Liquid sidewalk chalk

Today was a beautiful day. We all just returned from holidays, so we have been organizing, and getting back in the swing of things. With that, comes fights and a feeling of confinement with the kids- so we had to get out! I had some of the kids bugging me for a craft, and some bugging me to go outside- SO...we combined them!

How much fun is sidewalk chalk? TONS! And how much fun is painting? TONS! So, why not mix them! I pulled out the painting supplies, a bowl, measuring cup, corn starch, and food colouring! Mix 1 cup of water with 1 cup of corn starch. You can make more- just make the amount you want with equal amounts of water and corn starch. This amount made enough to keep the 4 kids busy for over an hour. That was with 4 colours too, so if you want/need more you might need to make more.

After you mix the water and corn starch, pour into separate containers or paint pots- one for each colour. Then add FOOD COLOURING. I used the neon type and it was GREAT. Then we headed outside!

The kids each got one "canvas"- which was a sidewalk block! This was their paper. (Note- the paint did all of our blocks- 6 and a bit, plus some of the path, on a tree, drain spout, and part of our wagon! Just to give you an idea of how much it makes.)

 (they had to stop to check on the neighbours cat who was "stuck" in the tree)

They had a great time painting the sidewalk! They stayed for a long time, then played, and came back, and then even took the paint to other area's in front of the house!

Sand fun

Today looks gloomy outside, so we decided to turn the kitchen into some art fun! We sort of did 3 things today, and one will last the whole day!

First thing this morning, I made some coloured salt. I put some salt in small bowls and each bowl also had a piece of chalk. I "mixed" around the bowl of salt, using the chalk. In a few seconds we had coloured salt. You can also put the chalk in a bag with the salt and move it all around.

The first thing we did with the salt was salt pictures. (I told the kids it was coloured sand!)

I got some glue, paper and the salt.

They drizzled the glue all over their papers- older kids might make a design.

And then we dropped the sand all over the paper. Once it dries it will be a rainbow of colours on the paper!

With the left over sand, we put them into baby food jars, for a nice decoration!

After that was done, we pulled out the long paper roll. I taped it to the floor and had each child lay down on the paper. I traced around them, and then they went to work decorating their bodies. They have gone back and forth a few times now, playing, colouring, playing, colouring! They will be on the floor in the kitchen for most of the day!