Marbled Paper Craft
Turn a regular old brown paper grocery sack into something special! Great idea for kids and parents to try together.
What You will Need:
* 5 Pints ( 10 cups) Cold Water
* Shallow Baking Pan
* Oil Paints
* Turpentine
* Brown Wrapping Paper or paper bags
Place water into shallow pan and mix oil paints with a bit of turpentine to the consistency of thick cream. Drop a few drops of color into the pan.
If the color sinks ( it is too thick) thin with a little more turpentine. If the color spreads (it is too thin) add a little more paint.
When the right thickness is achieved drop large spots of color one at a time onto the solution. With a spoon or a stick or other utensil (even combs) swirl into patterns .
Cut a piece of paper slightly smaller than the size of the pan. Holding opposite corners of the paper for ease, lower it on to the solution. Lift the paper carefully and place right side up on a stack of newspaper to dry or hang on clothes line.
You can use this paper to decorate notebooks, cover canisters and much more Great for making Gift cards and matching gift wrap.
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Orange Pomanders
1 unblemished, thin skinned orange
2 cups whole, large cloves
1 thin knitting needle
brown paper lunch bag
spicy curing mixture (see recipe)
Pierce the skin of the orange with the knitting needle before you insert each clove to save wear and tear on your fingers.
Insert cloves into the fruit in an orderly pattern. Cloves should be close together (approx. 5 mm) but not crowded. Too close and the fruit will split.
Finish your pomander on the day you start it. Unfinished portions of fruit may begin to rot if left overnight.
When you have finished, the fruit should be completely covered with nearly touching cloves. Roll the fruit in spicy curative mix then place it in a brown paper lunch bag.
Hang the lunch bag containing the pomander in a well ventilated area until it has dried and hardened. This will take from two to five weeks depending on the size of the fruit. (I clothespin the paper bag to a wire hanger and hang it from a towel rack near a heat duct to speed up the drying process).
Once cured, your pomander can be decorated with velvet or satin ribbon to suit particular festive occasions.
Spicy Curing Mix
250 ml (1 cup) powdered cinnamon
125 ml (1/2 cup) powdered cloves
75 ml (1/4 cup) powdered allspice
75 ml (1/4 cup) powdered nutmeg
60 ml (4 tbsp.) powdered orris root
This recipe makes enough mix to do three pomanders. Orris root is available at most health food stores.
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Rock Candy Coffee Stir Sticks
5 cup sugar
2 cup water
Food coloring
Glass jar
Plastic coffee can with lid
Wooden coffee stirs, or bamboo skewers, or popsicle sticks
Candy thermometer
Wooden spoon
Beautiful and yummy! The sugar sticks are a great way to stir in sugar to coffee and tea and make a great gift idea. After bringing water to a boil, add sugar. Continue to boil until the temperature reaches above 260°F. Let the sugar mixture cool for five minutes and then poor into glass jar. Add food coloring. Punch the bamboo skewer through the plastic coffee can lid and place on top of jar. The skewer should not touch the bottom of the jar. Wait seven days to left the lid.
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Salt and Flour Finger Paints
2 c Flour
2 ts Salt
3 c Cold water
2 c Hot water
Food colouring
Add the salt to the flour in a saucepan. Pour in cold water gradually and beat the mixture with an egg beater until smooth. Add the hot water and boil the mixture until it becomes glossy. Beat it until it is smooth. Mix in food colouring.
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Scented 'Rocks' Recipe
These funky little creations look like real rocks, but are made with a simple flour mixture and smell wonderful! Try making a batch and then keeping them in open containers around your house.
Mix 1/2 cup of flour (wholemeal flour gives great texture.)
1/2 cup of salt
1/4 teaspoon of essential oil (your favorite scent)
2/3 cup of boiling water
and food coloring if wanted
Mix all the dry ingredients together then add the oil and lastly the hot water. Add the color drop by drop.
Once cool enough to handle roll into small balls around 2-3 inch in size or be creative and make assorted shapes.
This mixture dries hard after several days in a warm but dry area.
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Scratch and Sniff Painting
watercolor paints
craft glue
fruit flavor jello
paper
paintbrush
What You Do :
Draw a picture . You could use trace a picture from a coloring book. paint it with watercolors. Let it dry. After your picture is dry spread craft glue a little at a time over the colored parts of your picture. Sprinkle fruit flavored jello over the wet glue. Let your picture dry. The craft glue dries clear and you will be left with a sweet smelling picture.
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Simmering Apple Spice Potpourri
1/2 C Dried apple slices, chopped
1/2 C Whole cranberries, dried
4 Cinnamon sticks
1 Whole nutmeg, broken into pieces
2 Tbsp Whole cloves
2 Tbsp Whole allspice
Allow apples and cranberries to air dry for several days. Mix all ingredients together. To simmer potpourri; place 1/2 cup mixture and 2 cups water in a small saucepan. Place pan over low heat and simmer several hours. Add more water as needed. ENJOY!!
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'Smelly Socks' Drawer Sachets
Decorative socks
Coordinating ribbon
Potpourri or dried lavender
Take one Printed sock and using a spoon , spoon in the potpourri working it down into the toe of the sock. Keep spooning in the pot pourri until the sock is tightly filled allowing a small amount to tie off with, then using a rubber band secure off the top and tie some ribbon around. Do this for both socks so you have a pair of "smelly socks".
These are great for those smelly sock draws or for slipping into childrens smelly shoes afterschool .
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Spray Chalk Recipe
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup warm water
4 to 6 drops food coloring
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Pour into a small plant mister.
Shake before using to avoid clogs. You can use this to create designs on sidewalks, in the snow, or at the beach for colorful sand sculptures.
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Waterproof Glue Recipe
2 Packets unflavoured gelatin -- (1/2 ounce)
2 tablespoons cold water
3 tablespoons skim milk
several drops oil of cloves (optional)
1. In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water. Set aside to soften.
2. Heat milk to boiling point and pour into softened gelatin. Stir until gelatin is dissolved.
3. Add oil of cloves as preservative if glue is to be kept for more than a day.
Makes about 1/3 cup
Store glue in a screw-capped jar. It will gel as it cools, but this will not affect its adhesiveness. Set jar in a pan of hot water to soften glue for reuse.
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Weekly Reusable Calendar
This calendar will come in handy to keep track of weekly events. Print off a new calendar for each week, or make it into a magnetic wipe off to use over and over!
Open your favorite graphics program and print out a blank calendar. It may be weekly or monthly, it's your choice. Laminate the calendar page. You may do this using your personal laminator. I purchase one rather cheaply. You may also use clear contact paper or take to your favorite copy place to have it laminated.
Cut magnetic strips to fit to back of paper in two places, either horizontally or vertically.
Use a dry erase marker on the calendar. This would make a great personalized gift item
Linear Mode
