~ Fun & Easy Crafts for Kids ~

Bisquick Fun Dough (Not Edible)

• 1¼ Cups Bisquick Original baking mix

• 1/4 cup salt

• 1 tsp Cream of Tartar

• 1 cup water

• 1 tsp food color

1. Stir baking mix, salt and cream of tartar in 4-cup microwavable measuring cup until mixed. Mix water and food color in liquid measuring cup.

2. Stir liquid into dry mixture, a small amount at a time, until all liquid is added. Microwave uncovered on High 1 minute. Scrape mixture from side of cup and stir.

3. Microwave, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes longer, stirring every minute until mixture almost forms a ball. Let dough stand uncovered about 3 minutes.

4. Remove dough from measuring cup, using spoon. Knead dough in your hands or on the counter about 1 minute or until smooth. (If dough is sticky, add 1 to 2 tablespoons baking mix) Cool about 15 minutes. Use dough to make shapes and designs.  Make various colors for more fun! Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

Note: This dough is to play with, not to eat.

Get a bunch of fabric paint and however many new white t-shirts you need to have one for each child. Let them dip their hands into the fabric paint and and use their hands to make butterflies and birds on their t-shirts. Dip fingertips to make dots all around the shirt.

Get at least 4 or 5 different colors of construction paper. Use one color for the mat itself. Make cutout forks, knives, spoons and a plate. Dot each cutout with glue so it will stay on the place mat for the following step. Cover front and back with clear adhesive vinyl and trim edges for a finished placemat. 

Make your own sand jars from salt and small jars.  Tint salt by mixing in colored chalk (rub with sandpaper to make a chalk powder). Then layer into jars. Bend paper to use as a pourer, tamping down to make salt settle as you go. Use at least 4 different colors for the best effects. If the jar has a lid with writing on it, paint the lid with one of the colors of the sand. 

On construction paper, using string and glue, draw a picture. When satisfied with the picture, cover with crumpled aluminum foil and press until the string picture is showing up well through the foil. Paint the foil and let dry. These make cute pictures to frame.

Cut a cardboard egg carton in half, and trim away everything but the egg cups themselves. Be sure to keep the egg cups connected to each other. Then brush on acrylic paint, a different color for each egg cup. Glue on fuzzy pipe cleaners for the legs and the antennae. Glue fuzzy dots on top of each egg cup, a color different from color of the egg cup. Draw a face with pen or cut out using construction paper. 

Kids will have a blast with this, they can create a yummy sculpture and then dig in and gobble it up! A fun pick-me-up for the rainy day blues.

• 1 cup peanut butter

• 1 cup corn syrup

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• 1 cup powdered milk

Mix all ingredients to get a good consistency. And away we go!!!

To make a non-toxic dough for children to play with. Mix 1 coup flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, 1 cup water and 1 tablespoon cooking oil. Mix and cook over medium heat until it becomes the consistency of dough. Let it cool and add a few drops of food coloring.

What you'll need:

• twelve 1" yellow pompoms

• twelve 1½" yellow pompoms

• orange felt for beaks

• 24 tiny black beads for eyes

• twelve 3/4"-diameter plastic Easter eggs that open

• Tacky glue

• Toothpicks

• Easter grass

• Empty 12-egg carton

Glue a small pompom to large pompom to form chick's head and body (separate some fibers to attach them more easily). Cut diamond shape from felt small enough for the little chicks' beaks. Fold in half. Using a toothpick, run glue along the inside of the fold and press together to hold beak shape. Put glue on outside of beak fold and insert between fibers on heat. Glue  beads on, above the beak for eyes. Place small amount of glue in bottom of Easter egg half, place chick on glue with head up (as if cheeping). Note: Some kids like to take the chicks out of the eggs, so the glue is optional here. Arrange chick-filled Easter eggs on plastic grass in an egg carton.

Tip: For more fun, paint and decorate the egg carton in pastel colors.

Handprint Coasters for Kids

What you'll need:

• Green and red tempera paint

• paper plates

• foam brush

• heavy craft paper

• clear contact paper

• small gift tags

Pour enough red paint onto a paper plate to over a hand and a foot of a small child. Repeat this step for the green paint. Taking your foam brush, lightly paint one child's hands with paint. After covered, place hand onto heavy craft paper for a hand print. Alternating colors, repeat this step for remaining hand and both feet. When paint is dry, write child's name and date on them. Cover with clear contact paper and trim them in a circular shape around prints. On a small gift tag, attach the following poem:

"I know my hands are little and sometimes make a mess,

So I've made for your some coasters to give your drinks a rest.

Now Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad (or whomever),

It's kind of funny, can't you see?

Now I'll be helping you, by putting the mess on me!"

Add color to your front door with this fall wreath. To make, cut out the center of a paper plate and glue on an assortment of bright fall leaves, covering the entire rim.  You can use real leaves or colored paper cutouts. Finish with a large raffia bow, some twigs and a bright green chenille stem caterpillar. Kids have a blast making this wreath!