Category: Handmade

Eco-Friendly Kids Crafts: Homemade Milk Paint Leaf Prints

8/27/2014

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

With this fun craft, you don't need to worry if the kids eat the paint. You also don't need to be as concerned about harming the environment. Learn how the kids can create leaf prints using homemade milk paint and recycled materials. This eco-friendly craft can be done by even the smallest kids with parental assistance.

Before starting with the craft, have some nature fun with the kids and let them gather fallen leaves from around the yard. Instruct them to find leaves of various shapes, sizes, and textures. That will make the artwork more interesting.

Materials

water
powdered milk
various fallen leaves
recycled craft paper
2 mixing bowls
beet juice
blueberry juice

Making the Milk Paint
The first part of the craft involves making the milk paint. Kids can easily help with this, depending upon age and ability. Simply mix powdered milk and water until there is a thick pasty texture. It should be about the consistency of yogurt or pudding. In one bowl, add blueberry juice until the color is the tone you desire. Do the same in the other bowl with the beet juice. The beet juice will create a reddish paint color and the blueberry juice will create a bluish-purple paint color. To darken the color, simply add more juice.

Painting With the Milk Paint Using Leaves
Once the paint is made, kids can each be given their own recycled paper to paint on. The coloring for the paint involves dyes that can stain clothing. Be sure the children have on play clothe or aprons. The kids can use soft leaves as paintbrushes by rolling up the leaf and dipping it into the paint.

Leaves can also be dipped into the paint and pressed onto the paper to make leaf print designs. Some kids also may choose to blend the two concepts together. Once the children are done, set the leaf prints and paintings aside to dry.

Some also may want to frame their works of art. Eco-friendly frames can be created with sticks adjoined by vines or fallen branches. These are sturdy, but easy enough for kids to make or help with. The frames can be hung by attaching and looping sturdy vine to the top. Even once the vine is dried, it can still make a great frame hanger.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Homemade Glue and Paste Recipes

2/15/2013

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

If you're a parent, like me, you are probably running through glue like water -- maybe even more than water. Thankfully, my mom taught me how to make it myself when I was a kid. I must admit that we sometimes buy it anyway. However, the homemade glue is awesome in a pinch and works better anyway.

Homemade Paste -- For homemade paste, blend 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup cold water, and a pinch of salt. Whisk in a saucepan until smooth and creamy. Then, simmer fora few minutes until thick (but not too thick) and sticky. Cool and use.

Extra Tips:

I have skipped heating it up when the kids needed glue really quick and it works just fine. If you have no salt, it also works fine without that.

With either the cooked or the non-cooked method, note that this glue is mainly for paper, foam, feathers, and other thin, lightweight crafts.
This homemade paste takes about 24 hours to fully dry. But when it dries, it holds strongly.

Homemade School Glue -- In a saucepan, mix 3/4 cup of cold water, 2 Tbsp of corn syrup, and 1 tsp white vinegar. Stir and simmer until boiling. In a separate bowl, mix 2 tbsp of corn starch and 3/4 cups of cold water. Once the other mixture is boiling, slowly add the corn starch and water mixture in and blend until smooth and sticky. Pour into a container easy to use for gluing (old, empty glue bottles work well for this). Let is sit in the container to settle and cool for at least 24 hours before use.

Extra Tips:

If your kids are picky and don't like the idea of homemade glue, add a small amount of flour to make it white and always pour it into emptied containers of their favorite glue when they aren't home. They'll never know the difference.
For fun, you can add food coloring to the school glue recipe or the paste recipe.
Let the kids help make the glue to extend the busy craft time.

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Handmade Earrings - Easy Craft for Tweens and Teens

4/7/2011

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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Need a simple craft that kids can do quickly and possibly even make money from? My kids and I make earrings and sell them in our family craft shop. We also donate a portion of the proceeds to help homeless shelter animals.

Materials

All you need are glass beads, ear wire hooks, eye pins, jewelry pliers, and jewelry wire cutters.

Instructions

The kids can simply slide the beads onto the eye pins and then cut off the excess from the pin, leaving enough room to bend over the bottom of the pin to secure the beads. If they cannot handle the wire cutter and pliers, you can do this part.

Then, use the jewelry pliers to pry away the eye hole of the pin. Slide the eye opening of the ear wire into that opening. Use the jewelry pliers to seal the eye pin closed around the ear wire. Do that for two matching earrings. That's it.

Now the kids can wear or sell their creations. They might even gift them.

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Eco-Friendly Kids Crafts: Homemade Milk Paint Leaf Prints

Homemade Glue and Paste Recipes

Handmade Earrings - Easy Craft for Tweens and Teens

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