Homemade Bath Crayons

As a frugal parent, I could never justify spending the money on kids tub crayons; I mean, they basically use them once and then they're garbage if they are even left. And with 3 rough boys, I would have to buy more than 1 package at a time. So this project creates very cheap bath crayons that a parent can make on their own or a child can easily help to make.  If your child helps you, then you get 2 things to occupy your kid - one time to make the soap and another time to play in the tub for awhile drawing up a storm! A child can easily grate some soap, add food coloring, add water, pack the soap into molds (like playing in the sand) , and put them into the freezer. Hopefully, if they help, they can forget about the crayons for a few days while they properly dry out (or they will crumble when they try to write with them).

1 bar of soap (something simple like ivory)
spray vegetable oil
food coloring.
a grater
water
ice cube tray or small mold


1. Lightly Spray an ice cube tray or similar mold with vegetable oil spray
2. Using the smallest holes on your grater, grate an entire bar of soap.

3. Add 15 drops of food coloring to the soap.

4. Add 2 tablespoons of warm/hot water to the soap. Stir an add more water a teaspoon at a time until it looks like a thick dough. (try not to overdo the water as it will take much longer to dry).

5. Press the mixture into your mold of choice.

6. Freeze for 30-45 minutes.
7. Pop out the crayons and let them dry for a minimum of 2 days.

Kitchen Fireworks - 2 ways

These are both 2 easy things to do with the kids. 

We all have the ingredients on hand too!

Kitchen Fireworks #1

1. Pour  about 2 cups milk (the more fat the better) into a cake pan or baking dish.
2. Scatter numerous drops of food coloring in several different spots in the milk.
3. Squeeze some dish washing detergent into the milk, mainly near the food coloring drops.
4. Watch the "firework display" in the pan. The "fireworks" are the result of the liquid dish washing detergent separating the fat in the milk, thus causing it to move.
5. Supposedly when the "show" starts to die-down, you can add more liquid detergent to the milk and it will start over again. I didnt find this the case but maybe we did something wrong. It was cool to see once though!

Kitchen Fireworks #2
(these were WAY more impressive!)

1. Pour water into a clear glass leaving roughly an inch of space at the top of the glass. Water must be room temperature so either: let it sit out a bit -or- make it room temperature from the faucet.
2. In another cup, add about 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Then add 1 or 2 drops of the each (red, yellow & blue) food coloring to the oil.
3. Using a fork, carefully stir the vegetable oil and food coloring just enough to break up the drops. (only slightly stir the mix so you will have a variety of large and small beads).
4. Pour the vegetable oil mix slowly into the glass of water. In around 30 seconds, the beads of color will shoot through the vegetable oil making small streamers and tiny fireworks!!

2nd time we used Red, Yellow & Blue and this mug-cup and it worked better!

Homemade Finger (and feet) Paint

I don't know if I ever bought finger-paint for my kids. Actually, ONCE! I figured I would try and make some since finger painting is supposed to be great for kids. It builds creativity of course, but it's great for their motor skills and they get a great sensory experience as well. This formula is totally safe to eat since it's made at home with food products (of course NOT eating paint is the way to go but if a little one HAS to try it, at least it's safe).

1/2 cup cornstarch
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt 2 cups cold water
food coloring
Saucepan
Spoon and whisk
Storage containers like tupperware, baby food jars, or even ice cube trays if being used immediately.

1. Mix cornstarch, sugar, salt, and cold water by whisking in the saucepan.
2. Cook over medium-low heat for 10-15 minutes stirring and whisking pretty constantly. 
3. Cook until the mixture is smooth and thick like glue.
4. Take pan off stove and divide into containers that can be sealed.
5. Mix in food coloring until desired color is reached.

(image left to right: color added and mixed, color added and not-mixed, and no color added)

6. Close containers and allow to cool.

---------------------------------------

Zoë thought it tasted great...

Feet work well, too.

Hands get  messy...

... so does the rest of ya!

But it's all OK - Look at that Masterpiece!!!

Homemade Crowns & Swords

For the CROWNS:


1. You're gonna need aluminum foil. Cut off about 20 inches or so. Fold it in half twice, long sides together.

2. I used colored card stock. I cut it in half lengthwise so hen I taped it together, it was as long as the folded foil.
3. Cut V's into the colored card stock to make peaks of the crown.

4. Place the card stock in the middle of the foil and fold the foil in half with the card stock in the middle (so the card stock is sandwiched between the foil.

5. Place a few small pieces of tape to make the card stock stay in place on the foil.
6. Tape the foil to the card stock (once folded).
7. Overlap ends to proper size, and slip one end of foil inside the other. Tape in place.
8. Decorate with stickers, glitters, crayons, markers.... whatever you or your kids want to do!

For the SWORDS:


1. Take the tube that comes from the inside of wrapping paper (it's nice & long).

2. Tear foil long enough to cover the whole length.
3. Roll foil around the tube and tape in place.
4. Crumple ends and tuck into the hole at either end.

Homemade Play Dough (scented)

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
2 tablespoons glitter (optional)
1 packet unsweetened drink mix (like Kool-Aid)


1. In a medium pot, mix flour, salt, cream of tartar, drink mix, glitter, and oil. Then, add the water.

3. Whisk until well-blended.

4. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until stiff and all sticks onto itself.

5. Turn out onto wax paper to to let cool.

6. Knead until proper consistency.
7. Store in a sealed plastic baggie.


*** Mom's Note: I like using the unflavored fruit drink instead of food coloring but you certainly can use food coloring. the drink mix makes teh dough smell like a flavor which adds an additional element to it's play. Wal-mart has their brand of drink-mix for 10 cents a packet!


*** Mom's Note: I used embossing glitter because not only did I have it on hand, I like it's fine texture which I think makes the play dough look better and feel better than te larger chunky glitter which is more rough. Also, 1 tablespoon is probably enough but I wanted extra sparkles! :)


*** Mom's Note: As soon as you turn out the play dough, put water in the pot. You'll thank me for telling you that! :)