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Craft supplies you can make at home

You’re beating summer boredom with tons of crafts for kids, but when you whip up your own craft supplies at home, you won’t have to run through your summer fun budget too! From learning how to make your own playdough to finding tried-and-true finger paint recipes, your kids will not only love creating their own masterpieces when you’re done, they’ll love helping to prepare these crafts supplies you can make at home!

How to make your own playdough

Because you don’t have to prep this recipe on the stove, little kids and big kids alike can happily pitch in with this playdough recipe.

Materials:

  • Bowl
  • Mixing spoon
  • 1 cup cold water
  • 1 cup salt
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil or olive oil
  • Food coloring
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour plus extra as needed
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

Directions:

  1. In a bowl, mix water, salt and oil with a spoon; when crafting up a whole batch in a single shade, you may opt to mix in the food coloring at this point as well.
  2. In a separate bowl, mix flour and cornstarch and then add slowly to water mixture until the consistency of bread dough, adding additional flour if needed. Once dough begins to firm up, you’ll likely need to knead it with your hands.
  3. Add in color as needed when separating one batch into multiple hues, however, be warned that mixing in food coloring at this point can be a bit messier, but washable.
  4. Store in a reclosable bag or covered, as playdough dries out quickly.

Have fun and teach kids about recycling with these soda bottle crafts for kids >>

Edible homemade finger paint recipe

“I recently introduced my son to finger painting and being an eco-conscious mom, I wanted to use an organic finger paint,” shares Kelly Bejelly, freelance writer, product reviewer and frugalista at www.agirlworthsaving.net. “After checking prices and finding most kits sold for $35 and more, I decided to make the paints then from scratch. Using water, cornstarch and assorted produce — beets, spinach, and blueberries — I was able to create edible finger paints at a fraction of the cost.”

Materials:

  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 2 cups water
  • Small saucepan
  • liquid food coloring or natural food sources for color
  • Stove

Directions:

  1. Combine cornstarch and water in a saucepan over medium heat, but stay close; the ingredients will heat up quicker than you think.
  2. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until mixture has thickened.
  3. Lower heat and continue to stir until smooth; you can use a whisk if need be, but most lumps can be creamed by pressing them against the side of the saucepan while mixing.
  4. Remove from heat and separate cooled concoction into separate bowls or containers, such as emptied and cleaned baby food jars; dye each a different color.

Next up: Find out how to make moon sand >>

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