Play Dough
1 c. white flour
1/4 c. salt
2 tbsp. cream of tartar
2 tsp. food coloring
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 c. water
Mix flour salt and cream of tartar in a medium saucepan. Add water food coloring and oil. Stir over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Don t worry if the mixture looks like a gobbly mess it ll turn into dough (Be sure you have an adult to help watch this with you.) When the mixture forms a ball in the center of the pot take it out and put it on a floured surface. Squeeze it and punch it around a bit (this kneads it). When you re done put it in a plastic bag or air tight container and store it in the refrigerator.

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Decorator Bags
1 plain brown bag
Sponge
Acrylic paint(s)
Hole puncher
Twine or curling ribbon
Take a plain brown bag and a sponge cut into any shape. Dip into acrylic paint on a saucer and then place on bag and lift straight up. Use either one color or several. Allow to dry and then turn down a couple of inches at the top and use a hole puncher and punch two holes about 2 apart. Use either packing twine or curling ribbon through the holes and tie a bow. Makes a really cute country bag that is fun and inexpensive and easy to do. You can also use a stencil and stencil a design on the bag. This is fun for children since they can design it themselves Can be used to give cookies or candies or gifts other than food items.

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Finger Paints
3 tbsp. sugar
1/2 c. cornstarch
2 c. water
Food coloring
Dish detergent
Plastic or paper cups
Mix the sugar and cornstarch together in a medium size saucepan. Add water and stir until well blended. Cook over a low heat stirring all the time (you may need an adult to help with this) until well-blended about 5 minutes. Remove from stove cool and pour into the plastic or paper cups. Carefully (so as not to spill on anything) add a little bit of food coloring to each cup and a drop of detergent. Now enjoy

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Face Paints
1 tsp. cornstarch
1/2 tsp. cold cream
Food coloring (your choice)
1/2 tsp. water
In a bowl combine all ingredients (except the food coloring) together. In a muffin tin fill each tin 2/3 full and drop in food coloring until desired color is met in the different tins. Stir carefully (so it doesn t splash into the next tin). Now you re ready for face painting for any occasion.

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Bath Salts
1 c. Epsom salts
Measuring cup
2 jars with lids
2 colored of liquid food color
1 pretty 8 oz. jar
A few drops of your favorite perfume
1/2 yard of ribbon 1/2 to 1 wide
To make these good smelling bath salts first measure 1/2 cup of Epsom salt into each jar with a lid. Add 15 drops of food color to each jar one color per jar and put on the lids. Shake the jars until the Epsom salts are dyed evenly. If you want your colors to be darker add more food color and shake again. Take off the lids and let the salts dry overnight. Now make sure your pretty jar is all clean and dry. Then pour the dyed bath salts into the jar alternating colors (you may want to get colors that go together well). Add a couple of drops of perfume to the bath salts put on the lid and tie the jar with your pretty ribbon. Now you have a really nice present to bless someone with.

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Soap Flake Sculptures
4 c. soap flakes (any kind NOT
detergent)
1/2 c. cold water
Place soap flakes and water in a medium size bowl. Squeeze the mixture together with your hands until it becomes slightly damp and sticks together. (This mixture dries quickly so you ll have to work fast) Now you can form it into any shape you d like animals snowmen decorations tree ornaments etc. Place the finished sculpture(s) in the refrigerator to harden.

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Giant Soap Bubbles
Cold clear water
Wire coat hanger
Frying pan
Glycerin (available at drugstores)
Joy or Dawn detergent (these work the
best)
Bend a coat hanger into a loop (maybe dad or mom can help you). Mix 1/2 cup of Joy or Dawn detergent with 5 cups water. Measure carefully as this makes a big difference. Stir well. Add two tablespoons of glycerin. This makes more durable bubbles. Now dip your coat hanger loop into the solution then wave it into the air. (Don t throw away any solution you didn t use - store it for next time. As it ages it gets even better)

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Egg Yolk Paint
1 well blended egg yolk
1/4 tsp. water
Food coloring
Blend egg yolk and water. Divide mixture into several small cups. Add a different food coloring to each cup (bright colors are great). Paint on regular sugar cookies with small paint brushes. Bake cookies being very careful not to let the cookies brown. (Should be golden in color.)

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Egg Carton Creations
Empty clean egg cartons
Cut along the bottom of three connected cups of an egg carton. Set cups bottom up. Make a face on the end cup with a felt pen or crayon. To make an antennae curl the ends of 2 (2 ) pieces of pipe cleaner and stick them into the caterpillar s forehead. Another idea Use a styrofoam egg carton. Fill cups with any combination of wild bird seed sunflower seeds raisins apples suet seeds mixed with peanut butter peanuts bread crumbs water corn or berries. Place outside on a window sill or hang from a tree. Another idea Plant one seed in each of the twelve cups. Water and watch your seeds grow (this could be a good lesson on tithing also).

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Play Dough
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. salt
4 tbsp. cream of tartar
2 c. water
2 tbsp. oil
Food coloring
1. Stir flour salt and cream of tartar in a saucepan. 2. Add water and oil. 3. Cook over a low heat for 3-5 minutes stirring well. 4. Give a chance to cool then take out of pan and knead well. 5. Split into portions and add different colors to each piece kneading well. 6. Enjoy

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