Craft Recipes

Some days the kids want to play with materials you don't have on hand. Or maybe you don't like to pay the price the commercial companies want for simple craft materials. Perhaps you simply prefer the quality of homemade or the process involved. Whatever the reason, homemade craft materials can be lots of fun. I would like to share several tried and true favorites I have used in my classroom. Below are bubbles, doughs and paints. To see foods and fun mixtures, click the ice cream cone below:

Basic Play Dough

This version is less crumbly than what you buy in the store. 1 c. water 1 c. flour 1/2 c. salt 2 tsp. cream of tartar 2 Tbsp. cooking oil food coloring Stir food coloring into water in a sauce pan. Add remaining ingredients. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until mixture thickens and draws away from the sides of the pan. Form into a ball and cool. Store in a zip-lock bag or air-tight container.

Kool-Aid Play Dough

This dough smells and the color comes from the Kool-Aid! 3 c. flour 1/2 c. salt 2 Kool-Aid packages 2 c. boiling water Mix dry ingredients together. Add boiling water and mix. Knead on floured board (kids love this part). You may need to add a bit more flour to obtain the correct consistency. Store in an air-tight container and it lasts for months.

Fantastic Bubbles

2 c. Joy dishwashing soap 6 c. water 3/4 c. Karo light corn syrup Combine ingredients, shake and let settle for four hours. For best results, use only Joy and Karo brands. For ease in bubbling, pour bubble solution into a cake pan and use a large bubble wand. You can also create your own wand by bending a thin piece of wire (like flower wire) into a closed shape. Be sure to leave a handle! See how the wand shape affects the bubble shape!

Soap Flake Finger Paint

3 c. Ivory soap flakes 1 1/2 c. water powdered tempera paint Mix the tempera paint with the soap flakes. Add water and stir vigorously. Let stand five minutes to dissolve the soap flakes, and stir again. More water may be needed. Use like any finger paint. Easily cleans up from hands and clothes.

Shaving Cream Finger Paint

For an easy finger painting project, simply spray shaving cream on a table. Food coloring can be added. This cleans up very easily and does a wonderful job of cleaning the table!

Cornstarch Finger Paint

3 Tbsp. sugar 1/2 c. cornstarch 2 c. cold water Mix sugar and cornstarch. Add cold water and stir vigorously. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until it thickens. Divide into portions and add food coloring.

Face Paint

1/8 c. baby lotion (like Baby Magic) squirt of dish soap 1/4 tsp. powder or liquid tempera paint Mix together and apply with a Q-tip. Before using red on children, test on a small patch of skin. Some red paints (even washable) have a tendency to stain the skin.

Creative Play Clay

1 c. baking soda 1/ c. cornstarch 2/3 c. warm water food coloring (optional) Mix soda and cornstarch in a saucepan. Add water. Stir until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture looks like mashed potatoes. Remove from heat and pour into a mixing bowl to cool. Knead well once clay is cool enough to handle. Store in airtight container until it is used. Form into shapes and let air dry. Makes about 1/2 cup. To add color, knead food coloring into the clay until well-blended, or you can paint the dried pieces with poster or tempera paint. When pieces are completely dry, brush with shellac or clear nail polish.

Cornstarch Clay

This recipe has a grainy texture and sparkly appearance.. 1 c. salt 1/3 c. water 1/2 c. cornstarch 1/4 c. cold water food coloring or tempera paint (optional) Heat the salt and 1/3 cup of water over medium heat for about 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Use caution, it gets quite bubbly.) Remove from heat and add the cornstarch and 1/4 cup cold water. The mixture should now look like mashed potatoes; stir it until it thickens, then let cool a few minutes before kneading. If the dough is too sticky, knead in a little extra cornstarch. Add food coloring, if desired. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks (place a small piece of wet spong in the container). Allow creations to air dry for 1-4 days, depending on thickness of creations.

Applesauce Cinnamon Dough

Mix equal amounts of applesauce and cinnamon together. Roll out dough to about 1/2 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters. Bake in low temperature oven. Make sure to poke a hole in the top of the ornament if you plan to hang it (a plastic straw works well). These make wonderful, smelly holiday ornaments.

Web Author: Tina Dickinson