Make Kid’s Craft Supplies For Pennies

The “Secrets For Money” in this article are—how to make play dough, finger paint, crayons and other craft supplies for mere pennies—wonderful, do-it-yourself, inexpensive alternatives to their commercially-prepared counterparts. Some of the mini-projects even use recycled goods!

I have some easy year ’round fun ideas for kids to keep busy, but since no preservatives are used, proper storage of your homemade supplies is a necessity, and please remind the children these craft materials are to be played with not eaten.

Have fun!

1) Do-It-Yourself Easy Play Dough

3 cups flour
1-1/2 cups salt
1-1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Food coloring

Combine all the ingredients except the food coloring in a medium-sized bowl, and stir until well blended.

Knead the play dough until dough is smooth. If the dough is too moist, work in some more flour.  If the dough is too dry, work in some more water but only a teaspoon at a time.

Divide the dough into 4 equal portions and transfer each into a plastic zip-lock bag.

Add 2 or 3 drops of food coloring in a different color to each bag, seal each bag well, then set each bag one at a time, into your sink (in case any food coloring leaks through) and gently knead the dough through the bag (so you don’t get food coloring stained hands) until the food coloring is evenly distributed throughout the play dough.

Label each bag “Non-edible play dough” and store the play dough in their bags in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Play dough is best when used within 2 months.

2) Fast Kool-Aid® Play Dough

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups boiling water
2 packages dry unsweetened Kool-Aid® of the same color and flavor (Kool-Aid® is a powdered drink mix sold in North America)

Combine all the ingredients in a medium-sized heatproof bowl. Using a metal spoon (a wooden spoon will get stained with the color of the Kool-Aid®) stir until well blended and smooth.

If the dough is too moist, work in some more flour, if too dry add a little more water, but only a teaspoon at a time.

Transfer the play-dough into a plastic zip-lock bag and seal the bag well.

Label the bag “Non-edible play dough” and store the play dough in its bag in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Play dough is best when used within 2 months.

3) Homemade Finger Paint

1/2 cup cornstarch
2 cups cold water
Food coloring

Combine the cornstarch and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat, and stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Boil until the mixture thickens. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat, and allow the finger paint to cool.

Divide the finger paint into 4 different small airtight containers, add the desired color of  food coloring about 3 to 4 drops per container and stir (use a metal spoon –a wooden spoon will get stained with the food coloring color) until the food coloring is well blended.  Label the containers and store the finger paint at room temperature for up to 2 months.

For best results, use finger-paint paper to paint on, though you can use white shelf paper (available from a hardware store) I recommend using finger-paint paper which is available from a craft store, art store or a well-stocked children’s toy store.

4) How To Make Recycled Color Crayons http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/craftsupplies/ht/RecycledCrayon.htm

5) How To Make Shiny Beads From Recycled Magazines http://www.kidsdomain.com%2Fcraft%2Fshinybeads.html

6) How To Make Sidewalk Chalk http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/craftsupplies/ht/SidewalkChalk.htm

Copyright © 2009 by Mara Rogers of Secrets for Money http://www.SecretsForMoney.info

Photo Credit: This photograph “wealth of pennies” by r-z. For more of this Photographer’s work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/r-z/ and http://www.flickr.com/people/r-z/

For more “Secrets” to making money, saving money, and managing your money go to the Archives at Secrets For Money http://www.SecretsForMoney.info/blog

This article is featured at The Money Hacks Carnival at http://moneyning.com/misc/money-hacks-carnival-55-thank-you-edition/