Art Activities
From Playdough to Papier-Mache: Art Recipes for Fun
Salt & Flour Dough
Mix 2 parts salt and 1 part flour. Add water until mixture becomes doughy. Food colouring may be added to dough. This is a good recipe for beads. Shape the dough into a bead, making a hole through the center with a toothpick. Allow to air dry.
Coffee Dough
Mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 1 cup used coffee grounds, and 1/2 cup cold coffee. Knead mixture on floured surface. After sculpting, allow creation to air dry. Store clay in a plastic bag.
Playdough
Mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 2 teaspoons cream of tartar. Add 1 cup water, 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, and food colouring. Cook in heavy skillet for about three minutes, stirring often. Knead dough until it becomes soft and smooth. Store in an airtight container.
Putty
Mix 2 parts white Elmer's glue and 1 part liquid starch. Add food colouring if desired. Let mixture air dry. This putty bounces, stretches, and lifts pictures from newsprint. Store in an airtight container.
No-Cook Dough
Mix 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, water, food colouring, and 2 tablespoons oil. You may leave out the oil if you want your art to harden.
Coloured Glue
Add food colouring to white glue. Mix well. Use this mixture to outline parts of your drawing or in place of some paint.
Papier-Mache
Mix together 1 box Knox gelatin, 3 ounces white glue, and 2 ounces water until smooth. Wet tissue paper or paper towel strips thoroughly with mixture. Place strips over your mold until you have covered it as thickly as you want. Let dry.
Magic Crystal Paint
Bring 2 cups of water and 2 cups of Epsom salt to a boil. Stir. Let mixture cool. Add food colouring. Use paintbrush and paint on a white sheet of construction paper. When paint dries, coloured crystals appear.
Jelly Paint
For each desired colour, mix 1/4 cup water, 3/4 cup glue, and enough jelly powder to achieve the colour you like. Paint a picture on construction paper. Allow paint two days to dry. Your picture will also have a wonderful scent and texture!
Shiny Paint
Mix 1 part white glue with 1 part tempera paint. Apply with a paintbrush. Picture will dry with a "wet" look.
Glitter Paint
Mix corn syrup, food colouring, and glitter. Paint on construction paper. Let dry for several days. Drawing will appear glittery and transparent.
Milk Paint
For a creamy "pastel" look, pour evaporated milk into containers. Add food colouring until desired colour is reached. Use paintbrush to apply.
Egg Paint
This recipe is great to use on slick surfaces, like glass, aluminum foil, or freezer paper. Mix a little egg yolk, dry detergent, and food colouring. Paint will stick easily.
Salt Paint
For an "icy" touch to wintery pictures, mix 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon liquid starch, and a few drops tempera paint. Apply with paint brush.
Watercolour Cakes
Mix 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1 tablespoon baking soda. Mixture will be fuzzy. When fizzing stops, add 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon corn syrup. Mixture will become thick and cakelike. Fill small plastic bottle lids adding some food colouring to each lid. Make colours as dark or light as desired. You can use the watercolours right away, if desired. If they dry, simply wet the paintbrush thoroughly and swirl it in the lid.
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