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.