Painting with Homemade Puffy Paints

I found this recipe in a toddler art book I got a while back.  It's full of fun recipes for things like playdough, clay, and all sorts of paints.  I really want to try the face paints soon since Ava LOVES having her face painted.  Here is what you need for the puffy paints.

• 1 Tablespoon flour (self rising)
• 1 Tablespoon salt
• Water
• Food coloring

We did four colors (red, yellow, green, and blue) so I got out four small bowls and put a tablespoon of flour in each and then a tablespoon of salt in each and mixed together.  Then I added about 5 drops of each color into it's respective bowl.  Slowly I added water a little at a time mixing until it formed a nice paste.  I'm thinking it seems to work best when it's about the consistency of toothpaste.  We used paintbrushes because that's what the book called for but next time we will use something easier to scoop and smear with.  This worked better in the areas that were thickly painted so maybe Popsicle sticks or baby spoons.  Here is the process...

Flour, salt, food coloring (water not pictured)

 After your child has painted their masterpiece pop it in the microwave for 30-40 seconds (maybe more if the paint is very thick) and it puffs right up.

 This would be really cool for a mountain or volcano scene for a school project.

Also we used cardboard but I think poster board would work well too.  Just something weighted to support the thick paint.

Preschool Fun: DIY Lava Lamp

Ok so this looks like a lava lamp but it doesn't exactly last.  It's something that you will toss when your done but it's a lot of fun to watch.  Ava really liked getting the make it make bubbles.  Plus you most likely already have everything you need to do this right in your house.  No special trip for supplies.  I love when these little projects call for regular household items.

Here is what you will need:

• Water bottle or plastic bottle
• oil (olive, vegetable, canola, etc.)
• water
• food coloring
• alka-seltzer

 The supplies

 Fill the bottle a little more than half full of oil.

 Pour in water leaving about an inch or so of space at the top

 Add in some food coloring...we did about 8 drops of red

 Break up the alka seltzer tabs into 3 or 4 pieces a tab.  We started with one pack but Ava asked for more so I got out another pack.  So four tabs total.

 I would have her wait until each tab stopped making bubbles before she added more.  Sometimes she waited but sometimes she'd sneak another one in :)  Towards the end she just would add and add and add.

 Keeping a close eye on things.

 More alka seltzer

 Then she wanted to add blue which kind of made black but she didn't care.

 She also wanted to touch the bubbles

She keeps asking to do this again so I'm sure we will be repeating again soon.  Maybe I'll get some fun shaped plastic bottles and even try some glitter next time.  Not sure if the glitter will work but it would be fun to try.

Why hello gorgeous

Getting Some Fresh Air

Today is one of those days where it appears to look warm and inviting out but really there is a sharp brisk wind that can't be seen from inside.  Man does it catch you off guard when you walk out the door though.

We decided that all in all for January it was still nice so we took Ava to the park.  It was good for all of us to get some fresh air and Ava really enjoyed getting to climb, slide, and be a kid.  I wish we could have stayed longer than the half hour or so that we were  there but we were all getting pretty cold.

and I owe a photo for this week.  27 weeks and I swear my belly doubled.  I should have worn a maternity shirt today though.  Non-maternity shirts always make my belly look weird.

Well I guess I need to run and figure something out for dinner tonight.  Plus being the third trimester now this sitting around does nothing but make me want to nap.  I'll leave the day time sleeping to the teens because now that I'm a parent it just feels like I'm wasting my day.  Plus Ava says you aren't allowed to sleep unless it's dark out.  Hope everyone has had a good weekend.  I'll be back this week with some activities and maybe some baking or cooking posts too.