10 hands-on (non-toxic) craft ideas

We’ve put together a few clever ideas to immerse your children in a creative world of messy play and inventive art. Throw that tidy kitchen table to the wind, and encourage their imagination to take hold.

1. Edible Flubber

What you need:

• 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
• 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
• Food colouring

How to:

1. Pour 1 can of sweetened condensed milk into a saucepan and put on the stove on a low heat.
2. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Continue to stir the mixture on a low heat.
3. Remove the saucepan from the stove once the mixture starts to thicken.
4. Add a few drops of your choice of food colouring to the flubber mixture and stir until the colour is even.
5. Allow the mixture to cool before you play. For best results leave it overnight.
6. Store in an airtight container when not being used.

Be aware that edible flubber can stain light-coloured clothing or surfaces.

2. Puffy Paint

Check out our awesome tutorial on how to make your own puffy paint here!

3. Homemade Giant Bubbles

What you need:

• 6 cups of water
• ½ cup of dish soap
• ½ cup of cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon of baking powder
• 1 tablespoon of glycerin

How to:

1. Using a large dishpan or bucket, mix all the ingredients together, trying to avoid making any bubbles.
2. Let the mixture sit for at least 2 hours. For best results leave the mixture overnight.

This bubble recipe will work best in humid or damp conditions.

4. Bubble Wands

What you need:

• Straws (2 per wand)
• String

How to:

1. Decide how big you want your bubbles to be and measure out the length of string accordingly.
2. Thread two straws onto the length of the string and tie the ends together.
3. To use your bubble wand, hold the straws in either hand and dip the entire thing into the bubble solution. Slowly pull your wand out and blow, or move through the air to create your giant bubbles.

5. Ice Cube Painting

Check out our tutorial on how to make your own ice cube paint here!

6. Homemade Modeling Clay

What you need:

• 2 cups of baking soda
• 1 cup of cornstarch
• 1½ cups of cold water
• Food colouring (optional)

How to:

1. Mix the ingredients together in a large pot.
2. Cook over a medium-high heat continuously stirring. The mixture will begin to bubble and thicken.
3. Keep stirring over heat until you have a consistency that is similar to mashed potatoes.
4. Place the clay into a large bowl and cover with a damp teatowel until cool.
5. Knead the clay until smooth. If the clay is damp, add a small amount of cornstarch and work into the clay.
6. You can divide the clay and add food colouring to make the clay colourful, or you can leave it white for it to be painted once it has been baked.
7. Leave to air dry on a wire rack for two days. Or pre-heat oven on the lowest setting, turn off and then place your clay in the oven for 10-15 minutes.

7. Edible Homemade Finger Paint

What you need:

• ½ cup of cornstarch
• 2¾ cups of cold water
• 1 packet of unflavoured gelatin
• ¼ cup of cold water
• Small jars or containers to store
• Food colouring

How to:

1. In a saucepan, mix the cornstarch with cold water to make a smooth paste. Make sure there are no lumps left in the mixture.
2. Soak the gelatin in ¼ cup of water to soften.
3. Cook the cornstarch mixture over a medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture starts to boil and becomes clear.
4. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir into the gelatin mixture.
5. Leave to cool before dividing into several different jars.
6. Add a different colour to every jar, stirring until you have the desired paint colour.

8. Non-toxic Silly Putty

What you need:

• ½ cup of cornstarch
• ½ large packet of sugar-free gelatin
• Water

Tip: ‘Cool’ colours like green, blue and purple are less likely to stain hands.

How to:

1. Pour cornstarch and gelatin into a medium mixing bowl.
2. Start by adding 2 tablespoons of water to the dry ingredients.
3. Stir until a paste begins to form.
4. Continue to add water slowly until the putty starts to clump together.

If your mixture becomes too runny, add more cornstarch to thicken. If the mixture starts to dry out, add a small amount of water to rehydrate.

9. Sidewalk Chalk Roller Paint

What you need:

• Chalk pieces
• Hammer
• Paint roller and tray
• Water

How to:

1. Place your chalk into a plastic ziplock bag.
2. Use a hammer (or something similar) to break up the chalk. It is best to make the chalk into powder if possible.
3. Put the powdered chalk into the base of the paint roller tray and add water.
4. Take the roller and tray outside and let your little one start rolling.

Note: The chalk goes on looking transparent, but dries much more opaque.

10. Balloon Dart Painting

What you need:

• Small balloons (water balloons can work)
• Balloon pump
• Washable non toxic paint
• Plastic darts
• Thumb tacks
• Large canvas or other painting surface
• Drop cloth or tablecloth to help minimise mess

Tip: This works best as an outdoor activity.

How to:

1. Place your balloon over the mouth of your paint container and squirt a small amount of paint into the balloon.
2. Use your balloon pump to fill your balloons, twist off to tie.
3. In an area outdoors, put down your drop cloth and tape your canvas somewhere that will be low enough for the kids to throw their darts at.
4. Attach the balloons filled with paint to your canvas with thumb tacks, try to spread them across the whole canvas for a full coverage art piece.
5. Now comes the fun part! Throw your darts until all the balloons have popped.

By Makayla Vercoe

Images: Pinterest