Recipes for Arts and Crafts

Instructions for Arts, Crafts, and Activities with Children

The recipes and instructions on these pages are not copyrighted and FREE for you to copy and use.Please use these recipes responsibly. Since many recipes require cooking or baking, children should have proper supervision. Belk Library and the IMC assume no responsibility for the outcome of the products or the misuse of equipment.

Animal Treats (Tasty Cookies; Bird Feeders)
Chalk and Make-Up (Sidewalk Chalk; Funny Face Make-up; Halloween Make-up)
Clays (Baker's Clay; Bakeless Clay; Molding Clays; Salt Clays; Sand Clay)
Craft Doughs (Homemade Play Dough; Edible Play Dough; Salt & Flour Dough)
Paints and Activities (Finger Paint; Butter Paint; Paintbrush Cookies; Egg Yolk Paint; Painted Toast, Snow Cream)
Paper Crafts (Paper Doll Chains; Papier Mache Paste; Paper Snowflakes)

Animal Treats: TASTY COOKIES

7 ounces beef baby food -- strained (you may substitute other baby food flavors)
1/4 cup dry non-fat milk
1/2 cup wheat germ
Mix all ingredients. Roll into approximately 24 small balls. Place on greased cookie sheet. For round cookies, flatten with a fork. You may also mold into shapes. Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees. These are dog or cat treats, but okay for human consumption.

Animal Treats: BIRD FEEDERS

2 cups shortening
2 cups peanut butter
5 cups bird seed
Pine cones
Twine or yarn
On each pine cone, wrap a piece of twine or yarn inside the top and secure for hanging. (You may make it as long or short as you want.) In a large bowl, combine and mix shortening and peanut butter. Carefully spread the mixture over each pine cone, making sure some of the mixture gets between the cracks of the cone. Next, roll each cone in the bird seed until the sticky cone is totally covered. Gently press the cone into the seeds to ensure a heavy coating. Hang the treats outside and watch your feathered friends enjoy! Depending on the size of the pine cones, this recipe makes about 12 feeders.

SIDEWALK CHALK

1/4 cup plaster of Paris
2 tablespoons water
Liquid Tempera paints (enough to color brightly)
Mix all ingredients, pour into small 3 1/2 ounce paper cup. When mixture hardens (about 30 minutes), peel off paper cup. Makes 1 large chunk of chalk; washes off sidewalk with water. Makes 1 cup chalk.

FUNNY FACE MAKE-UP

2 teaspoons white shortening
5 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon white flour
4 drops glycerin (found at your pharmacy)
Few drops of food coloring
In a small bowl, mix shortening, cornstarch and white flour. Add four drops of glycerin. Stir to a creamy consistency.
Add any food coloring that you wish. For brown makeup, add 2 1/2 teaspoons of unsweetened cocoa instead of food
coloring and you're all set.

HALLOWEEN MAKE - UP

1/2 tbsp. shortening
5 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon white flour
Few drops glycerine
Food coloring (color as desired)

Mix well. Spread on face. Dust with talcum powder to "set" the make-up.

HOMEMADE PLAY DOUGH

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1/4 cup salad oil
3/4 - 1 cup water
Few drops of food coloring of your choice
Mix flour, salt and oil. Then add food coloring to the water. Finally add water to flour, salt and oil. Knead until it no
longer sticks to your hands. Baggies may be used to store playdough in so it doesn't have to be divided every time it is
used. Seal with plastic tie strings or coffee cans. If dough gets too hard or dries out, add more water. If dough gets
too oily, add flour.

EDIBLE PLAY DOUGH

1 & 1/4 cups confectioner's sugar
1 & 1/4 cups powdered milk
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
Mix until dough reaches proper consistency for molding. Let children mold all kinds of creatures and decorate with
Cheerios® and raisins. They may eat these treats when they are finished.

SALT AND FLOUR DOUGH

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Mix flour and salt together. Slowly add water and stir until it forms a soft dough, all of the water may not be needed.
If too gooey, more be added. Roll out on a flat surface to make bread dough cookie ornaments. May be painted with
food coloring while still moist. Can be air dried (about 2 days) or baked 1-2 hours at 200-250 degrees. Baked
ornaments are less fragile than those which have been air-dried.

GLUTEN-FREE PLAY DOUGH

Food and Cooking by Sandy Green. London: David Fulton, 2004.
IMC STACKS 372.21 G798fo
A recipe for gluten-free play dough is found on page 13.