Children's Crafts

Play Clay

 3 cups of flour
1 1/2 cup salt
6 teaspoons cream of tartar
Mix these in a large pot.  Then in a bowl mix:
3 cups water
3 tablespoons cooking oil
Add a few drops of food coloring if you wish.
Add liquids to dry ingredients in pot.
Cook over medium heat on stove, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat when dough pulls away from the sides of the pot and can be pinched without sticking [about 5 minutes].
Turn onto board or counter and let sit until cool enough to handle.  Knead until smooth play dough consistency.
Store in airtight container.

2 Cups Flour
1 Cup Salt
2 Tbs. + 1 tsp. Vegetable Oil
3/4 - 1 Cup Water
Instructions:
Mix together flour and salt. Slowly add the water and stir until you get a nice clay consistency. Once completely mixed, make into the desired shapes. Bake in a 250 degree oven for approximately 1 hour. This will vary depending on how thick you creations are. One hint, do not make shapes too thick or they will crack with baking.
 

1 Cup Applesauce
1 Cup Cinnamon

Mix the applesauce and the cinnamon until it gets to be a nice clay consistency. If it is too sticky, add a bit more cinnamon or even a little flour.
You can make shapes and designs or even use cookie cutters. (If you are making ornaments, be sure to put a hole in the top before drying to pull a string or ribbon through!)  Put the shapes in a warm, dry spot to dry - this will take several days. You will have sweet-smelling ornaments or sculptures to keep or give away as gifts!  Also, they make great air fresheners.
 

8" x 8" square of fabric (cotton is best). Pick a pretty design!
cotton balls or fiber fill
15" cord (or ribbon, trim, string, yarn, twine, etc.)
scent of choice: essential oil, potpourri oil, etc.

Cut fabric square out with pinking shears, or cut an 9" square and hem the edges.  Place a wad of cotton balls or fiber fill in center of fabric (fabric should be wrong side up).  Put a few drops of scent on cotton (children should have an adult help).  Pull up the sides of the fabric around cotton and tie with cord.

1/4" ply wood (or other suitable material) in size desired
Fabric:   2 pieces (front piece 6" bigger on each side than wood,
              back piece same size as wood)
Batting or Felt same size as board
Ribbon to contrast with fabric.  Amount will depend on how large your
               board is and how many  "crossings" you want to make
Thumb tacks (colored ones with a plastic coating help protect wall)
Tacky glue
Picture hanger
Optional: glue gun, buttons, bows

Glue batting or felt to front of board.  Glue smaller fabric to back of board.  Place larger fabric right side down.  Center board on fabric, batting side down.  Bring up sides of fabric over the board, fold and tack down with thumb tacks, pulling taut, taking care not to warp fabric.  (You may need to use a tack hammer.)   Using the background on this page as a guide, place ribbon on front of board, tacking each end in place on the back.  Apply picture hanger on back. (You may want 2.)  To add interest, you may apply buttons or bows at the ribbon intersections with a glue gun.
Your notes, photos, etc. can be slid behind the ribbons to hold them in place without tacking them down.  I use one in my sewing room on the wall in front of the sewing machine to hold pattern directions on.

Melt beeswax, cocoa butter, oils and honey together. Allow to cool before stirring in essential oils, but mixture should still be warm and pourable. Stir essential oils in well and pour into lip balm tubes or small jars.