activities

Artistic Techniques

Papier Mache

Water
White Flour (one part flour to one part water)
Strips of Newspaper, about 1 inch wide
Acrylic or poster paint

Mix flour and water in a large bowl (2 cups of each is a good amount
with which to start) until it makes a smooth paste. Dip in the
newspaper strips, one at a time, remove the excess paste from your
fingers and lay the coated newspaper on the form to be papier mached.
Smooth out the wrinkles and continue to place coated newspaper over
the surface until completely covered. When the surface has totally
dried, paint your own design using acrylic or poster paint, and decorate
with craft supplies.

Variation: Use white glue instead of flour, it works the same, but is
less pasty.

To make a pig form:
Use a plastic water or soda bottle, poking in golf tees for legs, and
taping on cutout triangles from a cardboard tube for ears. For the
finishing touch, add a spring for the curly tail.

Sunburst Pinata:
Tape paper cone-shaped drinking cups around the circumference of an
inflated balloon. After it's dry cut a slit in the back and stuff in the
treats and trinkets, cover and tape the opening closed, then paint.

Self-portrait:
Carefully mold heavy duty aluminum foil around your face making sure
to press around your chin, eyes, forehead, and mouth. If you wear
glasses, leave them on. Then stuff the inside of the mold with dry
newspaper to give it some support while you work. Cover the front of
the "molded face" with papier mache. Allow to dry and then paint and
decorate with your likeness or any design.

Gelatin Plastic

3 envelopes unflavored gelatin
9 tbls water
3-5 drops of food coloring
flat plastic lid from 24 oz coffee can or a lid similar in size with a rim
cookie cutters
plastic drinking straw for punching holes
Ice cream buckets and kitchen wipes (optional)

In a small cooking pan mix the water and food coloring over low heat.
Add gelatin, stir continuously and cook for 30 seconds until thickened.
Pour the mixture into a plastic lid, push the air bubbles to the edge with
a spoon and let it set on the counter for 45 minutes. Remove the
flexible gelatin disk from the lid. The gelatin will be pliable. Here's
when you pull out the cookie cutters to cut shapes. Be sure to keep
any odd shaped scraps, too. Or use scissors to cut a spiral. Poke a
straw in shapes and spiral to punch holes and if you like, thread the
punched out circles onto a string as beads. Dry shapes and scraps on
a cooling rack. Hang spirals from a clothesline using clothespins.
They'll be hard as plastic in 2-3 days.
To prevent curling:
As they dry, the pieces tend to curl up and bend which is part of the
fun. But if you want to keep some pieces nearly flat for a special use
like jewelry, here's what to do: Take a plastic ice cream bucket, put a
kitchen wipe or loosely woven cloth (such as cheesecloth) over the top
and place your cut-outs and scraps on the cloth. Cut the center out of
a lid that fits the bucket, put another wipe over the top of the gelatin
shapes, then press the lid tightly over the top to hold the two sheets
firmly in place. Allow the shapes to dry completely between the sheets.
An embroidery hoop will function the same way.

Northern Lights Art

Drawing or painting the Northern Lights is a wonderful inspiration for
free-form, no-fail art. Just
supply pastel colors and let the kids go, using one or more of these
techniques:

Music Inspired Art

Paint or draw to music, using classical music or traditional Native
music. Do not use music
with lyrics. The point is to move with the music, not to paint about the
music. Use large sheets of
paper so that the children can use large arm movements. Either give
each child a piece or use a table size sheet of paper for a mural.
Children can be seated on both sides of the paper, since there's no
worry about Northern Lights being upside down.

Squish Art

Put about 1 tablespoon each of thick pastel blue and pastel green paint
in a zip-to-lock bag and seal it. Let the child push the paint around and
make the Northem Lights dance.
Sideways Art

Use peeled jumbo crayons or sidewalk chalk on
its side. To keep the chalk from rubbing off, wet the paper with
buttermilk before painting or after
a chalk drawing is done, spray it with a fixative. Or dip chalk in liquid
starch or sugar water (1/2 cup water to 2 tablespoons sugar) before
using.

Hot Art

Line a warming tray with foil. Tape a piece of paper on the foil. Color
with crayons.

Collages

Shaved Crayon Collage. Shave crayons with a potato peeler or grater.
Iron between 2 pieces of
waxed paper.

Rice or Sand Collage
Color rice in rubbing alcohol colored with food
coloring. Drain and dry. Color sand by mixing with powdered tempera.
If sand is not available, color
cornmeal. Glue on with diluted white glue.

Fireworks Art

4 tbls liquid tempera paint (Vibrant colors work best)
2 tbls white household glue
1 tsp water
Construction paper at least 8x11 (non-shiny finish is preferable)
Plastic drinking straw

Repeat the recipe for each color of paint and mix separately.
In a small bowl, mix tempera, glue, and water. Pour about a
tablespoon of the mixture onto the center of a piece of construction
paper. (If you are working with two or more colors, you can place all
the "puddles" of paint on the paper at once or blow one at a time) Take
a big breath and blow with a blast of air through the straw holding the
bottom end of the straw about 5 inches above the paint. The paint will
spread into bursts of color like fireworks on paper. Pour another color
of paint and do the same blowing again. If you like sparkle, sprinkle
glitter onto the wet paint. Let dry. Display the paper as a piece of
artwork or cut out and use as wrapping, greeting cards, etc. It can be a great "ice-breaker" at a party for children.

Let's Get Messy

Flubber

8oz bottle household glue
8 oz water
poster paint
1 cup warm water
1 1/2 tsp borax powder (purchase in laundry section of grocery store)
Pour glue into a big bowl.
Fill empty glue bottle with water and pour water into the bowl with the
glue.
Stir. Add several drops of poster paint(s), then stir.
In a smaller bowl or measuring cup, stir together 1 cup warm water and
1 1/2 tsp borax.
Pour borax mixture into glue mixture, slowly as you stir. Swirl and
knead with your hands until goop becomes elastic.

Soupy Goop

1 1/2 to 2 cups cornstarch
1 cup water
1 tablespoon poster paint

In a large mixing bowl stir together the water and poster paint. Add the
cornstarch and mix well with your hands until all the cornstarch is
moistened. It will tend to stick to the sides of the bowl, but keep
mixing. The desired effect is for the mixture to form a soft ball when
rolled between your hands or to turn soupy and run like melted
chocolate when placed on a flat surface or between your fingers when
not rolling the ball. If it will not form a ball, the mixture is too watery.
Simply add more cornstarch a couple tablespoons at a time, mix well
and try again. If it won't run when relaxed, it is too dry. Add more
water a couple of tablespoons at a time, mix and test. Cleanup Note:
Use a cloth with warm soapy water for surfaces or wash fabric with
regular laundry detergent.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Art and Activities in Nature

Make Tree Bark Rubbings

paper (construction paper, butcher paper, any kind of paper you have)
crayon
masking tape

Place the paper over an area of tree bark and tape it in place with the
masking tape. Rub the crayon (holding it on it's side for maximum
coverage), over the paper. Dark colored crayons work best. Try
different kinds of trees for different textures. Use the rubbings as
giftwrap, or collect them in a notebook and identify from what type of
tree they came.

Keep a Tree Journal

Choose a tree close to where you live and let it be "your" tree. Keep
a notebook of observations about your tree. How does it change as
spring comes? Are there any animals or insects living on it? Does it
loose any branches in a storm? Make a bark rubbing from your tree on
one of the notebook pages. Try measuring your tree to see how tall it
is. Have a friend help you by holding up a yardstick about 60 feet from
the tree. Position yourself six feet farther behind them, and getting
close to the ground, look where the top of the tree comes to on your
yardstick. Mark that point. The tree will be about 10 times the height
marked on the yardstick.

Growing Plants:

Sprout some tree branches inside for an early spring

Gather tree branches from outside and place them in a container with
water. Be sure to give them fresh water every few days, (and you can
add a few drops of vinegar to the water to keep it from growing moldy
in your container). Give them about three weeks indoors and they will
sprout their leaves. Try pussy willow branches to have pussy willows
and birch trees to have bright green leaves.

Make New Plants From Cuttings

Choose a healthy 4" to 6" shoot, and cut it just below the spot where a
leaf meets the stem. Strip the lower leaves from the stem and insert it
into a pot containing clean damp sand (or vermiculite or perlite). Put in
a cool but light location. Keep the sand moistened and within about 6
weeks the stem will have sent out roots. You can then transplant the
cutting to a pot containing potting soil. If the cutting wilts, put the pot in
a plastic bag (to increase humidity) until it rights itself.

Leaf cuttings are done in much the same way. Cut the leaf close to the
stem at an angle. Nestle this in some moist sand (this anchors it well).
Once the leaf has put out roots, it can be potted in regular potting soil.

Growing plants from pits:

Avocado pits: peel the brown covering off of the pit and stick three
toothpicks into the pit. Suspend it over a jar of water, fat end down.
Add more water as it evaporates, and the pit will soon send out roots,
followed by a green stem and leaves from its top. Transplant it to a pot
of soil at this point, and pinch it back to keep it bushy and healthy. You
can do the same thing with sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are vining
plants. Plant the pits of oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits. The
plants won't pear fruit, but they make nice houseplants.

Pineapple: A pineapple makes a long-lived houseplant. Let the cut
top dry on its side for about 5 days. Place it in a shallow pot of moist
sand, buried so only the leaves show. Place the pot in a warm, sunny
location and in about 2-3 months the top will have rooted. You can
then re-pot it into regular potting soil. The great thing about pineapple
is that after several years it will bear small pineapples of its own.

Creatures:

Hatch a batch of amphibian eggs:
In the spring check a pond for amphibian eggs. Frogs' eggs are
bunched together in a clump; toads' eggs are generally arranged in
long strings. You might even find salamander eggs, which are larger
than frogs' eggs but found in smaller bunches. Bring only a few home
in your pail, along with plenty of pond water and some algae and pond
plants for the tadpoles to eat. Don't mix eggs from different species.
They develop at different rates and may feed on each other.

With in a week or so, the frogs' eggs should grow and change into tiny
tadpoles. Keep only one or two tadpoles, returning the others and any
unhatched eggs to the pond. Keep a journal of the changes your
tadpole undergoes. While the tadpole's tail is disappearing, it will not
eat, during this final stage is a good time to transfer your frog to an
aquarium with a sloping rock or a floating log, and a cover. Frogs are
powerful jumpers. You should now start thinking about returning your
frog to its natural habitat. Adult frogs require live food, and a lot of it,
and while you could raise your own mealworms to feed your frog, you
have to decide whether you can take the time to properly care for your
frog friend.

Make a Bird bath

Take an up-turned trash can lid filled with a layer for pebbles to give
the birds firm footing. The pebbles also weight the lid so that it won't
blow away. Birds like a place to perch after bathing, so place the lid
near some brush or under a tree. Put it on the ground, in an open area
so the birds feel safe. Fill it with no more than 3 inches of water. Then
sit back and watch the birds, you may even want to keep a journal of
the kind of birds you see.

Feeding the Birds

21/4 ounces of lard
mixed nuts
41/2 ounces total of any of these kitchen scraps:
-rolled oats
-left over cooked vegetables
-bird seed
-cooked rice
-bread crumbs
-grated cheese
yogurt container
scissors
mixing bowl
wooden spoon
needle--use a blunt-tipped darning needle
small saucepan
small twig
big pinecone

To make the bird pudding:
Mix the scraps together in the bowl. Put some seed aside. Ask an
adult to melt the lard in the saucepan over a low flame. Pour the
melted lard over the mixture of scraps in the bowl, and stir everything
together with a wooden spoon. Spoon the pudding mixture into the
yogurt container. Push the twig into the pudding, then let the pudding
set until hard. When the pudding has set, pull it out of the container by
the twig and roll it in bird seed. Tie a piece of string to the twig.

Pinecone feeder:

Push bird pudding into the cracks between the open scales of a big
pinecone, then hang the pinecone from a piece of string.

Peanut kebab:

string
peanuts in their shells and any other nuts

Make holed in peanut shells and other nuts with a big needle. Know
one end of a piece of string, then thread the nuts onto the string.

Coconut Bell:

Hang half a coconut upside down from a piece of string, and agile birds
will peck out all the coconut. When the shell is empty, fill it with bird
pudding.

Scrap Bag:

You can make a very simple feeder for the birds from a fine-mesh fruit
bag (available at supermarkets). Fill it with nuts or bird pudding, then
tie the top with a piece of string and hang it up.

Feeding Log:

You will need an adult to help you make this. Ask him or her to drill
holes in the log and screw a hook in the top. Fill the holes with bird
pudding and hang up the log. Woodpeckers may come to peck out the
pudding.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Nature's own Wreath

When taking a walk through the woods, collect a basket of pinecones
and nuts. When you get home, soak your findings in warm water for a
few minutes to loosen the dirt and resin. While they dry, create the
base of your wreath by tracing a circle on a study piece of cardboard
(use a plate for a pattern). Cut out the circle, then trace another circle,
2 to 3 inches smaller, on the cardboard. Cut out the second circle,
then punch two holes at the top of the ring. Arrange the pinecones on
the ring in a design. Then attach them with craft glue, beginning with
the larger cones. Fill in any spaces with tiny cones and nuts. When
the glue dries, coat the wreath with polyurethane or spray paint (in a
well-ventilated area). Thread a ribbon through the holes, then hang. It
will keep forever.

Flower Press

You'll need:
heavy books
scissors
lots of white blotting paper

Open the book. Cut a piece of paper the same size as the open book.
Fold paper in half, then open out. Lay the blotting paper across the
book. Arrange the plants and flowers flat on the right half of the paper,
with plenty of space between them. Carefully fold the left side of the
blotting paper over the blotting paper. Put some heavy books or
magazines on top of the book to weigh it down. Let the plants dry for
at least four weeks.

Variation:
Instead of using a book and blotting paper, you can use an old phone
book. The paper in the phone book acts as blotting paper. When you
want to add more specimens, just go to a different part of the book and
add them.

What to do with the pressed flowers and leaves:

You can put them on cards, make book marks, or anything else your
imagination can come up with. You will simply need rubber based glue
and cotton swabs and the paper you want to apply it to. First arrange
the flowers and leaves the way you want them, then put a small dab of
glue on the back of the flower with the cotton swab and gently press in
place. When the glue dries you will have a unique creation to use for a
gift or just for you.

Rainy Day Activities

Rain Pictures
Paint some shapes or blocks of color with water soluble paints (such as
water color or poster paints) or markers. Place the picture outdoors
when it's raining for a brief spell. The patterns made by the drops can
be very interesting. How long can you keep the painting in the rain
before it washes away? Compare the results of drizzle, gentle rain,
and a full-fledged downpour.

Make a Rain Gauge

The best container for collecting rain is a wide-mouthed one. Place a
wide funnel inside it, because it will keep some of the rainwater from
evaporating before you get a chance to record its depth. But
measuring a small amount of rain in such a large container is difficult.
In addition to the container you have sitting outside collecting rain, you
will need a tall jar that is only 1" to 1 1/2 " in diameter (olives come in
jars like these). Fill your collecting container with exactly 1" of water.
Pour the water into the tall jar and mark the level of the water. Divide
that inch (and any others you wish to mark on the jar) into fractions.
Whenever it rains, collect the rainwater in the bigger container, but
transfer it to the measuring jar to see how much rain really fell.

Construct a Wormery

Fill a large, wide mouthed glass jar (or cut the top off of a 2 liter bottle)
with layers of garden soil, peat, and builders' sand. Water thoroughly,
and add some worms that you have dug from the ground. Scatter the
worms on the soil's surface and cover them with some dead leaves or
grass clippings. Cover the jar with a light-proof cloth or paper bag,,
and place in a cool place. (Do not screw the jar's top back on; the
worms cannot get out, and they need the oxygen.) Check the worms
now and then, watering the soil occasionally, and watch how the layers
shift as the worms tunnel through the soil. Look for mounds of rippled
soil on the surface. These are casts, made when earthworms eat the
soil and eliminate it. When you are done watching the worms, return
them and the soil to the garden. There they can continue working
organic material into the soil--which has earned them the nickname
"gardener' best friend."

Playing With Food

Apple Head Dolls

1 cup lemon juice
1 tbls salt
Fresh apples, medium to large size
whole cloves

Peel the apples, trimming away bruises, and submerge in the salt-
lemon juice mixture to help preserve them. After a few seconds,
remove them from the liquid and pat dry. Insert a wooden stick,
skewer, or pencil firmly into the core for a "handle". Carve faces using
a spoon or table knife and add cloves as eyes, teeth, ears, etc. Keep
in mind that the apples will shrink to less than 1/2 their original size so
the features should be a bit exaggerated when carving. The heads can
be propped upright by inserting the handle into a pot of sand or a block
of Styrofoam. Allow the apple heads to dry by placing in a full size
oven with the door slightly open for 4-5 hours at 200 degrees, then
leave them to dry in the open air for a few days. Or simply let them dry
for several days, checking periodically to be sure mold does not
develop. If you live in a humid climate, the oven drying is a better
choice. The apples will remain a bit soft even when they are
completely dry. When dry, tie or glue fabric, trinkets or decorations
onto the handle to create a doll or had puppet. You might want to give
your apple head figure a name.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Pasta

(One serving size)
1 cup flour
1 egg
1 tbls of water
(add as much flour as can be absorbed by the egg and water.)

Mound flour on a work surface and make a deep volcano.
Break the egg into the volcano and add water. Beat the egg and water
lightly with a fork, being careful not to break down the volcano walls.
Begin to draw in flour from the inner sides of the volcano (this is a good
job for kids to exercise their motor skills and patience).
Continue to blend in flour until the dough becomes stiff. Eventually
using your hands, knead the dough until smooth and stiff.
Refrigerate for about 1 hour for easier handling when rolling and
cutting.

To shape the dough: either use a pasta maker or roll out with a rolling
pin until very thin. Cut the dough into noodles with a pastry wheel or
pizza cutter. Place in a pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes or add to a
pot of simmering soup. Excess uncooked pasta dough can be
refrigerated in an airtight bag for up to 4 days and frozen for a month.

Chocolate Clay

10 ounces of chocolate (chopped chunks or chips)
1/3 cup light corn syrup
Note: the chocolate can be substituted with almond bark, or colored
candy disks to create different colored flowers

Melt the chocolate in a microwave for 1 minute. Stir. If chocolate is
not completely melted, return to the microwave for 30 second intervals,
and stir until smooth. If you don't have a microwave, place the
chocolate in the top of a double broiler over hat water and stir until
melted.
When the chocolate is melted, add the corn syrup and blend.
Pour the mixture onto a waxed paper sheet.
Spread the chocolate with your fingers until it's about 1/2 inch thick.
Cover loosely with waxed paper and let it stiffen for at least a couple of
hours or overnight. The chocolate will become very pliable.
Making a Chocolate Rose:
Have kids roll 10 marble-sized balls out of the clay.
Place the balls on a waxed paper sheet, about 1 inch apart.
Place another waxed paper sheet on top. Big or little thumbs can press
each marble into a flat disk about the size of a quarter. Use some
pressure.

To form the rose:

Remove 1 disk and curl it into a "tee-pee" shape, narrow at the top and
wider at the bottom.
Wrap the next disk around the opening of the tee-pee and the third disk
at the back of the tee-pee. This is the rose bud. Continue adding disks
which will look like petals. Continue to layer them to create a rose in
bloom. Roses can be used as edible decorations for a cake or to
create a basket full of blooms. They will harden after a few days and
can be saved by storing in a cool dry place.

Handmade Butter

1 empty quart jar with tight fitting lid
1 pint heavy whipping cream
pinch of salt (optional)

Pour cream into jar, leaving a space at the top to allow for shaking.
Shake jar until chunks of butter start to form, about 15 minutes you'll
feel and hear the clumps. Pour chunks and liquid in a strainer
positioned over a bowl. Sprinkle butter chunks with salt if desired.
Candy molds can be filled with butter to create festive pats of butter for
a special occasion. Put the filled molds into the refrigerator and pop
out when hard.

Homemade Ice Cream

1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
rock salt
crushed ice cubes
coffee cans: 1 small 12 oz. and 1 big 39 oz. each with tight fitting lids
Optional additions:
1/2 cup chopped fresh fruit or whole berries
1/4 cup chopped nuts
crushed candy bars

Pour the whole milk and cream into a large bowl. Stir. Sprinkle sugar
into mixture, add salt and vanilla and stir. Add fruit, nuts or crushed
candy. Pour batter into the small coffee can, leave approximately 2
inches or more between batter and top of can. Snap lid on can. You
may wish to wrap tape around it for a tight seal. Place small can inside
large can and sprinkle about one and a half cups chopped ice around
the small can. Add a couple hands full of rock salt. Fill, alternating
more ice and rock salt. Place the lid on the large can and tell the kids
to go outside and roll the can for about twenty minutes. Homemade
ice cream is best when eaten immediately.

The Japanese Art of Garnishing

To make a radish mouse:
You'll need two fresh radishes. One radish should have a root that can
double as the mouse's tail, and the greens should be clipped close to
the radish skin. Cut a thin slice off the round side of the radish so it will
sit flat without rolling. The stem and the root should be opposite each
other. With the tail at the back, hold the radish with the stem end
facing you and for the eyes, place two small cloves on either side and
slightly above the stem point. For the ears, slice 1/4 inch off one end
of the other radish and discard, then continue slicing to cut two thin
slices that will have red skin around the white interior. On the radish
with the tail, make a narrow slit about 1/4 inch deep above the clove
eyes and place the two slices in the slit side by side to create the
mouse ears.

To Make a hard-boiled egg bunny:
Remove a 1/4 inch thick slice off the side of a hard-boiled egg. This
flat area on the egg will form the base for the body of the bunny. Take
the oval slice and cut it in half length-wise to make two ears. Make a
small slit on top of the pointed end of the egg-body and squeeze gently
to slightly open the slit. Carefully arrange the two ears in the opening.
Whole cloves can be used to create the eyes and nose, and, if you like,
attach a small cauliflower floret as a tail.

To make a tomato rose:
Start with a large tomato placed bottom side up. For a teenager or an
adult, carefully start cutting off a 1/2 inch wide continuous strip of skin
beginning at the bottom of the tomato and continue to cut with a sawing
motion, spiraling all the way around, ending at the stem of the tomato.
Carefully roll this long strip into a tight coil, then let it open up slightly to
create a beautiful rose-bud blossom. Place your flower on top of your
salad or serving platter. The remaining peeled tomato can be sliced
and mixed into your salad or other recipe.

To make green onion ferns:
Trim the tops off green onions leaving approximately 3 inches of green
and remove any roots. With a kitchen scissors, snip lengthwise into
the green tops to create a narrow ribbon strips. Submerge the entire
onion in a bowl of iced, cold water. After a few minutes the green
strips will coil into delightful curly-Q's.

Don't Forget to Recycle!

Don't throw these away!

popcicle sticks
milk cartons
2 liter bottles
newspapers
birthday/holiday cards
used wrapping paper
shoe boxes
paper bags from the grocery store
jars
You can never tell what will be helpful when creating art!

Wheelbarrow Planter

Laundry detergent scoop
2 plastic milk jug lids
6" length of ribbon
potting soil
flower seeds
craft glue
water

Glue a milk jug lid to each side of the scoop to form the wheels. Allow
the glue to dry. Tie the ribbon to the handle of the scoop. Fill the
scoop with potting soil and plant seeds. Sprinkle the soil with a few
drops of water. These make excellent gifts that children can make
themselves.

Blender Paper

Paper trash/scraps
blender
2-picture frames of the same size
a piece of screen to fit over the frame

The frame: You can use inexpensive picture frames, artist canvas
stretchers (available at an art supply store) or frames constructed out
of two-by-ones. Nail or staple the screen to one frame. This is called
the mold, it's used to catch the paper pulp. The other frame is called
the deckle and is used to keep the piece of paper properly shaped, and
is simply held on top of the mold.
The pulp: Gather scraps of paper (avoiding glossy paper). Tear the
paper into small pieces, like you would make confetti, and soak them in
warm water in the blender for about an hour. For every cup of paper
add about one cup of water. Blend until mushy. Add more water if
necessary, keeping in mind that the smoother the pulp, the more
uniform the paper. For colored paper, add a few drops of food coloring
to the blender or sprinkle the sheet when you remove it from the basin.
Molding: Place the mold (screen side up), with the deckle on top of it,
into a large dishpan and fill the pan with water. Pour in the pulp and,
gripping the deckle onto the mold, shake the frame to distribute the wet
pulp evenly onto the screen. After a minute or two, the pulp will settle
into a thin film.
Drying: Lift the mold and deckle from the dishpan and let the water
drip off of the paper. Take the deckle off of the mold, and using a
towel or a sponge, press out as much water as possible (if the pulp
sticks to the sponge, it is too wet). Carefully flip the mold over onto a
piece of cloth or paper bags. Let the paper dry flat or iron it between
two dish towels. If a sheet does not work out, return it to the blender
and repeat the process.

Variations:
-For textured paper, you can add glitter, dried flowers, sawdust, or
threads to the mold before you press out the water.
-To create a fossil effect, place ferns or leaves on the paper once it
comes off the screen and roll it with a rolling pin.
-To make paper shapes, use cookie cutters on top of the mold instead
of the deckle.
-To create a paper cup, press the pulp into cupcake tins or bowls.
-To make white paper, add a little bleach while the paper is soaking.

Activities for Holidays

Holiday Napkin Rings

2 empty paper towel tubes
(makes 8 - 10 napkin rings)
Scissors
Holiday fabric or thin ribbon or felt
Glue
Sequins, glitter or beads

Cut paper towel tube into widths to match the width of the holiday
fabric, ribbon or felt. Wrap fabric, ribbon or felt around tube and glue in
place. Add smaller ribbon trim, beads or sequins and glue to outside
edges in any decorative fashion. This activity is fun for the whole
family.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Picture Perfect Ornaments

Old holiday cards or magazines
Scissors
Glue
Hole punch
Yarn

Cut out pictures from last year's holiday cards (circular pictures work
best). Put two back-to-back and glue them. This also works well with
last year's school pictures if you have some left over.

Take a hole punch and punch holes evenly around the edges. Run the
yarn through the holes, looping around the ornament in a circular
fashion.
Go around the picture twice with the yarn and then tie it off. Put an
additional large loop thought the top of the ornament - this will be used
to hang the ornament from the tree. The ornaments give the tree an
antique charm.

This is an activity that the whole family can participate in.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Cards

These cards are easy for kids and adults to make.
And everyone loves to receive mail. So dazzle your friends and family
with your personal cards!

White or colored paper 81/2 x 11
scraps of wrapping paper
Pointed scissors
Rubber cement or glue stick

Fold top to bottom keeping edges even. Fold side to side keeping
edges even. Now you have your basic card -- lightly draw your design
on the front of the card. Cut a piece of wrapping paper just slightly
smaller than the size of the card and put glue on the back side of the
paper. Open the card to the full size of the paper and paste the
wrapping paper in. Cut out your design carefully with the pointed
scissors, put a dab of glue in corners, fold your card and view your
masterpiece.

Personalized Cards and Letters

Either use a favorite store bought stamp, or make your own.
To make your own:
You'll need either a piece of dense foam or an art gum eraser
(available at art supply stores) or a potato cut in half and an ink pad or
poster paints

First draw your design on a piece of paper. Remember that simple
designs transfer more easily! Next draw the design on your "stamp".
With parental help, use an X-acto knife, making deep, smooth incisions
on the outline of your design. Turn the "stamp" to one side and cut so
that the new incision intersects the cuts made from the top. Continue
cutting until the surrounding material falls away from the design. The
finished design should be raised above the base. Then press your
stamp into the ink pad or paints and create your personalized
stationary, cards or envelopes. Keep in mind that paint takes longer to
dry. Also, foam and erasers can be kept forever while potatoes cannot.

You can also use these stamps to make a variety of personalized
wrapping paper. Just use brown paper bags or butcher paper.

Don't forget to say "Thank-you"!

Are you stumped about what to include in a thank-you note? Here are
some suggestions:
-Tell the gift-giver how you felt when you opened the gift.
-Explain how you plan to use the gift, or how it has already been used.
-If you receive money, tell what you plan to buy or what you are saving
the money for.
-After thanking your gift-givers, you can explain how you celebrated the
holidays.

A "CD" Christmas Wreath

An old, scratched, bad or AOL CD
Mylar confetti (most stationary stores carry this)
or holographic stickers
"Reflective" mylar ribbon
White glue
Glitter
Velcro with self adhesive on the back

Glue star, tree or whatever shape mylar confetti you want to the "shiny"
backside of the CD. Swirl patterns and dots of white glue and sprinkle
with glitter. Tie a bow out of reflective mylar ribbon and glue to the CD.
Use a piece of self adhesive velcro to attach the CD Christmas wreath
to a computer, door, or where ever! This project is very easy to do,
even for younger children, and makes a great gift for a computer
enthusiast.

Easter Mosaic

dyed hard boiled eggs (use Easter egg dye or food coloring)
white glue that dries clear
paper
paper towel

Advanced Prep:
5 minutes to gather materials -- 90 minutes if you have to hard boil
and dye the eggs Activity time: 45-60 minutes. Drying time: Depends
on the amount of glue used, 1 hour to overnight.

Peel the eggs and place the egg shells on a piece of paper
towel. Press the eggshell pieces out flat -- place a paper towel
on top and then a heavy pan or cookie sheet on top of that --
leave to dry. Meanwhile, lightly draw with a pencil the picture you
want to make into a mosaic design. When the eggshells are dry break
them up into the size pieces you would like (try using different sizes).
Create your mosaic by placing glue on a small section of your picture
at a time and pressing the eggshell firmly into place. When you are
finished, allow the picture to dry flat

Variations: Try using colored glue. Mosaic a juice can or small box.

Miscellaneous Crafts

Colored Sand

1 cup of sand
2 tsp of dry tempera paint
1 tsp water

Add the dry tempera paint to the sand and mix well with a fork. Stir in
the water. Allow the sand to dry several hours before using.

Sand Goop Frames/ Fossils

1 cup clean sand
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2tsp alum (find in spice section of your grocery store)
1/2 cup water

Pour the sand into an old cooking pot. Add cornstarch, water and
alum. Stir. Set the concoction on the stove over medium heat and
stir. As it gets warm it begins to liquefy. In 2-3 minutes it will get
thicker. As the goop stiffens and clumps like a stiff cookie dough,
remove from the head and keep stirring for a few more seconds as it
cools down. Plop it onto a cutting board or tough surface, spread it
slightly for further cooling. When comfortable to touch, begin molding
and/or adhering to chosen frames.

To make a sand frame:
Arrange and glue a few seashells on a wooden frame with a 1-inch or
larger edge. Use a paintbrush to apply household glue directly onto the
frame around the shells. With your fingers, press a thin layer of sand
goop on the glue. Let dry for 1-2 days. Brush off any loose sand.

To make a fossil:
Form a ball of sand goop the size of a tennis ball) around a rubber toy
or whimsical plastic trinket. Let dry for a few days until the ball is hard.
Then, tap the ball with a hammer. It will crack open to reveal the
surprise.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Placemats

newspaper
postcards
clear contact paper

Cut two pieces of clear contact paper slightly larger than the size you
want your place mat to be. Peel off the paper from the backside of one
of the pieces of clear contact paper. Stick on the postcards, pictures,
newspaper articles, etc. you want to decorate the place mat with.
Remove the backside of the remaining piece of clear contact paper
and place the clear contact paper over your pictures. Trim away any
excess contact paper being careful to leave a 1-inch border from your
decorations. Now you have a beautiful personalized place mat. Make
as many as you need. One for a gift or a whole set for the family.

Wavemaker

Clear Plastic Soda bottle (2-liter size is preferable)
Food coloring
Vegetable Oil, colorless
Tap water
Glitter or metallic confetti or small trinkets (optional)

Fill bottle half way full with water and add about 4 drops of food
coloring. Confetti or glitter can be added next if desired, a few pinches
at a time. Using a small funnel, fill the bottle the rest of the way to the
cap with vegetable oil. Add a dab of glue around the treads on the
bottle top, screw the cap on tightly to seal. Colored plastic tape can be
wrapped around the cap of extra sealing protection and decoration .
Tilt and rock slowly from side to side to create action in your wave
maker.

Seasonal Activities and Crafts

A "Self-sticking" Snowflake

a snowflake pattern
fabric paint (the kind that squeezes out of a bottle)
ziplock baggie
glitter

The great thing about these snowflakes is that they stick to any shiny
surface like a refrigerator or glass window. Put the snowflake pattern in
the plastic baggie and zip closed. On the outside of the baggie trace
over the snowflake pattern with the fabric paint. Wear old clothes or a
craft apron to do this part because it's easy to get some paint on your
clothes. While the snowflake is still wet sprinkle glitter over the paint.
Carefully shake off any excess glitter. Let dry. When completely dry
peel off the baggy and put it up somewhere where every one can see
it!

Ice Candle

5 gallon plastic
bucket or pail
nonstick cooking spray (optional)
water
candle
Some nice freezing weather

Spray the inside of the bucket with the no-stick spray or rub with a little
oil. This helps if you have problems with the ice sticking to the bucket
when it's time to remove. Fill the bucket three quarters of the way full
and set outside to freeze. Leave overnight (depending on how cold it
is!). In the morning remove the ice block from the bucket. On the
bottom there should be an area that is still liquid. Drain out the liquid
and slush and turn it over. Allow to freeze for at least for four more
hours. The pocket where the water was now makes a great place to
insert a candle. Light and place outside in your yard when it's dark for a
beautiful ice "crystal" candle luminary!
Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Snow Scene in a Jar

empty small jar ((like a babyfood jar)
hot glue gun
epoxy glue
small plastic toy animal (they have them in toy stores everywhere)
white rocks, big pieces of gravel, plastic tree etc.
glitter (some of the new iridescent ones are beautiful & available at
hobby stores)
water
food coloring if desired

Use hot glue gun to glue rocks and animal to the bottom of jar. Fill with
water and add food coloring if desired. Spoon in some glitter and use
epoxy glue to glue lid onto jar. Be sure to have an adult help with the
epoxy glue.

Shake to make it snow!

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Other Snow Activities:

Build a snow cave or pit. Snow Caves For Fun and Survival - by
Ernest Wilkinson is a great book for how to do this.

Make snow angels in the snow.
Look for animal tracks in the snow. See if you can find the tracks of
dogs, cats, birds, and other wildlife in the snow. Check out a book from
your local library on animals and animal tracks and see how many
different animal tracks you can identify.

Try out some snow shoes. Rent, borrow, or buy some snow shoes and
see if you can master walking on deep snow. You can even try making
your own out of a curved branch and heavy twine. The trick to snow
shoes is to be sure and lift your toes up when you try and walk!

When it's very cold outside...

Blow bubbles outside, They won't pop when it's -30 to -40 degrees
below zero outside.

Write a poem about the snow and cold. What does the cold feel like?
Smell like? Sound like? Write your observations down in the form of a
poem.

Make peanut butter cookie cutter treats for the birds. Take old bread
slices and cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Let them dry and harden
enough to spread with peanut butter. Cover the
peanut buttered shapes with black sunflower seeds and hang outdoors
on trees or anywhere birds might come! Use a bird book to identify the
birds

See what happens to something plastic in the cold. Take an old
plastic soda pop bottle and leave it outside for at least an hour. Then
squeeze and see what happens. Why do you think it might have done
something different than if it was warm?

Cozy up inside and read a book!

Scavenger Hunt

Bundle up and go outside with friends to search for these signs of
winter!
-Three different seeds that have fallen on the ground
-A tree bud with leaves tightly packed for winter
-A spider egg sac (you might find one attached to a fence or porch)
-An empty bird's nest (check in bushes and low tree branches)
-A mushroom
-A cocoon (usually found hanging from the stalks of dried plants)
-Witch Hazel
-A winter rosette (daisies, Queen Anne's lace, and mullein flowers
leave a circle of green leaves hugging the ground)
-A leaf scar (this forms on a branch at the point where a leaf falls)
-A cattail plant
-An oak gall (it looks like a brown golf ball and contains baby wasps)
-Four insects, such as millipedes, centipedes, crickets, and ants (look
under large rocks)
-A leaf skeleton (the remains of previous years' leaves)
-Frost crystals in the soil

You can either check them off when you find them or carry them
carefully home to get a closer look. Don't forget to return your findings
to where you found them.

Pine Cone Pizzazz

One pine cone per person
Glue
Glitter
Beads, sequins or colored
popcorn
Yarn

Take pine cones and paint the tips with glue (or to dip them into the
glue). Then sprinkle glitter on them. Add beads, sequins or colored
popcorn for additional decoration. They make great decoration pieces
for the holidays. Or tie yarn around one of the top tiers of the cone and
hang them on the tree.

This craft is great for kids three and older, but should be supervised by
an adult.
Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

"Stained Glass" Leaf Hanging

leaves - any color, yellow, brown or green
old crayons
crayon sharpener
wax-paper
newspaper
iron and ironing board
yarn or string

Find some pretty leaves outside. Have an adult help you sharpen
some crayons and save the shavings. (You can also have an adult
grate some old crayons on a grater). While you are at it, have
the adult cut you a piece of wax-paper 12" long and 6" wide.
Arrange leaves and crayon shavings on half of the wax paper. Fold
the wax paper in half over your arrangement. Be sure and get a grown-
up to help you with the iron, (you know how nervous
they are about us kids getting hurt or burned). Cover the ironing
board with several layers of newspaper. Lay the wax-paper on
top and cover with one layer of newspaper. Press with an iron set
on medium heat for about 30 seconds (you want the crayons to
melt). Now you have a beautiful fall hanging to put in a window.
You can cut around the wax paper with pinking scissors, and punch a
hole to place a piece of string through.

Wacky Bubble Brew

2/3 cup Joy liquid dish washing detergent (not dishwasher detergent)
4 cups warm water
1 tbls glycerin (available at drug store)
A sunny day

Pour the water into a large bowl. Add the liquid detergent and stir. To
this brew, add the glycerin and stir a bit more. Then dip the bubblers
into the brew and blow to your hearts content. Note: Bubblers can be
any items around the house that have holes in them and won't get
soggy in water, like spatulas, an empty strawberry carton, a clean fly
swatter, etc.

Sidewalk Chalk

2 cups water
2 cups plaster of paris
2 tbls tempera paint (wet or dry)
toilet paper tubes with duct tape over one end to use as mould
lots of sidewalk and your imagination

Combine ingredients and stir. Let stand a few minutes. Line tubes on
cookie sheet lined with foil or wax. Pour mixture into holders, let stand
until semi firm. Remove holders and let dry completely--ready to use
in about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. (Never pour plaster down sink!)

Clean-up: Chalk cleans up easily with water.

Play Dough

Play Clay

1 cup Flour
1/2 cup Salt
1 tsp Cream of Tartar
2 tbls Oil
1 cup water
10 drops food coloring

In a large bowl mix dry ingredients and set aside. In a saucepan,
combine water, food coloring, and oil. Mix well while bringing the
mixture almost to a boil. Turn off heat and add the dry ingredients.
Stir until mixture is a smooth ball. Store in a sealed container to keep
clay moist.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Sawdust Modeling Clay

2 cups sawdust
liquid starch
1 cup flour or wheat paste
1 tbls glue (if flour is used)

Mix ingredients into a workable consistency. Mold into any creation
you choose. Can be dried and painted.

Bread Dough Clay

6 pieces of day-old, ordinary white bread
3 tsp white household glue
2 tsp water
Parchment paper

Remove crusts from bread, and cut into small pieces. In a large
mixing bowl, add water and glue to the bread pieces. Mix with your
hands until a dough forms. When it's ready, the mixture should be the
consistency of pie dough. Roll out or pat out until flat on parchment
paper. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters and set on a drying rack or
roll into beads. Let the bead dry on a toothpick to form holes in the
middle and then paint them with acrylic paints.
Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Salt Dough

2 cups cornstarch
4 cups baking soda
2 1/2 cups cold water

Mix cornstarch and soda in a pan, add cold water. Cook over medium
heat, stirring constantly, until thick, about 5 minutes. Remove from
heat, cover with a wet paper towel. When cool, knead on a waxed-
paper covered surface. Shape and air dry, then paint. This works
extremely well for rolled out dough to cut with cookie cutters.

Apple Cinnamon Dough

1/2 cup cinnamon
1/2 cup store bought applesauce (homemade sauce will likely be too
watery)
Or, any equal portions of both ingredients depending on the quantity
you desire.

Stir together cinnamon and applesauce with a spoon until the dough
becomes stiff, then use your hands to create a ball of dough. Place the
ball of dough on a sheet of waxed paper, flatten slightly with your
fingers. Place a second sheet of the waxed paper over the top of the
dough and roll out the dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Use cookie
cutters or your own template shapes. Air dry creations on a waxed
paper-covered cookie sheet or a cooling rack for at least 24 hours until
they are completely hard.

Tips:
-For extra sparkle, mix in decorative glitter.
-Make your own shapes by trimming the dough with a table knife
following around patterns you've cut from cereal box cardboard.
-After cutting out shapes, use a drinking straw to create holes for
jewelry or ornaments.
-Use toothpicks to make smaller holes for threading. Leave in dough
until dry and remove.
-For a wall hanging, thread a colored ribbon through the shape.
-For a brooch, decorate with fabric paint and glue a metal clasp pin to
the back (available at craft stores).
-Decorate creations with acrylic paint or fabric.
-The creations can be used as decorations on a gift box or bag.
Baking Soda Play Clay

1 cup cornstarch
2 cups baking soda
1 1/4 cups water

Combine ingredients into a sauce pan. Cook over low heat, stirring
constantly for about 15 minutes. After mixture begins to resemble
mashed potatoes, remove from the stove. Put the clay in a large bowl
and cool to comfortable touch before making shapes and free form
creatures. Place all of your creations on a cooling rack for 24 hours to
harden.

Tips:
When making shapes of fruits:
To make realistic indentations in strawberries or oranges, roll the
molded shapes up the fine-shred side of a cheese grater. For apple or
pear stems, use a real stick or twig. To make hair for a goofy face,
squeeze clay through a garlic press. After drying for 24 hours, use
acrylic tube paints to give your creations personality. To color the
dough, add a few drops of candy color which can be purchased at a
craft store (do not use food coloring). If your creations should happen
to come apart after they are dry, use household glue to re-attach the
parts.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Fruity Putty

0.3oz package of sugar free fruit flavored gelatin
2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 tbls cream of tartar
2 cups boiling water
2 tbls cooking oil

Mix the dry ingredients in a pan. Add the boiling water and cooking oil.
Stir over medium-high heat until mixture forms a ball. Place the ball
on waxed paper to cool then place in an airtight container. Cut the fruit
picture from the box and paste to the lid. use different flavors of
gelatin for different colors and smells.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.
Let's Get Clean

Things you can do to help out around the house. Be sure to ask
permission before assisting your parents!

Drain Cleaner

1 cup vinegar
1 cup baking soda

Pour baking soda into the sink drain and add vinegar. Watch it fizz as
it breaks down the clog. After a few minutes run fresh water to clear
the congestion.

Window Cleaner

Vinegar
Water

Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a plastic spray bottle. Spray
dirty windows and wipe dry with a newspaper, squeegee or clean cloth.

Lemon Water for cleaning Microwave Ovens

1/2 cup water
1 fresh lemon sliced in half

Place 1/2 cup water in a microwave safe dish. Squeeze the juice from
1/2 of the lemon into the water and place in the microwave. Heat
mixture to a boil (about three minutes) to loosen particles. Remove
dish, and wipe inside of the oven clean with a moist cloth. Lemon juice
leaves a fresh clean scent.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Let's not forget to clean ourselves!

Soap Slime

Old bits of soap
Bucket of water

Put the pieces of soap into the bucket of water and let stand overnight.
By the morning, the soap has dissolved and leaves a thick slime. It
looks good if green food coloring is added to it!
Oatmeal Soap

1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 cup small soap pieces
1 1/2 tbls cooking oil
1 tbls water

Place soap slivers in a plastic bag, and pound them into little chunks.
Place the chunks in a blender, add oatmeal, and pulse until mixture
has a grainy consistency. Pour into a bowl and remove any oversized
chunks of soap--add the oil and water and mix with your hands. Form
into a firm ball and let set until hard--about 2 hours. To make "soap-
on-a-rope," make a 1 1/2 inches long indentation in the ball
immediately after it's formed. Tie the ends together of a 12 inch length
of twine. Press the knotted end into the indentation. Mold soap firmly
over twine. Let set until hard. Alternative: For pumice-like soap, use
cornmeal in place of the oatmeal.

Note: Adult supervision and participation is required for this
activity.

Soap Crayons

1 3/4 cup Ivory Snow (powder)
50 drops food coloring
1/4 cup water.

Mix water and soap flakes together. Add food coloring and put mixture
into an ice cube tray. Allow to harden and break or cut into pieces.
Fun to write with on the tub, as well as face and hands!

Bath Salts

2 1/2 lb Epsom Salts
food coloring
perfume
Combine Epsom salts with food coloring and perfume in a large bowl.
Mix well so color is even. Put into small jars and let stand 4-6 weeks
before using. This causes the odor to blend with the salts. This bath
salt is very soothing and makes for a relaxed bath.

Paints

Kool-aid Fingerpaint

2 cups flour
2 packs unsweetened kool-aid
1/2 cup salt
3 cups boiling water
3 tbls oil

Mix wet into dry. Watch the color change. When cool, paint.

Jello Fingerpaint

Any kind of flavored jello and enough boiling water to make it into a
goo consistency for fingerpaint. Use normal fingerpainting or glossy
paper and be creative. Don't forget to let it cool before use.

Sparkly Paint

Premix liquid starch with powdered tempera or pour liquid starch on the
paper. Have children spread it around and then sprinkle on powdered
tempera from a big holed salt shaker. Spread it around some more.
Add salt for sparkles. Coarse salt works best.

Condensed Milk Paint

Use 1/4 cup of condensed milk with a few drops of food coloring for
pastel paint that will dry with
a glossy finish. Encourage kids to use paint sparingly. It may take
forever to dry, anyway. It may never dry if the paint is too thick or if the
day is too humid.

Water Painting

Paint with water color paints on wet paper. Or drop diluted food
coloring with eyedroppers on a
coffee filter.

Sparkle Snow Paint

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
1/2 cup water

Mix together and put in a squeeze bottle. Squeeze doughy paint out
on to black construction paper. Make anything snowy, snowflakes,
snowmen, - we made snow covered mountains with the moon
and northern lights. Let dry thoroughly and it will sparkle. May
also be painted (when dry) and allowed to dry again. This is a
great three dimensional effect for snow.

Finger Paint

1 cup liquid starch
1/2 cup soap chips
6 cups warm water
Dry tempera or food coloring

Dissolve soap chips with enough water and stir until all lumps have
disappeared. Add to starch and remaining water. Keep covered in
plastic jar. Color may be added as children paint, or in the mix. A few drops of oil of clove prevents bad odors. Be sure to keep mixtures in covered jars in a cool place.

Puffy Paint

flour
salt
water
Tempera paint

Mix equal parts of flour, salt and water, color with tempera paint and
pour mixture into squeeze bottles. It will harden in a puffy shape.

Face Paint

1/8 cup baby lotion
1/4 tsp powdered tempera paint
one squirt liquid dish soap

Combine ingredients. Apply to face and/or body. Easily removed with soap and water.

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