It’s Christmas Eve. If you have small children, I’m sure your nerves are frayed with their over-excitement. We’re having enough trouble dealing with just Rusty today, and he’s over thirty.
Why not whip up this quick distraction tool (from Easie Peasie, what a great name) for the young (and old) to keep them busy for a while. It’s worth the mess, I think.
In a small saucepan, combine 3 tablespoons sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup corn starch, and 2 cups water.
Heat, whisking often, until the mixture starts to thicken. It happens all at once, so make sure you’re paying attention.
BAM.
If you keep going it will turn into plastic, so make sure it’s still stir-able when you take it off the heat.
Remove from the heat and pour it into individual containers.
Use food colouring to create the desired colours.
Stir those colours in well. Make sure you scrape the bottom and sides to get it all mixed in.
I went with the classic rainbow.
Keep the paints sealed and out of direct sunlight. Give them a bit of a stir before using, because there will be a bit of a dry skin on top.
When I was young my dad refinished our back room, where the laundry machines were, and the door to the backyard. While it was empty, my mother chucked in a huge roll of craft paper and a pile of finger paints and I would spend hours back there, making a mess. I’m handing these (along with a roll of craft paper) over to the Incredibly Little Hulk and Il Principe when they get back from Kansas so I’m sure I will be soon seeing some very painty little boys.
This is freakin’ amazing. I’m going to skip Christmas and play with finger paints.
LikeLike
That’s my plan.
LikeLike
Merry Christmas! Thanks for all the fun ideas!
LikeLike
Merry Christmas to you too Nancy! Plenty more to come!
LikeLike
These look awesome. Now all I need is a longer vacation 😛
LikeLike
I have a 19 month old, are these safe to eat? Lol he sticks everything in his mouth 😉
LikeLike
Totally safe, though they won’t taste very good! 😛
LikeLike
Awesome! Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
these are awesome! any idea how long they keep before getting crustycrunchy?
LikeLike
You know, I’m not even sure! I gave them away as soon as I made them, but I would assume that if you kept them sealed tightly and stirred them before use they’d last you a couple of weeks at least.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Jada-The NannyKnowItAll and commented:
Will be trying this when i resume back to work!
LikeLike
I absolutely love this idea! Thank you for posting!
– Allie, aupairody.wordpress.com
LikeLike
Reblogged this on hansolchew.
LikeLike