Art and Sensory Recipes!

Sand Paint

paint, glue, sand

Mix equal parts paint and glue, fold sand into mixture

Soap Dough

3 cups of soap flakes (or grated soap bar), 1 1/2 cup of water

Mix together for some clean fun!

Extra Bright Paint

2 cups dry paint, 1 cup liquid soap (clear/white), 1 cup liquid starch

Mix paint and soap together, then add liquid starch

Flour Paint

Flour, liquid paint, water

Combine equal parts of flour and paint. Add drops of water until it achieves desired consistency.

Sculpting Foam

1 cup shaving cream (non-menthol), 1/2 cup of white glue, paint, gliter

Sandy Dough

2 cups of sand, 1 cup of cornstarch, 1 1/2c of water

Mix all of the ingredients over medium heat and knead until dough-like

Salt Dough

2 cups of salt, 1 cup of cornstarch, 1 cup of water, food coloring of choice

Mix all ingredients over medium heat until it pulls away from the sides and gathers in a ball. Knead until  soft and pliable.

Puff Fingerpaint

2 tsp paint, 1/3 cup of glue, 2 cups of shaving cream (non-menthol)

Combine paint and glue. Fold shaving cream and blend together. Use immediately.

Textured Fingerpaint

1 cup of flour, 2 tbsp liquid soap, 2/3 cup of water, food coloring of choice

Clay Dough

1 cup of cornstarch, 2 cups of baking soda, 1 1/2 cups of water, food coloring of choice

Mix cornstarch, baking soda, water and food coloring in a sauce pan over medium heat. Knead until it has a dough-like consistency.

Oatmeal Fingerpaint

white glue, liquid paint, oatmeal

Combine equal parts of glue and paint; add oatmeal

Cornmeal Fingerpaint

Cornmeal, paint, glue

One part cornmeal, one part paint, one-half part glue

Frosty Glaze

3tsp liquid starch, 4 tsp salt

Whipped Paint

1 cup soap flakes, 1/2 cup of water

Combine with hand mixer, use immediately

Sweet Milk Paint

sweetened condensed milk, food coloring

Oobleck

1 1/2 cup Corn Starch, 1 cup Water, Food Coloring

 

Oobleck Squirting

Dump cornstarch into a tub and allow the children to squirt colored water onto the piles of cornstarch. As the water adds up, it turns into oobleck.

  

Sparkle Paint

3 cups flour, 3 cups salt, 3 cups water, food coloring

Flubber

5 tablespoons of liquid starch, 2 cups of glue, 1 1/2 cups of water to mix with the glue, additional 1 cup of hot water to mix with the liquid starch, food coloring

Mix 2 cups of glue and 1 1/2 cup of water in a big bowl. Add color if desired and stir. In the extra cup of hot water, dissolve 5 tbs of liquid starch. Stir well. After it is dissolved, our the liquid starch mixture slowly into the glue and warm mixture. Mix with your hands or a sturdy wooden spoon.

Play Dough

3 cups flour, 1 1/2 cups of salt, 3 cup of water, food coloring, 5 tablespoons of oil, 6 tsp cream of tartar (double the recipe for a large group)

Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl by hand, or with an electric hand mixer. Pour the dough mixture into the pan on the stove over medium heat, stirring constantly. Take out of pan and knead. When cool, store in an airtight container or ziploc.

*Use coffee or drink mix to make it smell yummy!

Coffee Sand

4 cups dried, used coffee grounds, 2 cups cornmeal 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup salt

Dry out the used coffee grounds by placing them in a big pan or cookie sheet, and putting them over low heat for about an hour. Mix all the ingredients together n your sensory tub.

Rainbow Stew

4-6 cups of cornstarch, 1 cup sugar, 12 cups water, saucepan and wooden spoon, plastic containers and Ziploc bags, food coloring.

In a saucepan, mix water and sugar. Slowly add the cornstarch one cup at a time, still stirring. The reaction of the ingredients takes time. When the mixture begins to look like creamy mashed potatoes, turn off the heat and divide the stew into separate bowls. Add color while it is still warm and then allow it to cool. If you are making it for the next day, it it into the fridge over night. To use it, scoop spoonfuls of the colored stew into Ziploc bags and let the kids squish!

Papier-Mâché

2 cups cold water, 1 ½ to 1 ¾ cups of flour, Newspaper, cut or torn into strips

Mix water and flour in a large bowl with a wire whisk until smooth.  Mixture should be the consistency of heavy cream. Coat your mold (such as a inflated balloon) with one layer of the newspaper strips that have been dipped in water.  Then dip strips into flour mixture and lay over the first layer until mold is well coated.  Allow to dry completely until your mold is hard.  If desired, add another layer of newspaper strips that have been dipped in the flour mixture and allow to dry.  Paint over the strips in any design or color of your choice.

Applesauce Cinnamon Dough

½ cup cinnamon, ½ cup applesauce (not chunky), 1/4 glue

Scratch and Sniff Watercolors
1 tbs unsweetened powdered drink mix, 1 tbs. warm water

Paper Clay
1 cups construction paper scraps (sorted by color), 4 1/2 cups of water, 1/2 cup flour

Tear construction paper into small pieces. Pour water and paper scraps into a blender. Blend 20 seconds or until it turns pulpy. Drain and squeeze excess water out of the mixture. Mix flour and the remaining 1/2 cup of water in a small bowl until blended. Slowly add the flour  mixture to the paper pulp. Knead until it forms a dough. Let finished product dry 1-2 days.

Tattoo Paint
1 tbs cold cream, 2 tbs cornstarch, 1 tbs water, food coloring

Fruity Lip Gloss (not really art, but fun!)
2 tbs solid shortening, 1 tbs fruit-flavored powdered drink mix

Mix shortening and drink mix together in a small microwave-safe container until smooth. Place container in the microwave on high for 30 seconds until mixture becomes a liquid. Pour the mixture into a small container. Place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes or until firm.


Wood Dough
1 cup clean, well-sifted sawdust
1/2 cup of flour
1 tbs liquid starch
1 cup of water


Mix ingredients together in a bowl until a stiff dough is formed. Add extra water in case the dough is too dry. Allow the Wood Dough to dry for 2-3days. Sand paper can be used to smooth the wood dough after it is completely dry. Finished pieces can be painted or stained with a mixture of food coloring and water (6 drops of food coloring to 1 tbs of water)


Cotton Clay
3 cups cotton balls, 2 cups water, 2/3 cup flour, 5-7 drops food coloring

Tear cotton balls apart into small pieces. Mix water and cotton together in a medium saucepan. Slowly stir in the flour. Continue stirring and cook over low heat for 5-7 minutes until the mixture begins to stiffen. Remove saucepan from heat and place the Cotton Clay on a thick cloth towel or several layers of paper towels to cool. Allow finished products to dry for a day.


Jewel and Gem Goop
1/2 cup of white glue, 2 cups of rock salt, 6-8 drops of food coloring

Mix rock salt and food coloring together. Add glue and continue mixing for 2-3 minutes. Mold and sculpt the goop and place on a piece of cardboard to dry. 


Crafty Clay (good for beads and small figurines)
1 cup cornstarch, 1 1/4 cups cold water, 2 cups baking soda

Combine cornstarch and baking soda in a small sauce pan. Add water and stir until the mixture is smooth. Heat mixture for 5 minutes over medium heat. Stir until it begins to thicken and turn to dough. Remove from saucepan and allow it to cool. Knead dough 2-3 minutes. Let finished creation air-dry until hard.



Out of Glue?
3/4 cup water, 2 tbs corn syrup, 1 tbs white vinegar, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 3/4 cup ice cold water. 


Mix water, corn syrup and vinegar together in a small saucepan until smooth. Heat the mixture over medium heat until it reaches a rolling boil. In a small bowl mix cornstarch and cold water together. Slowly add this mixture to the first mixture. Stir well. Allow glue to cool. Let the glue set overnight before using.

Soapy Stretchy Playdough:
4 Tvs salt, 1/2 c. liquid starch, 1 c. liquid dish soap, 2 c. cornmeal., 1/2 glue, 1/2 c. cornmeal


Mix together 4 tbs salt, 1/2 c. liquid starch, 1 c. liquid dish soap, 2 c. cornmeal. Slowly add 1/2 c. glue and 1/2 c. cornmeal.

Pinch those Pennies: 50 Tips to Be Frugal!

Here are 50 ways to help you save some money. Now I don't know if all of these actually work for I have not tried them all. And some things that work for other people may not work for you.

General:

1. Make a goal chart and as you save the amount of money or pay off debts, mark them off and reward yourself.  (Ex:  we can’t get that camera until our car is paid off).  The expense of the camera is minor compared to the interest I’ll save by paying off debts early.
2. We do the “packets” budgeting system.  All spending money we take out at the beginning of each month.  We then pay for everything with that cash, when it is gone there is no more till the next month.  This budgeting method works for us, find one that works for you!
3. Wait for a minimum of 24 hours before purchasing any pricey item.  Oh, and see if you can find something comparable used first!
4. If something breaks try to fix it or do without before going out and purchasing a replacement.  Try not to hire someone to fix things, rather swap services (see craig’s list).
5. To curb impulse buys, create a 30-day list. When you want to buy something, other than a true necessity (medicine or food, for example), put it on this list, with the date you added it to the list. And make it a rule that you can’t buy anything for at least 30 days after you put it on the list. And stick to it. You’ll find that you buy a lot less with this system.
6. Surround yourself with “frugal-minded” folk.  If you don’t have any friends who are willing to make a frugal journey with you try looking online, Frugal Village is a great network, and One Income Dollar and the Prudent Housewife are both great inspirational blogs.  it is easier to save when you are not surrounded by spend-happy folks.

Grocery:

7. Use a price sheet so that you can know if a “sale” is really a bargain or if you can find it cheaper elsewhere.
8. Buy meat that is on Manager Special (expiring that day or shortly after).  Cook that day and eat/freeze.
9. Mix ground beef with an egg and several handfuls of quick oats (makes the meat go farther).  Use in meatballs, meat loaf, etc.
10. Bake your own bread – let the yeast sit in sugar water till it smells fermented and use half the yeast (the most expensive ingredient in bread).
11. If you are big milk drinkers, buy whole milk and a box of dry milk and make your own mock-2% milk by mixing half whole, half non-fat dry reconstituted milk.  You have two gallons for a fraction of the cost.
12. Go meatless 1-2 nights a week.  You can substitute dry beans.  They are VERY cheap and filling.
13. Meal plan and coordinate so that leftovers can be utilized fully, yet keeping variety.  (Ex: Tacos day one, use left over taco meat day 2 for stuffed peppers)
14. Try to stretch as much time between shopping trips.  The fewer times you go shopping, the fewer chances you have to “impulse buy”.
15. ONLY shop from a list.  If it is not on the list DO NOT BUY IT.  It is best to make a check off inventory list of all things you could need and highlight what you’re out or low on.
16. Eat something small before you go.  It is harder to resist the temptation to over buy when you have an empty tummy.
17. Keep your change (dollar bills and coins) use this as your “fun fund”
18. Buy generic – many times this is considerably less than the alternative even if you have coupons.
19. Use coupons if you prefer something name brand and only if you buy that item regularly.  Also, ask if your grocery shop has “double days”.
20. Rather than buy a newspaper for the coupons, go to your library, usually they do not mind allowing you to clip the coupons you need… and your kids can attend story time at the same time!  OR you can go to this site for free grocery coupons and print the coupons you need online!

Household:

21. Wash your dishes by hand… I have a hard time with this one, I know it saves water/energy, but I love the convenience of my dishwasher!
22. Wash clothes in warm water and only if you have a full load to do.  Dry your clothes on the line and if you don’t like the “crunchy” feel, stick them in the dryer for 5 min with a wet rag after they’ve hung out.
23. Wash your clothes inside out so they will look nicer longer… and only wash if something is truly dirty.
24. If you like fabric softener, put some on a towel and throw it in with the dryer.  A quarter size “spill” on the towel can do about 3 loads – a great way to save softener!  Also, to make your detergent go farther, add a tablespoon of baking soda to the load and use half the detergent.  Baking soda is a soap booster and is cheaper than Arm&Hammer.
25. In the winter, use your dryer and stove during the early evening to help heat your home.  In the summer, use them in the very early morning (or not at all) to help keep your home cool.
26. Cook all your meals for a 2-week period (esp. in the summer) so that your oven only has to do the work one time for multiple meals.  Keep meals in the freezer and re-heat with the microwave – uses less energy, and you save time.  Also, having home-cooked freezer meals cut down on the tendency to order take-out when you’re having an exceptionally busy day.   It is possible to do this with a refrigerator’s freezer.
27. In the summer take a cold bath/wash rag to help you feel cool before bed, and keep the thermostat as high as possible or the A/C off if possible (we live in TX – its not possible).  Each degree change can save up to 3% on your energy costs!
28. In a room that has a tendency to be dark, put a mirror near the light to refract the light around the room.  One light bulb has the power of two with this trick!
29. Unplug items (toaster, shaver, cell phone charger, TV) when not in use.  Small amounts of electricity are still being used even if they are off, but plugged in.
30. Use Craig’s List to purchase used items (furniture, etc.) or freecycle or go to garage sales.  We’ve even gotten a number of items from the curb on trash day!
31. Buy paint from the “oops” counter at Home Depot or Lowes.  Also, if the color of your walls allows, add a faux finish over the existing color.  This uses a lot less paint and allows you to spruce up more rooms at a fraction of the cost.
32. Cut your cell-phone or house phone, you don’t need both.  If possible, become a single-phone family.  For long distance, calling cards are great!  You can usually find cards with under 2 cents a min!  Pay-as-you-go cell phone plans are great if you are not a big phone user.
33. Make your own household cleaners.  Vinegar, baking soda, Hydrogen peroxide, borax & bleach are all really cheap and you can make any and every household cleaner from laundry detergent to the equivalents of Windex and Comet from mixtures of those ingredients.
34. Check your insurance.  We were able to save $600 a year when we switched companies, combined our house and auto onto the same plan, and added $500 to our deductible.
35. Get a programmable thermostat for your household heat and water heater.  You can turn the temps down an hour or two after you go to bed, or during the warmer times of the day, or the times when you typically don’t use your hot water.  No reason to heat what is not being used!

Personal:

36. Get a buzzer and cut your hubby’s hair… if possible, have a friend cut your’s… Also, longer hairstyles do not need to be maintained as frequently as shorter ones.
37. Buy clothes for your kids used – they grow out of them so fast new is not worth it!  And used usually look just as good!
38. Limit the number of toys your children are able to have in the house.  This will lower the clutter, increase the value of the toys you currently own, increase your children’s creativity as they learn to play with less, and also will decrease spending on toys.
39. Try home remedies before Doctor visits.  Those co-pays can add up and its amazing how a humidifier, Vitamin C & some good ole’ rest will make the bugs go away!
40. Make gifts for holidays and birthdays, often these mean more than ones purchased at the store as they show you put time and effort into the recipient.
41. Make your own personal hygiene products (or do without).  Kimberly has a great blog documenting her withdrawl from her addiction to shampooing.
42. Cloth diaper your kiddos.  If you use this cloth diapering method your whole stash can cost less than a hundred dollars and can potentially be handed down to future kiddos.  Cloth diapering also encourages early potty-training!
43. Make your own baby food by pureeing what the rest of the family is eating, or you can use dehydrated and powdered veggies – if you like the convenience of those pricey jars.

Entertainment:

44. Eat out rarely if ever!  If you do eat out, only drink water.  Also, check your newspapers for discounts and grand openings; you can usually get more for your buck then.
45. Invite people over to your home rather than meeting them at a restaurant.  You’ll have more time to chat and if you plan your meal well, will save a bundle too!
46. Get movies for your Friday night from the library rather than Blockbuster or netflix.  They are usually free!  Also check out Hulu.  They have a number of TV shows online for free!
47. Either eliminate or see if you can combine any of the following: Internet, Television, Long-Distance, Cell Phones – We found that a calling card saves us tons on what would have been a long distance phone bill, and we get the TV shows we want through online streaming for free.
48. Set-up a baby-sitting swap with a friend who has children.  You’ll save money and know that someone “experienced” is watching your kids.
49. Find dates that are more events than just “going out to eat”.  These can sometimes save your budget and are usually more memorable.
50. See if you are near a Bass Pro shop or Cabella’s.  We take our kids there instead of the zoo.  It’s free to walk around and the stuffed animals don’t move so you actually get to see them!  Call ahead of time and be there for the fish feeding.

How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

In the spirit of Laura Ingalls, with wash day being Monday, here's a little recipe for homemade laundry detergent you can use tomorrow, Monday!

wash on Monday
iron on Tuesday
mend on Wednesday
churn on Thursday
clean on Friday
bake on Saturday
rest on Sunday

from Little House in the Big Woods


* I use these utensils for detergent making only. They all stay in the pot until I make a new batch.

You will need:

1 bar of soap (any kind you want)
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of washing soda
a big pot ( that holds more than 2 gallons)
a grater
a funnel
a long spoon
2 empty gallon jugs/containers



Grate your bar of soap into your pot.


Fill one gallon jug and pour water into pot with grated soap. Cook until the grated soap dissolves.


Add the Borax and washing soda.


Bring to a boil. It will coagulate.


Turn off the heat. Add 1 gallon of cold water. Stir well.


Pour 1 gallon of your detergent into each container.


A funnel helps tremendously.


Now you have 2 gallons of homemade laundry detergent. I use 1/2 cup per load. With the prices of detergent being outrageous, I feel really happy every time I make a batch of this.

This won't make many, if any, suds. Suds don't equal clean. It took a while to get that into my head. This detergent cleans wonderfully!

Let me know if you make any or if you have any questions.

Happy washing!