#192 Make Your Own Finger Paints

So, I had several other pictures to upload for this post but for some reason blogger doesn't really like my other ones. So, you just get pictures of the finished product being used.

Later this month, I will have a post on Northern Cheapskate about 4 different no-cook finger paint recipes. But while we were playing around with those, I thought the liquid starch recipe could have been better if it was a cooked starch to help thicken it up.

Cooked Cornstarch Finger Paint Recipe

1 C boiling water

2 T cold water

2 T corn starch

food coloring

Bring water to a boil. While water is boiling, whisk corn starch in cold water. Stir food coloring drops to create desired color in the boiling water. Remove from heat and stir in corn starch mixture. Return to stove to cook a little longer to thicken. The finger paints will thicken as it cools, so don't let it thicken too much while cooking. Give to the kids and let them have fun!

#193 Make Fabric Bookmarks with Leftover Fabric

This project idea came from Skip to My Lou. I thought it was a great idea as a Teacher Appreciation Gift to go along with a new book (& some homemade Cinnamon Apple Raisin Bread.) I used some leftover fabric from making my daughter's Easter dress to make these.

The first thing that I did differently was that I did not use iron-on fusing, simply because I didn't have any and didn't want to run to the store just to buy that, so I came up with a different solution and that was to use cardboard.

I glued two pieces of cardboard (from a food box, so not too thick) with the cardboard "color" inside facing out, so that the colored print side would not show through the fabric.

The rest of the instructions were the same as on Skip to My Lou. So, please check those out because she did a great job explaining each step (I totally believe in not reinventing the wheel and giving credit where it is due.)

I made the rosettes the same way I did for the headband. I think next time I might try out the tutorial on Little Birdie Secrets that Skip to My Lou referenced.
You can see the book choices my daughter made for her teacher based on some things she knows about her teachers. We went to a local bookstore and she made her choices while I chased around her little brother picking up books he pulled off the shelves.

She also made them each a card and it blew me away that she designed her card to go with the theme of the book. One card was all pictures of flowers and plants and the other one was all different kinds of transportation to take on vacation and a drawing of the Earth. Just amazed me that my (almost) 5 year old thought about doing that all on her own.

BTW - So glad I made some bread for us too because I already ate some tonight and it is fantastic! Really hope the teachers like it.