Crafts crafts galore!

My children love homemade craft projects, well the ones that work. In an attempt to engage my three year old in constructive projects, rather than destructive; I started looking for some preschool projects. Here are a few we did this week. When picking up supplies, consider a cheap plastic mixing bowl, spatula, measuring cups. I love my dollar store bowl that is slippery inside~especially for the glue projects, then I don't have to "contaminate" my cooking bowls.

1. Homemade bouncy balls. Epic fail, big disappointment. I won't even post recipe because it was not only a waste of time, but waste of "products".

2. Colored noodles: 1TBs rubbing alcohol, food coloring

Directions:
Drop about a cup of noodles into plastic bag, a few drops of food coloring and rubbing alcohol. Shake-good job for kids. Lay out onto paper towel to dry. Enjoy stringing or other crafting!

3. Paper mache bowls:  1/4 cup flour and 1/2 cup flour is the glue.

Directions:
Coat your bowl in cooking spray. Cover in plastic wrap. Start "gluing" you tissue paper. Shoot for about 5 layers for a more sturdy bowl. Let sit over night. Peel the plastic wrap back. Trim edges if desired/needed.

4. Bubble paint: 1/2 cup salt, 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup water, food coloring.

Directions:
Mix well, place into a plastic bag, snip the corner as small as possible (otherwise it goes to quickly). Squeeze over paper. Let dry.

5. Goop/gak: 3/4 cup cold water, 1 4oz bottle glue, liquid food coloring, 1/2 cup hot water,
1 teaspoon borax (you can find this in a box in the laundry aisle)

Directions:
step 1: in bowl 1 – mix together the cold water, glue, and food coloring. set aside.
step 2: in bowl 2 – mix together the hot water and borax, until the borax is completely dissolved.
step 3: slowly add glue mixture to borax mixture. mix well. pour off excess water.

6. Playdough:1 cup flour, 1/4 cup salt, 2 TBsp cream of tartar, 1 cup water, 2 tbsp oil
gel food coloring (makes for a more vibrant color, but you can use liquid if necessary)

Directions:
Place ingredients in pan. Mix your food color with the water if you are using the gel. Cook on med heat on stove. Mix well. DO NOT walk away. When a ball starts to form take off heat. Place on floured table and kneed with hands~adults only product will be hot!


Numbers 2 thru 4 were found on this website http://spoonful.com/crafts. I can't remember where I found 1, 5, and 6. And because I am IN the moment with my children, I don't have any pictures of the processes (Hey I never said I was perfect, plus I can't stand to show how dirty my kitchen usually is~sorry FlyLady!)