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Cookie Crayons | Modeling Clay | Face Paint | Finger Paints | Artists' Smocks | Mixing Colors | Creating Creative Kids |
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Cookie Crayons from Audrey
Vineys Humaciu This is a great way to use up those little bits of broken crayons that you never had the heart to throw away. This is great for a school/day care setting. Just draw a map indicating who's crayon is in which place in the tin. crayon bits with paper removed Line the muffin tin with the cupcake wrappers. Place some crayon bits into the wrappers (1/4 to 1/2 inch high is plenty). Put several bits of the same colors together (a section of yellow, a section of blue, etc.). Bake at the lowest possible setting on your oven until the crayons are completely melted. Cool completely. Remove crayon from wrapper. START COLORING! From past experience:
1 cup salt Mix salt, flour and water together. Divide into three or more portions and put each portion in a separate bowl. Add one color food coloring in each bowl, a few drops at at time and mix together. Add more fool color to make desired color intensity. Mix together until all clay is saturated with color. Let children create their artwork and allow to air dry. Store unused portions in airtight containers and store in refrigerator for up to about 2 weeks. 1 teaspoon cornstarch Mix together cornstarch, cold cream and water. Make separate portions for each color desired. Add one color food coloring in each bowl, a few drops at at time and mix together. Add more food color to make desired color intensity. "Retired" pill or film containers make good containers for unused paints. Put a piece of masking tape on the outside of the container and mark each with the color inside with a waterproof marker. liquid laundry starch Mix each color in a separate container, adding paint in each portion by 1/4 teaspoonful to make desired color intensity. Store unused portions, each color in a separate container. Use old shirts turned backwards and buttoned at the neck for paint smocks. Men's' short sleeve shirts work well or either roll up or cut off long sleeves. Wash paint smocks separately to avoid bleeding of color onto other clothing. For all of the above you can teach children to mix their own colors. Let them experiment with the formula for each until they obtain the color they desire. Purchase primary colors of red, yellow and blue. For secondary colors mix red and yellow to make orange, yellow and blue to make green and red and blue to make purple. Mix complementary primary colors and a secondary color to make brown, such as red and green, blue and orange, yellow and purple. You may not have a budding Rembrandt or Rodin on your hands, but you you can encourage your child along the road to creativity. Remember that figures in life do not have black lines around them. Instead of giving children expensive, store-bought coloring books, purchase newsprint in tablets from a craft store or let them use the back of junk mail or draft copies of paper you have run off on your printer. Let them use any of the above mediums or purchase water-based, washable paints. Spread an inexpensive white plastic table cloth over the kitchen table or let them paint on the floor. Clean up can be done with soap and water. When a child has created a work or art, either sculpture or painting, it is very obvious to him or her what it represents. You may discourage a child by asking, "What is it?". Instead, encourage verbal skills as well, by saying, "Tell me a story about this" and do not interrupt or "put words" in his or her mouth. A favorite story is about the little boy who was asked to draw a Christmas picture in Sunday school class. He drew, colored and presented his masterpiece to the teacher. She ask, "Why did you draw a fat boy to represent Jesus' birthday?". His reply, "Well, the song says 'Round John Virgin'". 'Nough said. Do not get discouraged if your child cannot draw or paint or sculpt with clay. All creativity is a process of finding what works and inspires the individual. I am completely in awe of the programmer who can create a computer application or the scientist who keeps trying until a cure for polio is discovered to saves lives to prevents deformity and death for thousand of people. Creativity comes not by "staying within the lines", until the desired end is achieved. And don't forget to encourage children in the kitchen.
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Cookie Crayons | Modeling Clay | Face Paint | Finger Paints | Artists' Smocks | Mixing Colors | Creating Creative Kids |
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