Don't Miss our AWESOME KIDS Start Page! TONS of Activities and Stuff to do!
(Do it yourself!)
Sand Painting Without Sand (Family Circle 8-7-78)
You'll need: table salt, colored chalk, two styrofoam or paper cups, one small jar (baby-food jar is good size). Pour 1 to 2 inches of salt in each cup. Then rub a piece of colored chalk against salt; continue rubbing until friction flakes off some color and it blends with salt. The longer you rub, the more vivid the color. Pour the colored salt into jar. Repeat flaking process with another color and pour into jar. Do this with each color you want, layering the salt in jar until it's full. Then, using a pencil, push down through layers (near outside of jar) so colors run into each other, forming a design. Top with lid and display. you can use any clear container for "sand painting".
Collage with a Theme (Family Circle 8-7-78)
Decide on an idea: people, pretty hair, pets, cartoons, spacemen, automobiles, and so on. Then look through old magazines and cut out pictures that illustrate the idea. Arrange the pictures on colored construction paper - overlapping some, placing others at an angle- and paste down with white glue. Or, arrange and glue photos on a wooden board, like plywood. Let dry one hour and coat with clear shellac or varnish for a professional look.
Caterpillar Creatures (Family Circle 8-7-78)
Egg cartons make durable and colorful caterpillars. Cut the carton lengthwise to get two creatures. Decorate with pipe cleaners for antennae (just poke them through carton), glitter and paint on the "bodies".
Best-Selling Bookmarks (Family Circle 8-7-78) (Requires using an iron)
With a paper clip, scrape crayons onto colored posterboard; cover with cellophane or plastic sheet. Place towel on top and iron on "warm" setting. The heat melts the crayon wax, creating lovely, abstract designs. Cut posterboard into strips; punch a hole at one end of each strip. Pull a strand of colored yarn through hole; knot yarn and fringe ends. you now have attractive bookmarks to keep or give away.
Clay Candlesticks (Family Circle 8-7-78)
Create your own candlesticks using air-dry clay, pasta, gold spray paint. Form clay into 3" balls. Mold into candleholders by pressing a candle into center of each ball, flattening bottom enough to stand. Remove candle. Press pasta into sides and top of clay, then spray with gold spray paint. Let dry for at least 48 hours so clay will harden.
Pasta Pizzazz (Family Circle 8-7-78)
You can make a necklace or bracelet with pasta. You'll need: pasta (macaroni with holes, rigatoni or any other that can be strung), string or yarn, paint or food coloring. All you have to do is string the uncooked pasta, alternating different shapes if you have them. For color, dip in food coloring. Or paint, using tempera paint; let dry thoroughly (about 2 hours) before stringing.
Magazine Jewelry (Family Circle 8-7-78)
Cut triangles from magazine pages, 1" wide at the bottom, tapering to a point at the top, and as long as the magazine page. Roll up strip around a toothpick, starting at the wide end. Dip the point in white glue and smooth into place. Let dry on toothpick while making next bead. String on heavy thread.
Nature Plaque (Family Circle 8-7-78)
Hang a bit of nature on your wall. Take a piece of wood-a two by four or plywood- about 4-8" long and stain it with brown shoe polish. Use polish applicator and cover wood thoroughly; let dry 30 minutes. The wood will absorb some of the polish; wipe off any excess. With white glue, glue on pretty designs with natural objects like seeds, nuts, pine cones and leaves. Allow to dry at least 48 hours. Then bend picture wire into a U-shape and tape to back of wood to hang.
Sock Puppets (Family Circle 8-7-78)
Use a discarded sock, buttons, thread, fabric scraps, yarn and a needle. The toe of the sock is your puppet's face; the long part above the heel makes a skinny body, perfect to slide on your arm. Decide where you want to put the face; then sew on buttons for eyes, red felt or patterened material for mouth and so on. Yarn makes a great mop of hair: green, purple, orange, any color. Cut the length you want and sew to sock (You may want some help with that). Make a tunic style shirt or dress by sewing two pieces of fabric together on the sides and "shoulders". (make sure you leave a hole for your puppte's head to fit through!)
Make your own clay (Family Circle 8-7-78) (Requires Using The Stove)
You can use this clay to make the Clay Candlesticks; or shape it into animals, make jewelry or create abstract designs to display.
Salt and flour clay: Combine 1 cup salt, 1/2 cup flour and 1 cup water in saucepan; heat over low heat until thick and rubbery. Cool on cookie sheet. If dough seems sticky, add a little flour. use right away or store in an airtight container. Once you have made your creation, let it air-dry until it's hard.
Family Totem Poles (Family Circle 8-7-78)
Decorate a cardboard roll (from paper towels) with masks and wings to simulate an ancient totem pole. Or, make one for each member of your family, using shapes that illustrate their favorie things, like baseball or tennis or cooking. Cut shapes from colored paper, decorate with felt tip pens or crayons and glue to roll (holding it vertically).
Flower Paperweight (Family Circle 8-7-78)
Stick a dab of clay onto the inside of baby food jar LID. Press unti it's secure. Poke small dried flowers or weeds into clay. Fill empty jar with water and stir in a few drops of food coloring. Then replace lid TIGHTLY, and turn jar upside down.
Disclaimer: The ideas on these pages were obtained from a notebook that my mom gave me when I had kids. Most of the information in this book was cut from magazines in the 60's and 70's. When possible, I will credit the magazine and published date.
Most of the stuff on these pages require very little parental supervision/intervention. Some of the ideas require using an iron or oven, they are marked clearly (in red). Please supervise your children!!! Groovynet will not be held responsible for any accidents caused by your not watching/helping your kids! Please Be responsible.
Questions? Comments? Email secret.