Many household waste products which are usually thrown away
can be utilized for playing and crafts. One advantage of
using such material is that you do not care if it gets
wasted, broken or misued. Anyway, you would normally throw it
away!
Empty matchboxes / used matches / cardboard toilet roll /
aluminum foil or paper towel roll / plastic containers from
soft cheeses, yogurts, ready-made salads etc. / candlewax
drippings and candle ends / empty cardboard boxes /
bottletops / wine corks / cardboard stiffeners from shirt
packages and tights / empty food cartons / old clothes /
dried flowers / old fresh flowers you can press or leave to
dry / broken appliances / shoe boxes / broken clocks / empty
bubble packs / nails, screws, nuts and bolts salvaged from
broken whatevers (just be careful of sharp edges, and small
pieces that children might swallow) / neatly cracked nut
shells / disposable plastic cups and plates / old newspapers
and magazines / catalogues / waste computer printout / egg
boxes and trays / beads from broken jewelry / buttons
Keep your resources in empty boxes, sorted into types of
activities, and take them out when necessary.
You can also make many raw materials from materials readily
available at home.
Modeling Clay
Take 3 cups of flour, 1 cup salt, 1/2 cup water.
Add a few drops of vegetable oil and food coloring as
required. Mix to a doughy consistency. Store in a closed bag
or container and refrigerate when not being used.
Fine Sand
Grind down chalk to a powder and mix with salt. Use colored
chalk to make colored sand. Fill your own decorative glass
bottles.
Paste
Mix flour with water to form a thick paste.
Crepe Paper Clay
Crepe paper cut into thin strips (any colors you wish).
1 cup flour
1 cup salt
large container and water
Place crepe paper into a large container and add enough water
to cover the paper. Let it soak for about one hour until most
of the water is absorbed into the paper. Pour off excess
water and add small amounts of flour and salt until you have
a clay-like mixture. Make shapes by forming the crepe paper
clay with your hands. Let it dry and apply either a varnish
or a glue-and- water mixture to seal the surface.
Clean Mud
4 rolls of toilet paper
3 cups soap
1 gallon warm water
Let the children help unroll the toilet paper. Mix soap and
water together in bucket. Add toilet paper and allow paper to
absorb the soap mixture. This mixture keeps at least one
month.
You can make colored mud by using colored toilet paper or by
coloring the water with food coloring before putting in
toilet paper.
Make-it-Yourself Chalk
1 cup plaster of Paris (geves)
1/2 cup cold water
candy or popsicle molds
poster paint (tempera -- powdered is best)
Combine plaster of Paris, water and poster paint. The amount
of poster paint you add will determine how dark the colored
chalk will be. Pour the mixture into candy or popsicle molds
and let dry.
Take the chalk out of molds and use for drawing on the
sidewalk. This chalk will be most effective right after
taking out of the molds.
Sawdust Clay
2 cups sawdust
1 cup wallpaper paste
water
Mix the dry wallpaper paste with the sawdust. Add water
slowly until you have a thick mixture. Make shapes and let
dry overnight. You can sand the finished products and paint
or stain them.
Slime
Cornstarch / large bowl / water (a few drops of food coloring
-- optional)
Mix one box of cornstarch and 1 cup of water in a large
bowl.
Bubbles
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup dish soap
cooking oil
Mix together water and liquid detergent; add a little cooking
oil to help strengthen the bubbles.
Glob
1/2 cup white school paste (almond paste -- 4 oz.)
1 cup water, half a cup at a time
1 tsp. Borax
food coloring
Add 1/2 cup of the water to the school paste; add food
coloring. In a separate cup add 1/2 cup of water to the Borax
until dissolved. Add the two mixtures together.
The final product should be a very thick glob surrounded by
excess liquid. Mix until the glob is more solid. Pour off the
excess water. Knead the glob until thick.
Store the glob in an airtight plastic bowl, cup or large
Baggie.
Note: This glob contains Borax and therefore, should not
be eaten. This recipe is intended for children who understand
that they must not eat the glob.
Modeling Clay
1 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 cup water
16 oz. baking soda
Mix the cornstarch and baking soda in a large saucepan. Stir
in water and cook over low heat until the garnish begins to
thicken and form a ball. Remove from heat.
Dust the countertop lightly with cornstarch and pour the clay
out of the saucepan. When cool enough to handle, knead the
clay until smooth. Store the clay in an airtight container or
plastic bag.
The clay is ready for use when completely cool. Can be stored
refrigerated for up to two weeks.
Make figures by modeling shapes or rolling about 1/4 to 1/2
inch thick and use cookie cutters. Allow to air dry over
several days or bake at 300 F for 25-35 minutes. Or
microwave.
Decorate the dried figures/pieces with paints and markers.
Salt Dough
2 cups cornstarch
4 cups baking soda
2 1/2 cups cold water
Measure the cornstarch and baking soda into a pot. Mix and
add 2 1/2 cups of cold water. Place on medium heat.
Stir for about five minutes until the mixture thickens.
Remove from heat. cover the pot with a wet paper towel.
When cool, knead for about 5 minutes, working on a surface
covered with waxed paper.
Allow objects to air-dry before painting.
Homemade Finger Paint
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/2 cups cold water
2 cups boiling water
food coloring
Mix 2 cups flour with 2 teaspoons salt. Add 2 1/2 cups cold
water. Stir until smooth. Gradually add this mixture to 2
cups boiling water. Boil until smooth and thick. Add food
coloring, then stir until smooth.
Dryer Lint Modeling Compound
3 cups dryer lint
2 cups water
2/3 cup flour, not self-rising
1/8 tsp. oil of cloves
In large saucepan, mix water and lint until lint is
thoroughly moistened. Add flour, stirring until no lumps
remain. Add oil of cloves. Cook over low heat, stirring
constantly until mixture is cohesive and peaks form.
Pour cooked mixture onto old towels or newspapers; allow to
cool until compound may be handled safely. Mixture may also
be stored in an airtight container for up to five days.
Use lint compound as you would papier-mache. Once it has been
applied to a surface, the compound takes 70- 100 hours to dry
completely, depending on thickness.
Makes approximately 1 quart modeling compound.
Easy Fundough
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup salt
3/4 cup water
Mix all ingredients together. Slowly add more water if
needed. Knead until a workable dough is formed.
