Making your own art supplies can be quick and easy. Here are some wallet friendly art recipes that you can try with your children.
Baking Clay
- 1 cup salt
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 4 cups all purpose flour
Stir the salt into the warm water. Let cool. Add flour and knead for 8-10 minutes. For colouring the dough, add food colouring or powdered tempera paint to the salt and water - before adding the flour. Create figures and bake at 325 degrees F for 30 minutes to one hour (until all the moisture is gone). Paint creations when cool. You can also seal the complete work with a non-toxic water-based sealer.
Home Made Glitter
Mix together 5-6 drops of food coloring and 1/2 cup 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 cup plaster of Paris
- 1/2 cup water
- 2-3 T 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
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 3 T sugar
- 2 cup cold water
- Food coloring
- Dishwashing liquid
- White shelf paper
Soak gelatin in 1/4 cup 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 dishwashing liquid and food coloring to each.
Clay
- 1 part salt
- 2 parts flour
- 1 part water
Mix and knead all the ingredients for about 2 minutes. Mold the clay into creations. Place them on a foil-covered cookie sheet, prick larger areas with a fork. Bake at 275 degrees Fahrenheit (140 degrees Celsius) for about 1 hour or until golden and hard. Cool and paint. Preserve by spraying with clear varnish.
Playdough
- 3 cups four
- 1/3 cup salt
- 2 T oil (veg)
- 1cup water
- 7 drops food coloring.
Mix dry ingredients with oil. Add food coloring to the water and mix together. Add water to flour/salt/oil mixture slowly – about 1/4 cup at a time and mix together with a spoon. Once you've added all of the water, knead the dough with your hands.
Creativity Begins at Home
Making your own art supplies and materials at home rather than buying them is a great way to teach your children how to be even more creative. Additional recipes can be found at KinderArt Kitchen and Artists Helping Children.
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