Crafts for Kids

Ask any kid about crafts, and you may hear this: "The messier it is, the more fun we have!"

Here are two sticky, colorful, super-fun activities you can try. The kids are sure to enjoy these!

You may wish to smock up before you begin.

Puffy Paints

Kids love to paint, and puffy paints are extra fun. This recipe is so simple and satisfying that we usually end up doubling it, just to make plenty of colors!

Ingredients:

1 cup white all-purpose flour (unsifted)

1cup table salt

3/4 cup warm tap water

Liquid tempera paint (any colors)

Zippered plastic freezer bags (one for each color)

1 pair of scissors

Instructions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and water.

Divide the mixture into several zippered plastic bags. Squirt one color of paint into each bag. Seal the bags tightly. Allow children to knead bags gently to mix color into puffy paint.

Snip one bottom corner off each bag. Children can squeeze puffy paints out through the little hole in the bag onto construction paper.

Fun painting activities:

We like to paint inside several empty shirt-boxes, particularly with younger children. These boxes provide wonderful flat enclosed surfaces for painting. We place a sheet of construction paper inside each box, so each child has his own private painting arena.

On a warmer day, children can paint outside. Our kids have always enjoyed painting directly on top of our plastic picnic table. When they're done, we get out the hose. Clean-up usually turns into water paintball. Why not?

Slime Sublime

This stuff simply oozes with fun. Kids love the way it wiggles, and it smells amazing. You can make it in any color you like, although green is the universal favorite. Ask your children, if you dare, what happens to people on television, when green slime is available!

Ingredients:

1 cup white school glue

1 cup liquid laundry starch (by spray starch in stores)

Powdered unsweetened drink mix (any flavors or colors)

Instructions:

In an oversized bowl (or dish tub), combine the glue and liquid starch. Stir these until they are well-mixed.

Let your concoction sit for five to ten minutes.

Add powdered drink mix for fragrance and coloring. (Flavored gelatin mix may be substituted.) Allow children to knead the mixture in the bowl. For a while, it will seem mushy and lumpy. Eventually, as if by magic, it will transform into a mound of wonderful gooey slime!

Don't worry! The colors will wash off of children's hands.