Homemade Art Supplies for Kids
Making your own art supplies at home is simpler than you may think. You can create paints, glues, crayons, modeling clay and other media at home for your kids using everyday ingredients you may already have in your cabinets. With a few simple recipes, put the money away that you would spend and make the art supplies yourself.
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Finger Paint
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Children love to get their hands dirty, so make your own finger paint. Mix together 1/4 cup of cornstarch, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1 1/2 tablespoon of sugar with 1 cup of cold water in a medium-size pot. Cook the mixture over low heat for roughly 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the mixture thickens, remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool. After the mixture is cool, separate equal amounts in small dishes or empty baby food jars. Add a few drops of food coloring to each container and mix well.
Modeling Clay
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Most families go through a lot of modeling clay. You can make an edible modeling clay for your children. Start by mixing together 1 cup of flour, 1/4 cup of salt and two tablespoons of cream of tartar in a medium-size pot. Add 1 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil and enough colored icing to obtain the desired shade. Stir the entire mixture over medium heat for five minutes or until it forms a round ball in the center of the pan. Place the ball of dough onto a plate or plastic tablecloth. After the clay is cool, knead it several times and place it in an airtight container or zip-closure bag; place in the refrigerator when not in use.
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Glue
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Glue is made from man-made materials that you may have in your kitchen cabinets. Mix together 3/4-cups water, 2 tablespoons of corn syrup and 1 teaspoon of white vinegar in a saucepan; bring to a boil. In a smaller bowl, mix together 1/2 cup of cornstarch and 3/4 cups of cold water. Add the dry mixture to the liquid slowly, stirring the entire time. Allow the glue to stand and cool overnight before using.
Crayons
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Make crayons at home to use and give as gifts. Purchase candy molds or tins to create crayon shapes. To make the crayons, mix together 1 cup of soap flakes with 1 tablespoon of hot water. Divide the mixture into several bowls and add food coloring to each bowl, blending together. Press the mixture into different molds and allow them to dry for a week. Remove the crayons from the molds and allow to dry for another one to two days.
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References
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