizing is removed from the fabric by
washing it first. Stretch the fabric out on the cardboard and
thumbtack securely in place. Color in your design with crayons.
The thicker and heavier the application of crayons, the deeper the
color will be. When finished place the design face down on several
sheets of newspaper. Mix 1/2 cup vinegar 1 cup water. Soak the
pressing cloth in this mixture then squeeze out most of the liquid.
Place the pressing cloth over the designed cloth and press with a
hot iron. Mix 3 tablespoons salt and 1 quart of water. Soak the
designed cloth in this solution for 3 to 4 hours. Gently wash in
lukewarm water using a mild soap. After the cloth has dried, the
design will become permanent. You can launder the cloth from now
on in warm water and mild soap.
Giant Paul Bunyon Crayons
Page 40
What You'll Need
1 ounce paraffin or candle wax
3 tablespoon powdered paint pigment
paper towel tubes
How To Make It
These crayons are big fun. Melt wax over the stove in a old pot.
Add the paint pigment. Put as many paper towel tubes in a coffee
can as will fit. This will keep them standing straight. Carefully
pour the mixture into the paper towel tubes. When the wax is dry,
peel away the paper towel tubes.
Shaped Crayons
Page 41
What You'll Need
1 cup soap flakes (like Ivory Snow)
Food coloring
1 Tablespoon hot water
How To Make It
Put soap flakes into a bowl, add hot water, stirring constantly.
Mixture will be quite thick and difficult to stir. Separate
mixture into several bowls. Add food coloring, mixing each color
until it is blended well. Press mixture into molds, let dry for at
least one week. After removing crayons from mold, let dry for a
day or so. You can make crayons to suit any theme.
Artist Quality “Oil” Paint
Page 42
What You'll Need
1 tablespoon powdered tempera paint
1 tablespoon liquid dish washing soap
How To Make It
This paint has a smooth, glossy effect and holds color well. Mix
together tempera paint and soap. Store in glass jars.
Bubbly Sudsy Ink
Page 43
What You'll Need
Liquid detergent/soap
Water
Ink color (india ink, food coloring or tempera paint)
How To Make It
Good clean fun. Mix together liquid detergent and coloring in a
shallow pan. Blow through a straw into the mixture until it bubbles
over the top but does not run down the sides. Place a sheet of
paper over the bubbles. The bubble pattern will transfer to the
paper. This method is great for making book covers, stationary,
etc.
Changing Cabbage Ink
Page 44
What You'll Need
Cabbage
Water
1 teaspoon vinegar
How To Make It
Amaze your friends and family with this ink that changes color.
Tear up cabbage leaves and put in a plastic bag. Squish the leaves
until there is blue stuff in the plastic bag. Use the squished
cabbage liquid as ink and write a message or draw a picture on a
piece of paper. Use the vinegar on a paint brush and brush over
the writing or picture and watch it change colors
Colored Rice or Pasta Shapes
Page 45
What You'll Need
Rubbing Alcohol
Pasta or rice
Food Coloring
How To Make It
Cover rice or pasta shapes with rubbing alcohol. It’s best to do
this in a non-metal container. Add food coloring until you get the
desired shade you want. Let set for a while, and this could be a
long while depending on the shade of color you want the rice or
pasta shapes to have. When desired color is reached spread rice
or pasta shapes out on waxed paper until dry. The alcohol
evaporates and the smell should go away. Make sure that the rice
or pasta shapes are completely dried out again before you store
them.
Crystal Paint
Page 46
What You'll Need
1/4 cup hot tap water
3 teaspoon Epsom salts
How To Make It
Simply daaazzzling! Mix hot tap water and epsom salts. Brush the
mixture onto a dark colored paper. When dry the salt will form
crystals that shine in the light.
Dazzling Paint
Page 47
What You'll Need
White school glue
Glitter
Food coloring
Small zip lock freezer bags.
How To Make It
Pour glue and glitter into small freezer bags. Add food coloring if
desired. Mix by squishing around in your hands. Snip off a small
corner of the bag and squeeze to paint.
Deluxe Finger Paint
Page 48
What You'll Need
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups boiling water
1 cup cold water
food coloring or poster paint
1 package unflavored gelatin
How To Make It
A little more work, but this finger paint's translucent, high gloss
quality makes it worth the extra effort. In saucepan, mix
cornstarch with 3/4 cup cold water to a smooth paste. In a
separate container mix and soak gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water.
Next carefully pour 2 cups boiling water over the cornstarch
mixture. Stir constantly. Cook until mixture boils and turns clear.
Stir in gelatin. Pour into individual jars. Add color. Refrigerate to
store. Suitable for dry or wet paper.
Deluxe Poster Paint
Page 49
What You'll Need
1/4 cup flour
1 cup water
3 tablespoons powdered tempera paint
2 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon liquid starch or liquid detergent
How To Make It
Measure flour into saucepan. Slowly add 1 cup water and mix until
mixture is smooth. Heat, stirring constantly until mixture
thickens. Cool. Add 1/4 cup of this flour paste into small jar or
plastic container. Add powdered tempera paint and water for each
color. For opaque finish add some liquid starch. For glossy finish
add some liquid detergent.
Dimensional Paint
Page 50
What You'll Need
1 cup flour
1 cup water
1 cup salt
Food coloring
How To Make It
This paint will give an added dimension to your art work. Use on
stiff cardboard to outline drawings. Mix all ingredients and add
food coloring. Pour into squeeze bottles. Let the paint dry and
finish by coating with a shiny clear nail polish.
Disappearing Ink
Page 51
What You'll Need
4 drops lemon juice
4 drops onion juice
17 grains sugar (Yes you have to count them!)
You will also need a small mixing jar with a lid, toothpicks, paper
and a bright lamp.
How To Make It
Mix the lemon juice, onion juice and sugar grains together in the
jar. Dip a toothpick and write a message on a piece of white paper.
(Do not press too hard. If you do the grooves will show through
and give away your secret message!) The ink will disappear when it
dries. To see the message, hold the paper over a bright light bulb.
Earthy Dyes
Page 52
What You'll Need
1 quart berries, roots, or leaves (from below)
2 quarts water
1 ounce of alum (available in spice section of store)
Product:
Creates this color:
Onion skins light brown, yellow, orange
Spinach green
Beets rose
Goldenrod flowers - gold
Coffee brown
Red sumac leaves - black
Red sumac berries - red
Carrots yellow
Cabbage purple
How To Make It
Also try different grasses and flowers. Experiment.
God has made wonderful colors. To make the dyes: chop, crush or
grind the ingredients. Soak overnight in just enough water to
cover the ground powders. The next day add water and boil for 1
hour. Strain the dye using cheesecloth. Add alum. Be careful
natural dyes stain.
Note: These quantities can be cut in 1/4 for less product.
Egg Dye
Page 53
What You'll Need
1/4 teaspoon food coloring
3/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon vinegar
How To Make It
Measure liquids into a bowl. Separate into small bowls. Add food
coloring to each mixture. Soak hard boiled eggs in dye.
After you have pealed the hard boiled eggs, break up the colored
shells and use as collage material.
Egg Yolk Paint
Page 54
What You'll Need
1 egg yolk
1/4 tsp. Water
Food coloring
How To Make It
Mix egg yolk with water and lots of food coloring. Use a paint
brush to paint on baked cookies. Return cookies to oven until egg
has solidified. This paint also will work on paper, but allow to air
dry. Don’t put paper in the oven!
Marble Paper
Page 55
What You'll Need
1 tablespoon acrylic paint
2 tablespoons of water
1/2 cup liquid fabric starch or cooking oil
Flat cooking pan with sides such as a cookie sheet, roasting pan, or
tray
Paint brush
How To Make It
For each color, blend acrylic paint and water and then set aside.
Fill the pan with the liquid fabric starch or cooking oil. Use a
paintbrush to drop paint mixture onto the starch. To avoid a
yucky, muddy effect only use a couple of colors at a time. Use a
clean paint brush to GENTLY swirl the colors across the top of
the starch or cooking oil. Do not thoroughly mix as you will lose
your effect.
Gently lay a sheet of paper on top of the colors.
Carefully lift the paper. The swirls of color will now be on the
paper.
Set the paper aside to dry, paint side up. Add more paint and
repeat these steps to make more marbled paper.
Monet’s Water Color Paints
Page 56
What You'll Need
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon glycerin
food coloring
How To Make It
Do like the famous impressionist painters did and bring your
watercolors outside to paint. To make your own watercolors, first
mix vinegar and baking soda. Next slowly add cornstarch, food
coloring and glycerin to the mixture. Poor into small paper cups to
let dry. The color is not as intense when it is dry so remember to
add a lot of food coloring. When dry peel away the paper. Use like
you would any water color paints.
Moo Paint
Page 57
What You'll Need
1 cup condensed milk
Food coloring
How To Make It
Mix one cup condensed milk with a few drops of food coloring.
This makes a very bright, glossy colored paint.
Ooey Gooey Finger Paint
Page 58
What You'll Need
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 cups water
food coloring
How To Make It
Mix all ingredients in saucepan. Then boil the mixture until it is
nice and thick. Pour into individual containers (baby food jars work
great) then add food coloring. This finger paints work best when
used on a glossy paper such as butcher or shelf paper.
Poster Paint
Page 59
What You'll Need
2 parts powdered pigment
1 part liquid starch
How To Make It
Powdered pigment is great to have around. While powdered
pigment can be mixed with plain old water, liquid starch is better.
This is a thin quality paint that works great for printmaking, silk
screening, etc.
Pudding Finger Paint
Page 60
What You'll Need
Pudding Mix
Milk
Wax paper
Food coloring
How To Make It
Finger licking good. Pudding is a natural for finger painting. Mix
pudding and milk together as directed on the package. Add food
coloring or use as is. Try pistachio, vanilla, chocolate.
Puffy Paint
Page 61
What You'll Need
2 Parts Dry laundry soap
1 Part Water
Paint or food coloring
How To Make It
This paint is a natural for drawing big puffy clouds. Mix all
ingredients in a blender until smooth and foamy. Paint on thick and
let dry. – Add a little water if needed to make puffy.
You can also put the mixture in a plastic bag, tie off the end, and
cut a very very small corner. Squeeze paint onto your project.
Royal Icing Paint
(Not for eating)
Page 62
What You'll Need
3 egg whites
1 pound powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
OR
7 tablespoons water
4 tablespoons meringue powder
7 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
How To Make It
Beat together water and meringue powder or egg whites until
frothy and light. Sift together powdered sugar and cream of
tartar. Place all ingredients into a mixing bowl. Add 3/4 of the
sugar mixture to the frothy mixture, then gradually add more
until the desired consistency is reached. Royal Icing for crafting
should be very thick. Place in a zip-lock bag and snip off one of
the corners. Decorate your project. This “icing” will dry very
hard.
Important: Do not eat if using raw egg whites
Scratch-N-Sniff Watercolor
Page 63
What You'll Need
1 tablespoon powdered unsweetened drink mix
1 tablespoon warm water
Several small containers
How To Make It
Mix the water and unsweetened drink mix together in a small bowl.
(Find the off-brand Kool-Aid type mixes which you can usually get
10 for a dollar)
Pour well blended mixture, now “paint,” into your container.
(muffin tins or film canisters work well.)
Repeat this with each “color” you are making, pouring them into
separate containers.
Paint with paint brushes. Allow artwork to dry overnight before
scratching and sniffing.
Spreadable Paint
Page 64
What You'll Need
1 cup powdered tempera paint
2 tablespoons wallpaper paste
1/4 to 1/2 cup liquid laundry starch
How To Make It
Use this thick paint on cardboard to make a topographical map.
First mix together tempera paint and paste. Mix until smooth and
then add the starch. Use popsicle sticks or tongue depressors to
spread.
Transfer Ink
Page 65
What You'll Need
2 tablespoons of soap powder (not detergent) such as Ivory Snow
or Dreft
1/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon turpentine
How To Make It
Combine the soap powder and the hot water in a small jar. Stir
until dissolved. Add the turpentine. IMPORTANT: Remember
don’t use the same tablespoon you use for cooking. Let the
transfer ink cool before using or putting the lid on the jar.
Start with a freshly printed design. Avoid using one that has been
printed weeks or months prior to project. Use a paintbrush and
brush the ink over the picture to be transferred. Wait 10
seconds. Place the object to be transferred onto on top of the
picture (or the other way around depending on convenience and
practicality). Rub firmly with the back of a spoon. Lift a corner
to check if the design has transferred. When completely
transferred lift off completely.
Storage note: You may store the transfer ink un-refrigerated in
an airtight container indefinitely. If the ink solidifies for some
reason, just bring it back to a liquid state by placing the jar in a
warm pan of water. Shake well and you can use it again.
Translucent Paint
Page 66
What You'll Need
4 ounces school glue
1/4 cup liquid starch
Food coloring
How To Make It
This is a short-lasting paint that works well for easel painting. Mix
together all ingredients and store in small glass jars. Make only as
much as you will need. The paint will last for almost a week.
Batik Flour Paste
Page 67
What You'll Need
Paper and pens
1 20-inch square of muslin (natural or white) per child
Squeeze bottle (at least 8 ounces)
Blender
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup water
2 teaspoons powdered alum (available in spice section of grocery
stores)
Washable fabric paints in assorted colors
A variety of paint brushes and jars of water
Newspaper and waxed paper
When you are ready to begin, cover your work area with
newspaper and measure the flour, water, and alum into a blender
jar. Mix the ingredients until smooth and pour the paste into a
squeeze bottle. Use the squeeze bottle to draw the design on the
fabric (the lines should be slightly raised). Where you draw the
lines will be where the paint will not stick to the fabric. Dry
overnight.
The next day, slide a sheet of waxed paper under the fabric to
keep the newspaper from sticking to it and paint with a single
layer of fabric paint. When it has dried, scrape and peel off the
dried paste.
Bookbinding or Leather Glue
Page 68
What You'll Need
1 packet (1/4 ounce) unflavored gelatin
3 tablespoons boiling water
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon glycerin
How To Make It
In a pan, add gelatin to boiling water. Stir until gelatin is
completely dissolved. Add vinegar and glycerin. Stir until well
mixed. Makes about 1/3 cup. While the glue is still warm, apply a
thin layer with a brush. This waterproof glue is excellent for
binding leather to leather. It also makes a good flexible glue for
use on paper, or for gluing cloth to cardboard for making notebook
binders or scrapbooks. Stored in a tightly capped plastic or glass
jar, this glue will keep for several months. It will gel in the bottle
after a few days. Warm bottle in hot water to reuse the glue.
Classroom Paste
Page 69
What You'll Need
1 cup non-self rising wheat flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup cold water
4 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon alum (available in spice section)
1/2 teaspoon oil of cinnamon (optional)
How To Make It
Combine flour and sugar in a large pot. Slowly stir in cold water to
form a paste. Slowly add boiling water, stirring vigorously to
break up lumps. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, until
thick and clear. Remove from heat, and add alum. Stir until well
mixed. Add oil of cinnamon if paste will not be used immediately.
Classroom paste is a good all-purpose paste, especially appropriate
for children. Stored in a closely capped jar, this paste will keep
for several weeks. If it gets too thick it can be thinned with hot
water for easy spreading.
Homemade Stickers
Page 70
What You'll Need
1 packet (1/4 oz) unflavored gelatin (such as Knox)
1 tablespoon cold water
3 tablespoons boiling water
1/2 teaspoon white corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract (or what ever flavor you desire)
How To Make It
In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin into cold water. Put aside until
soft. Pour softened gelatin into boiling water and stir until
completely dissolved. Add corn syrup and extract. Mix
thoroughly. Brush mixture thinly onto the back of picture that
you want to turn into a sticker. After dry, you just moisten to
apply.
If you store the gum mixture (the sticky stuff) in a airtight
container, it will keep several months. It will gel, but to return to
a liquid, just put the container in a bowl of hot water.
Paste
Page 71
What You'll Need
2 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 cup warm milk
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
How To Make It
Mix together vinegar and warm milk. Wait until the mixture
curdles and then strain the mixture through a coffee filter. Use
the liquid to mix with baking soda. This is your paste!
Resin Paper Mache Paste
Page 72
What You'll Need
1/2 cup non-self-rising wheat flour
1/4 cup powdered resin glue
1/2 cup warm water
1 1/2 cups hot water
4 drops oil of cinnamon
How To Make It
Mix flour and resin glue in a saucepan. Make a paste by adding 1/2
cup warm water. Add hot water, stirring vigorously to prevent
lumps. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is
thick, clear, and smooth. Add oil of cinnamon. Makes about 1 pint.
For best results, use this paste within a few days of preparation.
The paste gives a very hard varnish to paper-mache projects as
furniture, candlesticks, and bowls. Store paste in a covered glass
jar.
School Glue
Page 73
What You'll Need
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoon corn syrup
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup cold water
How To Make It
It's easy to make your own white school glue! Combine the first
three ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Meanwhile mix
cornstarch and water in a bowl. Finally add the second mixture to
the saucepan while stirring. This glue should be left to settle for a
day or two before using.
Sticker Goo
Page 74
What You'll Need
1 tablespoon flavored gelatin
2 tablespoon boiling water
How To Make It
Make your own stickers with this tasty sticker paste. Combine
gelatin and boiling water until all gelatin is dissolved. Use a clean
paint brush to paint the paste on the back of what you want to be
a sticker. Dry overnight. Lick and stick your sticker. And it
tastes good too!!
Waterproof Glue
Page 75
What You'll Need
2 envelopes (1/2 oz.) unflavored gelatin (like Knox)
3 tablespoons of cold water (must be cold)
3 tablespoons skim milk (must be skim milk)
Oil of Cloves
How To Make It
In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the cold water. Set it
aside until the gelatin has softened. Heat the skim milk to boiling
point and pour into the softened gelatin. (It won’t take long to
bring three tablespoons of milk to boiling, so watch carefully.) Stir
until gelatin is dissolved. Add the oil of cloves as preservative if
you don’t plan to use the glue up in one day.
Use this glue while it is still warm by brushing a thin layer on
objects to be glued. This works best when you are gluing
decorations onto glass.
If you are gluing marbles together or gluing metal to metal, use
the glue after it has gelled (cooled).
Christmas Tea
Page 76
What You'll Need
3 - three inch segments from a spruce tree
Tea bags
water
How To Make It
This tea makes a nice gift and is full of vitamin C. Separate the
pine needles from the branch. Put the needles in a tea bag. Boil in
water. This tea has a spearminty taste to it.
Mother’s Market carries empty tea bags or you can purchase from
www.foodsnaturally.com
Edible Fishbowl
Page 77
What You'll Need
Clear plastic cups (for fish bowls)
Three 6 ounce packages of blueberry gelatin.
Grapes
Gummy fish, worms, sharks
Fresh mint (optional)
How To Make It
Let's go fishing! This fish bowl is a party hit! Prepare three 6
ounce packages of blueberry gelatin according to the directions
and refrigerate until cool. Meanwhile decorate the ocean floor
(bottom of fish cup) with grapes. This is the rocky bottom. Add
fresh mint leaves (weeds) if you like. Spoon the blue "water"
(jello) over the fruit. Return to refrigerator until partially set.
Push gummy fish into the gelatin with wooden skewer stick. Place
in the refrigerator to chill.
Edible Paper
Page 78
What You'll Need
A large sheet of rice paper (can be found in Chinese grocers as
well as in some ethnic food sections at your local grocery store)
2 damp towels
Peanut oil
Skillet
How To Make It
Cut the sheet to the desired size and shape. Just remember that
whatever you cut out needs to fit in your skillet.
Put the sheets of paper you cut between the two damp towels for
about one and a half minutes (90 seconds). You want it to be
pliable enough to shape and bend if you are folding it. Don’t soak
it too long or it gets rubbery and will not hold its shape.
After you have your shape, fry it in the hot peanut oil until it is a
nice golden color. This should only take a minute or less.
You can now lightly dust your creation with some powdered sugar,
or try a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.
Look for books on origami at the library to make creations for
party favors.
Use food coloring to paint a picture or write on your “paper”.
Fizzling Drinks
Page 79
What You'll Need
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon bottled lime juice
1/2 cup club soda
How To Make It
Set up your own taste test. Blindfold your friends and make them
guess which is the store soda and which is the homemade soda.
Mix all ingredients together and drink.
Ice Cream in a Bag
Page 80
What You'll Need
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup milk or half & half
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons rock salt
1 pint-size Ziploc plastic bag
1 gallon-size Ziploc plastic bag
Ice cubes
How To Make It
Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the
bag. Put milk, vanilla, and sugar into the small bag, and seal it.
Place the small bag inside the large one and seal again carefully.
Shake until mixture is ice cream. About 5 minutes latter: Wipe
off top of small bag, open carefully and enjoy!
Lemon Fizz
Page 81
What You'll Need
1 glass lemonade
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
How To Make It
This fizzy drink is fun to make for friends. Mix ingredients
together and enjoy.
Nilly Dillyicious Pops
Page 82
What You'll Need
20 Vanilla Wafer cookies
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 (6 ounce) bag white chocolate chips
Colored candy sprinkles
Popsicle sticks
Wax paper
How To Make It
Spread peanut butter onto the flat side of the cookies. Place a
Popsicle stick into the peanut butter on half the cookies. Top with
another cookie so the stick is sandwiched between the two
cookies. Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave, one minute,
then in 20 second increments (Or melt in a crock pot), stirring
until smooth. Dip Nilly Pops in the melted chips, covering
completely. Roll pops in sprinkles. Decorate with any other
candies you wish, or leave some plain. Another variation is to use
vanilla or chocolate frosting instead of peanut butter for the
filling.
Rock Candy & Coffee Stirrers
Page 83
What You'll Need
5 cups sugar
2 cups water
Food coloring
Glass jar
Plastic coffee can lid
Wooden coffee stirrers, bamboo skewers, or Popsicle sticks
Candy thermometer
Wooden spoon
How To Make It
Beautiful and yummy! The sugar sticks are a great way to stir in
sugar to coffee and tea and make a great gift idea. After bringing
water to a boil, add sugar. Continue to boil until the temperature
reaches above 260°F. Let the sugar mixture cool for five minutes
and then poor into glass jar. Add food coloring. Punch the bamboo
skewer through the plastic coffee can lid and place on top of jar.
The skewer should not touch the bottom of the jar. Wait seven
days to lift the lid.
Active Volcano Lava
Page 84
What You'll Need
1 teaspoon baking soda
Red food coloring
1/2 cup vinegar
How To Make It
Have you seen the Brady Bunch episode? Place baking soda inside
the cup in the volcano. In a separate container mix food coloring
and vinegar. When you want your volcano to erupt, pour the
vinegar into the cup and stand back!
Bath Salts
Page 85
What You'll Need
Epsom salts
Food coloring
Fragrance (example: scented oils)
How To Make It
A great gift to make for mom or grandma! Mix salt, food coloring,
and fragrance together in a zip lock bag. Shake until the coloring
is evenly distributed. Fill a baby food jar, label, decorate the jar
lid, and tie a ribbon around the jar.
Bird Treat
Page 86
What You'll Need
Large pine cones
Peanut butter
Birdseed
Fishing line, string or yarn
How To Make It
This recipe is for the birds! First wrap and tie the string to pine
cone. Next spread peanut butter all over the pine cone and roll in
bird seed. Hang your bird feeders in a spot where you can watch
the birds enjoy their treat.
Discovering Hidden Messages
Page 87
What You'll Need
Wax paper
Drawing paper
How To Make It
Place drawing paper on hard surface. Place wax paper on top of
drawing paper. Use a blunt object to press lines onto drawing
paper. Paint over with water color. The lines that were pressed
onto the paper will appear.
Fake Eyes
Page 88
What You'll Need
Peeled grapes
Bowl
How To Make It
Peel grapes and put in a bowl. Gross out your friends by covering
the bowl and having them put their hands in the bowl of “eyes”.
Fake Ivory
Page 89
What You'll Need
1 bar white soap
Carving tools - plastic knife, spoon, etc.
How To Make It
Use a simple bar of soap to create ivory look alike carvings.
Flower Preservative #1
Page 90
What You'll Need
1 part powdered Borax
2 part Cornmeal
Covered cardboard box (like a shoe box)
Fresh flowers
How To Make It
Thoroughly mix borax and cornmeal. Cover the bottom of the box
with 3/4 of an inch of this mixture. Cut flower stems about 1 inch
long. Lay the flowers face down in this mixture. Spread the
petals and leaves so that they lie as flat as possible. Do not place
flowers too close together. Cover the flowers with 3/4 of an inch
of the mixture. Place the lid on the box and keep at room
temperature for 3 to 4 weeks. This is an excellent way to
preserve corsages or flowers from someone special. Try daisies,
pansies, apple blossoms, asters, violets, and other flowers with
this method. They will stay summer fresh indefinitely.
Flower Preservative #2
Page 91
What You'll Need
Fresh Flowers
Florist’s wire
Airtight container (such as a coffee can)
Plastic bag
Borax
Wire or string
Soft brush
How To Make It
Pick flowers at the speak of their bloom. Remove the stems.
Make new stems with florist’s wire. Run wire through the base of
the flower and twist the two ends together. Line the coffee can
with the plastic bag. Pour enough borax into the plastic bag to
cover the bottom to a depth of 1 inch. Place flower face down in
the borax. Pour about 1 inch of borax over the top of the flower.
Add more flowers and borax until the container is full. Gather the
top of the bag, squeezing out all the air inside it. Fasten shut with
wire or string. Place lid on can and set aside in a dry place for at
least 4 weeks. Remove flowers from borax and carefully brush
away all borax with a soft brush. USES: Flowers preserved in
this way are very colorful.
Growing Crystals
Page 92
What You'll Need
small pieces of charcoal
6 tablespoons salt
6 tablespoons bluing (in the laundry section)
6 tablespoons water
1 tablespoons ammonia
Food coloring
How To Make It
No weeding required for this garden. First place (or should we say
"plant") the charcoal in a shallow pan or dish. Combine all remaining
ingredients in a bowl and pour over the charcoal. Drop food
coloring over the top of the charcoal.
Wait several days and you will see your garden start to grow.
Guts
Page 93
What You'll Need
Spaghetti
Water
Large bowl
How To Make It
Boil water and add spaghetti. Cook until firm. Drain and put in a
bowl. Have friends close their eyes and put there hands in the
guts.
Great idea to show how it would be inside the belly of a big fish!
Leathery Fake Skin
Page 94
What You'll Need
30 ounces of applesauce
1 tablespoon honey
Nonstick spray
How To Make It
Mix applesauce and honey in a bowl. Pour mixture onto a cookie
sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake in a low
oven ( 150 degrees) for six hours. Let cool and peel the skin from
the cookie sheet
Monster Bubbles
Page 95
What You'll Need
2
2
2
2
- 4 cups water
cups dish soap
cups glycerin
tsp corn syrup
How To Make It
Mix all ingredients together in a bottle. Shake to mix but do not
shake to hard. You may have to let the mixture settle for a while
after mixing. Makes enormous bubbles.
Ocean Wave
Page 96
What You'll Need
Water
Oil
Blue food coloring
Clear plastic bottles
How To Make It
This is based on the principal that water and oil do not mix. The
blue water will stay separate from the oil. Fill a plastic bottle 3/4
full of water. Add the blue food coloring to the water. Put the cap
on and shake gently. Next add oil to fill the container. Squeeze a
line of glue around the neck of the bottle and put some inside the
cap. Screw on the cap tight and let dry. Turn upside down and
watch the waves come in.
Paper Mache
Page 97
What You'll Need
Newspaper
Flour
Water
Mixing bowl
Tempera paints
Balloons
How To Make It
Piñata anyone? Mix up water and flour to make a thick paste. Tear
strips of newspaper about one or two inches wide. Dip strips into
glue and squeeze off excess. Wrap the strips around a balloon or
other form in criss-cross layers. Let dry and apply one or two
more coats.
Plaster of Paris Draped Cloth
Page 98
What You'll Need
2 cups plaster of Paris
1 teaspoon alum (available in spice section)
1 cup water
fabric, sheets, or netting
mixing bowl
Mixing spoon
Object to serve as form and/or stand
Paints and paintbrushes
How To Make It
Combine the plaster of Paris and alum in the mixing bowl. Add
enough water to make the plaster into a thick consistency. Dip
the fabric into the plaster of paris. Remove the fabric and drape
it over your form or stand. Arrange the fabric before it dries.
The fabric will stiffen as it dries. After the fabric dries
completely, it can be painted if desired.
Ideal for making stiffy bows!
Shiny Wet Snow
Page 99
What You'll Need
Powdered soap
Water
How To Make It
Beat together two parts powder soap to one part water. Spread a
thin layer of the mixture onto a piece of cardboard. The mixture
will dry smooth and shinny like snow.
Shrinking Plastic Stuff
Page 100
What You'll Need
# 6 Recyclable clear plastic (This plastic is thin and clear. The
containers that delis and grocery use is often this type of plastic.)
Scissors
Permanent markers
How To Make It
Trace or draw patterns of your favorite things with permanent
markers onto the plastic. Cut the shape out with scissors. Place
on a cookie sheet covered with aluminum foil. Place in an oven
heated to 250 degrees until the pieces shrink. It will take only a
few seconds so watch it closely. Don’t worry if you see the edges
start to curl over. As the piece shrinks completely it should
flatten out.
Slime
Page 101
What You'll Need
Corn starch
Water
Food coloring
How To Make It
Slimy giggly messy goo. Want some? Start by combining
cornstarch and water. Add just enough water to make it pasty.
Next add food coloring. This makes a messy slime. The slime will
thicken the more you play with it!
Snow Flakes
Page 102
What You’ll Need
String
Wide mouth jar
White Pipe Cleaners
Blue food coloring (optional)
Boiling water (Adult supervision)
20 Mule Team Borax (Available in the laundry section)
pencil
How to Make It
Cut a white pipe cleaner into 3 equal sections. Twist the sections
together in the center so that you have a “six-sided” star shape.
If your points are not even, trim the pipe-cleaner sections to the
same length. Now attach string along the outer edges to form a
snowflake pattern. Attach a piece of string to the top of one of
the pipe cleaners and tie the other end to a pencil (this is to hang
it from). Fill a wide mouth jar with boiling water. Mix Borax into
the water one tablespoon at a time. Use 3 tablespoons of borax
per cup of water. Stir until dissolved. (don’t worry if there is
powder settling on the bottom of the jar). If you want you can
add a little blue food coloring now to give the snowflake a bluish
hue. Insert your pipe cleaner snowflake into the jar so that the
pencil is resting on the lip of the jar and the snowflake is freely
suspended in the borax solution. Wait overnight and by morning
the snowflake will be covered with shiny crystals. Try other
shapes and other colors. (Example: Red pipe cleaner heart)
Super Bubbles
Page 103
What You'll Need
1/2 cup dish soap
2 cups water
1 teaspoon sugar or light corn syrup
How To Make It
Combine ingredients thoroughly and let settle. Use a wand made
from coat hanger or other metal wire.
Tissue Paper Sculpture Mix
Page 104
What You’ll Need
Tissue paper or streamers
Starch
How To Make It
This is a fun lightweight sculpting compound. Tear or cut tissue
paper into little pieces. Put in a blender and add starch. Blend until
it is smooth. Add food coloring to white tissue mixture. Be
careful, colored tissue, when wet, will stain.
Press into molds or sculpt into objects.
Volcano Cloud
Page 105
What You’ll Need
Dry coffee creamer
Balloons
How To Make It
This is a great movie special effect. The clouds look like real
ashes. Fill balloons with a half a cup of dried coffee creamer. Pop
the balloon.
Whale Blubber
Page 106
What You’ll Need
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup white glue
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons borax
How to Make It
Have you ever wondered what fat looks like? Make this recipe and
find out. Combine the first two ingredients. In a separate bowl
combine the next two ingredients. Pour the glue mixture into the
borax mixture stirring constantly.
Notes: