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Eco-Friendly Kids Crafts: Dryer Lint Fun

11/5/2014

Fun Green Crafts from Dryer Lint

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

Image by auberirsdische sind gesund via Flickr.com

If you use a dryer rather than a clothesline, hopefully it's an eco-friendly one. Either way, you're going to have some dryer lint. Rather than toss it out, save it up as material for kids crafts. Dryer lint can be used to create many fun projects with kids. By reusing the dryer lint, you are fostering eco-friendly habits. Instead of tossing it in a trash heap, have some fun with the kids.

Make Clay From Dryer Lint

About.com has a wonderful recipe for making modeling clay from dryer lint. This type of clay can be used to make craft items that need to be hardened. Some ideas include beads, figurines, and ornaments. The limit is only as far as a child's imagination. And admit it, some of you adults reading this want to construct some clay items as well.

Bird Nest Material

This one works best if you live in a desert climate. Otherwise, the birds will have issues with it when it rains or snows, as it remains damp for a good amount of time. Also, be sure you are using lint from natural fiber clothing, like cotton. To prepare some nesting material for birds, the kids can start with an empty toilet paper tube. They can fill the tube with twigs and a few small pieces of dryer lint, and set it on a tree branch for the birds. If you're lucky, you and the children might be able to actually watch birds gather some of the material.

Make Beautiful Recycled Paper

When you look at a chunk of dryer lint, you may not exactly be thinking of paper. However, in less than a day, the family can have some beautiful note paper from what would have been wasted in the trash bin. To add to the natural look, kids can put a leaf or two into the poured pulp mixture. Controlling the colors of the clothing you wash and dry will give you desired colors to work with.

Trailer Park Dust Bunny Craft

Now for something both fun and entertaining. If you're feeling extra crafty, you also might enjoy making the kids some of Jolene Sugarbaker's trailer park lint bunnies. Just remember that these are more for display fun and not for play.

*CAUTION: Dryer lint can be flammable, so use care in choosing how to use it, especially around children. Never use dryer lint when making clothing or stuffed toy items.

**I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

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Eco-Friendly Kids Crafts: Homemade Milk Paint Leaf Prints

8/27/2014

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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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Eco-Friendly Kids Crafts: Dryer Lint Fun

Fun Green Crafts from Dryer Lint

Eco-Friendly Kids Crafts: Homemade Milk Paint Leaf Prints

Homemade Glue and Paste Recipes

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