Many of the activities on these pages may require adult supervision.
Be sure to tell a grown-up about what you're planning and ask for permission before getting started.

What you don't have or can't afford, you may be able to make.

Homemade Paint

1 teaspoon detergent (not soap)
1 teaspoon water
food coloring

Mix in a small plastic bowl. Add enough food coloring to produce the color you want. Make a different batch for each color. You can use the finished paintings for gift-wrapping paper. The paint won't crack.

Easy Finger Paint

Powdered paint or food coloring
1/3 cup water
2/3 cup Ivory Snow soap powder

Mix with a spoon or fork in a plastic bowl. This is good finger paint to make for four-and five-year-olds.
But make sure you tell them not to rub their eyes when they have it on their hands. The soap in the finger paint would sting.

Emergency Paste

1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup water

Mix the flour and water in a small bowl with a fork until it is smooth. Apply with your fingers or a popsicle stick. The paste is thin, but it works well on paper and light cloth.

Baker's Clay

2 cups unsifted flour
1/2 cup salt
3/4 cup water

Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Slowly add water, mixing with a fork and then with your hands. If too sticky, add flour. If too dry, add water. Knead for about five minutes. Make shapes as desired. To make Christmas tree ornaments, roll out clay and cut with cookie cutters.

Pierce each ornament with a straw so you can hang it later. Bake, or have a grown-up bake, shapes on foil on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees, anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes, depending how thick the shape is. Ornaments bake for 10-15 minutes, or until hard. When cool, paint with tempera or acrylic paints.

Note: Not for eating!

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