It seems as if arts & crafts is becoming a bigger part of our days lately. Painting, coloring, making things with paper, play dough. You name it, we have been busy doing it. Maggie is really getting in touch with her creativity and it's awesome to watch. I feel so limited by my imagination, but my 3.5 year old is never empty on ideas!
Because we are doing so much crafting lately, I have been on a quest to find her safer, more environmentally friendly supplies. Since I have found some neat things, I thought I would pass it on to you as well. I have also stumbled across some great recipes too!
Color Crayons:
Stockmar Color Crayons
This link is for a set of 12 crayons. But if you check out Amazon a bit more you will see they have bigger sets and they have some great block crayons for smaller kiddos. These crayons are made of bees wax.
Prang Crayons
These crayons are made out of a wax/soybean oil blend. With colors like Pink Lemonade and Cinnamon, how could you go wrong?
Crayon Rocks
Made from a soft soy wax and tinted with natural mineral powder, these crayons are nice! They look like rocks, which is fun for kids but also is designed to strengthen the tripod grip muscles which is great for preparing fingers and hands for handwriting. There is a great video on their website to tell you more about Crayon Rocks!
Finger Paints:
Kid Bean Finger Paints
Hemp-based vegan paint.
Colored Pencils:
Stubby Pencil Studio
This link will provide you with not one, but with 10 different kinds of colored pencils! Having fun picking one out....or two :)
Playdough:
Eco Baby Organic Playdough
This playdough is 100% plant based colors and scents! Colors such as Lemony Yellow, Purple Grape, Berry Pink (just to name a few!) are not only safe for little hands, but a wonderful smell for the nose! Lots of senses being used! Touch, smell, etc.
Paper:
Now, I prefer to recycle paper at our house, but there are occasions where we will buy it for crafts. I usually keep old cards, old newspaper, junk mail letters that are blank on one side, etc. But sometimes Maggie just wants something special to create a masterpiece on!
Banana Paper
This comes in notebook form. But it would be wonderful for the older child who wants to write down thoughts, do school work, etc.
Coffee Paper
100% organic coffee paper
Mango Paper
Organic Mango paper, 100% post consumer content to make a beautiful paper
Lemon Paper
Just like the banana, coffee and mango paper, organic and 100% post consumer content
Elephant Poo Poo Paper
It is what you think! Click the link and read!
There are a lot of great things out there, you just have to do some research!
OK, now for some recipes! I like it when fun things don't cost a lot of money. I know some of the items above are kind of pricey, so lets get something a little easier on the pocket book!
Homemade Glue:
Combine a 3:1 ratio of flour and sugar in a saucepan. Slowly add cold water until a paste forms. Stir over heat until the mixture thickens. Add 1 tsp. white vinegar. This glue will keep in the refrigerator for a few weeks. Allow glue to warm to room temperature before using it
*recipe from The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule
Easy Playdough:
- One-cup cold water
- One-cup salt
- Two-teaspoon vegetable oil
- Three cups flour
- Two tablespoons cornstarch
- Tempera paint or food coloring (adjust amount for color desired)
Mix the water, salt, oil and paint together. Gradually work in the flour and cornstarch until you get the consistency of bread dough.
Sidewalk Chalk:
- Two cups water
- Two cups plaster of Paris
- Two tablespoons wet or dry tempera paint
- Toilet paper tubes
- Duct tape
Use duct tape to cover one end of each toilet paper tube. Mix all ingredients and set aside for 5 minutes. Line a cookie sheet with wax paper or foil. Place tubes upright (open end up) on cookie sheet. Tape the tubes upright onto the wax paper or foil to make it steadier. Pour mixture into holders. Let sit until chalk mixture is almost firm. Rip off the toilet paper tubes and let the sidewalk chalk dry for about 2 more hours.
Gunk:
- One Part Cornstarch
- One Part Water
Mix and color with food color or Tempera paint. Glitter is also fun!
And, I will leave you with a craft project that Maggie and I are going to work on next week for part of her Nana's birthday present (hopefully she isn't reading!)
Memory Handprint:
- 1 Cup Flour
- 1 Cup Salt
- Water
- Food Coloring (optional)
Mix flour and salt, add enough water to get a firm clay-like mixture. Remove 1/2 cup of dough and press it into a circular shape on a lightly greased cookie sheet. It should be large enough for a child's hand or foot to fit onto with the fingers or toes spread out. Push child's hand or foot firmly into dough. Let dough dry for several weeks or put in oven at 225 degrees for 2 to 4 hours, depending on the thickness of the dough.
Here are a couple of places you may want to check out!
A Child's Dream
Dharma Trading Co.
Happy crafting!
what a great resource post! Thanks for putting all this info in one place.
Posted by: PlanningQueen | August 25, 2008 at 05:12 AM
Thank you PlanningQueen! I was having so much fun putting it together I could have gone on and on!
I love your site! I am sure I will be visiting a lot. I am a planner too!
Posted by: Bobbi | August 25, 2008 at 10:22 AM