Baking Soda & Vinegar

Remember how cool those volcano science experiments were?  I do.  Not only were they cool, but they were also super fun!  And my 2 year old also thought it was pretty fun too. In fact, it's one of her most requested activities for rainy/snowy days.  

Our fun has two parts.  1) Pouring small amounts of the vinegar into the baking soda and watching it bubble and 2) Once all the baking soda is covered with vinegar and no longer bubbles, it's super fun to squish with your fingers and feel the goo as it slips right through.  This activity will literally keep my toddler busy for 30 minutes to an hour each time.

Oh and don't forget to color the vinegar with food coloring so they can see better where it's been.

Items Needed:

Baking Soda

Vinegar

2 Dishes (I use a pie dish & Tupperware bowl)

Spoon (I use a tablespoon)

Directions:

1.  Pour vinegar into bowl (I use Tupperware)

2.  Put a few drops of food coloring.  One or two will do.

3.  Pour baking soda into the other dish (I use pie dish)

4.  Show child what to do.  Strongly emphasize that they should NOT put baking soda INTO the vinegar.  ONLY vinegar into baking soda.  If they do put baking soda into the vinegar mixture, then the entire bowl will bubble over and the vinegar will no longer be active.  

Bath tub painting

I discovered very quickly, that when it came to my daughters love of painting, it also came with an the expense of a LOT of paper.   So instead of endless reams of paper, I'd pop her into our tub with some watercolors and a paintbrush.  And sure enough, she loved it.  So much so that we did it a LOT.

It's CHEAP, clean up is a breeze and kept my daughter busy for a very long time.  

Few things to note:  Porcelain (or non porous) tubs are best for this.  The paint literally washes right off.  It also easily comes off of non porous tile as well.

I've also done this in plastic tubs.  The plastic though sucks in the paint and holds onto it.  It will come out with some elbow grease and magic erasers.  Just be prepared to work for it.  

Patriotic Canvas Picture

In a craft swap, I made my friend Angela this cute canvas print.  I originally saw the print on Pinterest but it was only a lame picture, not the actual printout.  It took me a few weeks to find the ACTUAL printout an when I did, I fell in love with it.  I love the simplicity of it and hope she did too!

Items Needed:
8x10 Canvas

Print out of desired picture. 

Modpodge & sponge brush

Modpodge SPRAY - clear acrylic sealer matt finish

Cutting Board

Directions:

1.  Print out desired picture.  If you like the photo I have above it can be found HERE.

2.  Cut photo to size of canvas.  

3.  Using a sponge brush, glue picture onto canvas.  You may want to turn canvas over and press out all air bubbles that may attempt to stick around.  You want ZERO air bubbles.

4.  Once glue is dry, then using the Modpodge spray adhesive spray on MULTIPLE coats. Allow each coat to thoroughly dry before applying another coat.  I have an inkjet printer.  So my ink smears when I try to brush on modpodge glue.  I learned that the spray on works amazingly well and does not make my ink run! I applied 5 thick coats.

Pledge of Allegiance

In a patriotic swap, I was given this gem by my fellow crafter Stephanie!  I love it!  I mean, what isn't there to love.  It's in the shape of a flag.  It's wood.  It's our pledge of allegiance, which sadly I think is going out of style and it's super patriotic! Plus it works for several holidays or even as all year decoration! Wanna make one too?  Follow the link to directions below.

The original idea came from HERE and if you love it as much as I do, then you will for sure want to whip up one for yourself!

Toilet Paper Art

In a craft swap, my friend Tanys made this for me.  Believe it or not, it's made out of TOILET PAPER ROLLS!  I've seen a few of these floating around on Pinterest, but that was long after she had made and sent me this amazing creation!  

Looking at it from a distance or even up close, you CANNOT tell it's out of toilet paper rolls.  It looks so authentic.  The only thing you need to really be warned about with them is that they are VERY FRAGILE!  So if end up making these, then put it up on the wall or somewhere where little (or big) hands can hurt it.  

I seriously can't tell you how much I love this and how many compliments we have gotten on ours!

If you are interested in making this, visit THIS blog for a tutorial.  It's SUPER time consuming, but oh so worth it in the end!

Button Hearts

I love button art.  I made these for some girls in a valentines swap.   

 Items Needed:

(1) 8x11 canvas

Computer & Printer

Paint & Paint brush

LOTS of buttons in varying sizes and shades

Ribbon

Modpodge or glue of your choice

Scissors

Directions:

1.  Using a printer print out a large heart

2.  Cut out heart

3.  Trace heart onto canvas

4.  Paint heart

5.  Using modpodge or glue of your choice, begin to glue buttons onto painted heart.  Start at one end and slowly work your way to the other.  

6.  After all the buttons have been attached, attach a ribbon bow.

7.  Attach a ribbon to the back of the canvas for hanging purposes.

Recipe Box

A Recipe Box I made. with dividers and recipes.

I can't do a proper tutorial, but I can give you the gist of what I did.

Items Needed:

Box - I used a provo craft box.

Ribbons (lots & good variety)

Scrapbook Paper

Modpodge

Embellishments

File Folders

Ink

Directions:

1.  Cover your entire box in scrapbook paper by modpodging it on.  

2.  Cover your lid with scrapbook paper.

3.  Add ribbon to the handles

4.  Add embellishments to the front as you see fit.

5.  Using your file folders, cut out 6 tabbed dividers.

6.  Embellish each divider and label them as you see fit.  Such labels could include:

Appetizers, Main Dish, Dessert, Soup & Salad, Side Dishes, Other

7.  If desired, ink the edges of all of the cards and paper for added effect.

Repurposed Crayons

Do you have crayons laying around that are all broken and ugly?  Why not remake crayons into fun shapes!  We like to do these for birthday presents, Halloween gifts or just for fun and it's a perfect project for her to help me with!

Items Needed:

Crayons

Silicone pan

Cookie Sheet

Oven

Directions:

1.  Heat oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit

2.  Peal the paper off of your crayons.

3.  If crayons aren't already broken or aren't small enough, break into smaller pieces.

4.  Put crayons into silicone pan.  (we have two that we use for crayons only - do not eat from these same pans as there will be crayon residue left over on the pan).

5.  Once all crayons are in the silicone pan, put onto a cookie sheet (for stability).

6.  Put cookie sheet into oven.

7.  Depending on the size of your silicone molds, bake for 5 - 10 minutes.  DO NOT OVER BAKE or crayon wax will separate making crayons unusable.  For smaller molds bake shorter period of time.  Keep a close eye on them as they bake.  Once crayons are fully melted pull pan out of oven.

8.  Allow crayons to fully cool and harden.  

Once crayons are hard (solid), then pop them out of your pan and use!

Cornstarch Fun

Cornstarch is one of those fun, goopy, strange items you have laying around the house that kids and adults love to play with.  I wanted my daughter to feel it in her fingers go from a solid to a liquid and to get messy.  It was a fun and gooey project!

Items Needed:

Bowl

Corn Starch

Water

Spoon or wisk

Directions:

1.  In a medium size bowl, mix 1 cup of corn starch and 1/2 cup of water.  

(Or 2 cups of corn starch and 1 cup of water).  

2.  Mix it up.  When done mixing it should look dry. 

3.  Pick it up.  It should go from a solid to a liquid.  If it's too dry for you, add a table spoon of water at a time until desired consistency.

Light Switch Covers

I am sure there is a better way to do these, but this is how I did them.

For church we needed to make around 150 gifts for the youth girls and leaders to remind them of the theme for the year which was "Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard to the nations, D&C 115:5"  

So we thought a good reminder was a light switch to help them remember the theme every day they woke up!  So we got to work and this is the final product we came up with!

Items Needed:  

Sheets of full page labels (found at walmart)

Computer & Printer - Wordle (wordle.com) to create the word art

Spray Finish (mod podge did NOT work).

Light Switches

Directions:  

1.  Wash light switches so they are free of any chemicals or residue.

2.  Create word art in wordle.

3.  Copy word art into a word document

4.  Arrange word art on to a 8x11 page (I was able to get 5 per sheet)

5.  Print.  (I used our ink jet at home but if you have a laser jet, that would work even better!)

6.  Cut each set out to match the size of the light switch, keeping in mind the rounding corners.

7. Once all are cut out, then slit each edge (just a tiny bit to overlap each other)

8.  Cut out center switch area.

9.  Peal backing of sticker off and stick them to your light switch.

10.  Firmly press edges down

11.  Let sit overnight.  If edges do roll up, then using mod podge seal edges down.

12.  Once edges stay down for 24 hours, then spray with sealer.  We applied two coats, allowing each coat to dry for 12 hours.

Stamped Flour Sack Towels

I love Flour Sack towels.  My MIL gave me a bunch of embroidered ones a few years back and they are my FAVORITE present.  At the time of making these, I didn't know how to embroider.  But I did know how to stamp! I made these for a few friends in a craft swap.  I took a phrase I loved and stamped it onto a towel.  In order to do this though, you'll need the right kind of stamps - the kind that don't wash off.

I also made stamped towels for both my Mom and MIL for Christmas one year (or Mother's Day - can't remember).  Anyway, I stamped my daughters hands and feet all around the towel as a cute way to capture her tiny prints.  (This was VERY difficult to do with a squirmy baby - FYI)

Items Needed:

Flour Sack Towels (I purchased mine online)

Versa Craft Ink (any color)

Directions:

1.  Wash Towels.  You want to ensure they wont shrink after you stamp.

2.  Choose a phrase or item to stamp.

3.  Stamp Item onto Towel.  Ensure to press firmly as there is no second chance.

4.  IRON towels.  Heat will help the ink bond to towel.

5.  Wash Again!

Playdough

You can NEVER go wrong with playdough with kids.  I found THIS RECIPE on Pinterest.  It's quick, easy and makes a TON.  Plus it lasts if stored in a container.  We've been using the same playdough for  over a month and it is still going strong.  

The best part is that it is made with ingredients that I know and trust. (unlike that funky smelling stuff you can by at store).  Whip up a batch today and watch your child play for hours!

Condensed Milk Painting

I saw this idea on Pinterest and thought I'd give it a try.  I poured condensed milk into several holes in a muffin tin pan.  Then added food coloring to each creating various colors.  Add a little Munchkin and a paint brush and you've got lots of fun!

My daughter loved this but it did require a bath by the end because she believes in painting not only the paper, but also herself.  

It does take longer to dry but once dry it makes a nice shiny painting!

This was another cheap fun activity - especially if you're baking and have extra condensed milk laying around!

GAK

I grew up playing with GAK, so of course I wanted to introduce my daughter to it.  

Items Needed:  

1 8oz bottle of Elmer's Glue (6 oz works too)

1 teaspoon borax laundry detergent

1/2 cup warm water

Food Coloring

Directions:

1.  In a large bowl pour entire bottle of Elmer's glue into it.  

2.  Add a drop or two of food coloring and mix.

3.  In a separate bowl mix together 1/2 cup of warm water & 1 tsp of Borax.  Borax will dissolve. 

4.  Once Borax is disolved pour Borax Mixture into Glue.

5.  Stir with hands or spoon (I love the feeling so I use my hands).  

Continue mixing until all of glue and water is absorbed and creates a slime known as GAK.

GAK can be stored in an airtight container and used continuously for weeks.  

Because it is only glue, water & laundry detergent it will come out of clothing 

- the food coloring can stain if left on clothing.

Shaving Cream Painting

Have a bored child at home?  Why not do a SUPER cheap but fun art activity?!  It's super simple and will keep your child busy for a while.  

Items Needed:

Shaving Cream (found at any dollar store)

Food Coloring

Paint Brush

Paper

Muffin Tin

Directions:

1.  Put shaving cream in the muffin tin holes.  

2.  Add a drop of food coloring to each hole 

3.  Mix together.

*Note: Food coloring can will stain skin and clothing - so have child wear clothing that you do not care about OR get child naked.  This activity keeps my child busy for 30 minutes to an hour (depending on how much paper I give her.)  You should also know that when my daughter is done, she likes to paint herself which results in a bath.