Homemade Art Supplies

**Mom23boys** · 08-03-2003, 05:01 PM

Glitter

Mix together 5-6 drops of food coloring and ½ c. salt, stir well. Cook in microwave for 1-2 minutes or spread out on a piece of waxed paper to air-dry. Store in an airtight container, as with all of the art supplies in this article.

Sidewalk Chalk

1 c. plaster of paris
½ c. water
2 - 3 Tbs. tempera paint

Mix plaster of paris and tempera paint, then add water and mix well. Pour into molds and let dry for 24 hours. Remove from mold and let air dry for 2 -7 days depending on size. You can use paper cups, plastic butter tubs or food trays, candy molds, muffin tins, or even toilet paper tubes covered with foil on one end.

Finger Paint

1 envelope unflavored gelatin
½ c. cornstarch
3 Tbs. sugar
2 c. cold water
food coloring
dishwashing liquid
white shelf paper

Soak gelatin in ¼ c. warm water and put aside. Combine cornstarch and sugar in medium sized pot. Gradually add remaining water and cook slowly over low heat, stirring until well blended. Remove from heat and add gelatin. Divide into containers, adding a drop or two of d/w liquid and food coloring to each.

Paint

1 c. liquid starch
6 c. water
½ c. soap powder
Food coloring

Dissolve soap powder in water, add starch and food coloring.

Edible Peanut Butter Play Dough

1 c. peanut butter
½ c. honey
1 ½ c. powdered milk

Mix ingredients and roll into balls.

Cook Play Dough
(turns out just like the stuff at the store)
1 c. flour
½ c. salt
2 tsp. cream of tarter
Mix together and add:
1 c. water
1 Tbs. oil
food coloring

Cook on low heat, stirring constantly, until it forms a ball and becomes dull.

Kool-Aid Play Dough
(no cooking required)

3 c. flour
½ c. salt
1 pkg. Unsweetened Kool-aid
1 Tbs. alum
Mix together and add:
2 c. boiling water

Knead dough with up to an additional 1 c. of flour until it becomes the desired consistency.

Jell-O Play Dough
(no cooking required)

4 c. flour
1 c. salt
2 pkgs. unsweetened Jell-O
4 tsp. cream of tartar
Mix together and add:
2 c. boiling water
2 tsp. cooking oil or baby oil

Mix together well and knead until dough becomes the desired consistency.

Sticky Putty

¾ c. and 2 Tbs. water
1 tsp. Mule Team Borax
8 ounces white glue
Food coloring

Heat water over medium heat and add borax, stir with wooden spoon until dissolved. Add glue and a few drops of food coloring, stirring constantly until glue and water mix. Pour into a plastic bowl and cool.

Modeling Clay

1 c. cornstarch
1 ½ c. water
16 ounces baking soda

Combine cornstarch and baking soda together in large saucepan. Stir in water and cook over low heat until the mixture becomes thick and forms a ball. Remove from heat and cool. Knead the dough on a countertop dusted with cornstarch until smooth.

Air Dry Clay

3 c. flour
1 c. salt
½ c. white glue
1 c. water
1 tsp. lemon juice

Mix together until well blended. Mold into shapes or roll out and cut with cookie cutters. Let dry overnight before painting.

Paper Mache

Use a simple mixture of flour and water. Mix one part flour with about 2 parts of water until you get a consistancy like thick glue. Add more water or flour as necessary. Mix well to get out all the bumps.

Goop

2 c salt
1 c. water
1 c. cornstarch

Cook salt and 1/2 of water for 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add cornstarch and remaining 1/2 of water, then return to heat. Stir until mixture thickens. You can also add food coloring to this.

Multi-colored crayons

Peel broken crayons and melt in a small aluminum pan at 350 degrees for 15 -20 minutes. Cool and break into new multi-colored pieces.

Disappearing Paint

Mix 1/8 tsp. "bluing" (a laundry additive) with 2 cups water. Paint the sidewalk and watch it disappear.

Face Paint

Mix poster paints with cold cream.

Cinnamon Clay

¼ c. white glue
1/3 c. applesauce
3 Tbs. cinnamon
1 3/4 cup flour
¼ c. water

Mix ingredients together, until dough forms a ball, knead for a minute or two adding a little more flour if needed. Make into desired shapes or roll out and cut with cookie cutters. Bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes.

Crazy Putty
(will even bounce)
3/4 cup of white glue
Add enough liquid starch until a ball of dough is formed, then add food coloring and knead dough until it's completely worked in.

Slime

1 c. glue
Liquid starch
Food coloring (if desired)

Add starch slowly until mixture becomes the right texture... slimey.

Lap Desk

Make a pillow out of scrap material, fiberfill and some poly (plastic) beads to make it squishy. Attach a lap tray or board with strips of Velcro.

**Heather** · 08-03-2003, 05:15 PM

Wow, we'll be busy the rest of the summer now!! Thanks Michelle!

**dz_blonde_girl** · 08-04-2003, 09:27 AM

Wow! What a list! We've made the Kool Aid Playdough before and really enjoyed it! May I add, you can also make the Peanut Butter Play Dough with just peanut butter and powdered sugar. We've also made this and it was fun and tasty! The honey sounds a little sticky.