ecobites.com

Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

Here we explore the possibilities of using nature for coloring and easy recipes that even the smallest child can help create.

Papier mache is a great way of reusing old newspapers and magazines for older Eco kids. Can be used for piggy banks, bowls, puppets and so on. For puppet heads, tear up the paper and find a mold, paste the bits of paper over it in layers. Smear the mold with soft soap first to prevent sticking.

Organic Play Dough 

Playdough is a nice creative way to spend time together. Roll it, mold and create great works of art.  recipe at this link

Bubble Liquid

Mix 150 ml (5 fl oz) warm water with 375 g (12 oz) soap flakes or shavings.
Add 125 ml (4 fl oz) glycerin. This gives stronger bubbles which can be held lightly in the hand.

Glue

2 heaped teaspoons powdered starch
2 heaped teaspoons cornflour
1/4 teaspoon salt
water

Mix dry ingredients with a little cold water to form a paste.
Add boiling water (according to thickness required).
Stir until clear. This is a very efffective glue.

Flour + Water Paste

This old familiar glue is made by adding enough water to a cup of flour to make a thick paste which will glue paper and cardboard and may be used for papier mache modelling. It goes "off" after a week.

Reuse Cooked Rice  - All-Purpose Paste

Let cooked rice dry out a bit, then put it in a blender and grind it into flour. Mix smoothly in cold water, then simmer until thick. Makes a good all-purpose paste, especially for joining porous materials like cardboard.

Finger Paint

If children get paint on them, no worries, while we don’t suggest drinking a large glass of it, it’s non-toxic and won’t hurt them; barring soap, or juice dye allergies. Juice dyes make terrific colors for finger paints (nice and mellow), and homemade finger paints include soap, which most children will spit out!

12 level tablespoons cornflour
1 cup cold water
4 cups boiling water
2 teaspoons vegetable coloring
1/2 cup soap flakes

Blend the cornflour with the cold water to make a paste.
Have the water boiling rapidly in a saucepan.
Briskly stir in cornflour paste, keeping it free of lumps.
Boil until clear and thick.
Dissolve the vegetable coloring in a little water and add to the cornflour mixture.
Stir in the soap flakes. When cool it is ready for use. Keeps for one week (refrigerated).

Coloring Powdered tempera paint. This powder can be found in craft and art stores. It is a more expensive option than food coloring, but you will then have it on hand to mix paint for other craft projects with the kids. If you buy one each of yellow, red and blue, you have the ability to mix many colors. The amount of powder used depends upon the intensity of the color desired. Start out with a small amount and add more if needed.
Juices from vegetables and fruits. Beet, spinach, carrot, blueberries and other foods that produce an intensely colored juice can be used as a natural alternative to coloring. Add the juice to the water when making playdough. Again, the amount needed depends on the color you wish to achieve.
Beet Juice - Pink, Spinach Juice or Parsley Powder - Green, Carrot Juice or Paprika Powder - Orange, Turmeric Powder - Yellow. Substitute some of the water with apple or carrot juice etc.Juice from 1/4 cup plant dye stuff (such as red and white onion skins, coffee, tea, walnut hulls, fresh berries) and 2 cups water. Simmered together over low heat for an hour and strained, saving the juice --or--Juice from berries such as blueberries,cranberries, blackberries; beets, etc.--or-- Enough turmeric to make a desired yellow.

Place an old sheet, outside and place paper on top and use long handled paint brushes and fling it at the paper for lot's of fun!

We have decorated an old white sheet for a birthday tablecloth using straight beet juice with potato cut outs and the odd small foot and hand print.

Fruit or Vegetable Prints

You have probably already done potato printing but have you tried fruit printing?
You can also use it on little gift cards or decorate pieces of butchers' paper or brown paper to make attractive gift wraps.

You will need

Fruit - apples are easiest, or pears, lemons, oranges
eco-friendly paint and paintbrush
paper or cards. Look for 100% post-consumer waste paper at the store or raid your recycle bin for homemade scraps
knife, and several saucers

Cut the apple (or other fruit) in half, being careful to keep the seeds in their right place. Older children may need to ask an adult for help, to cut cleanly through the apple -- cores can be tough.
Choose a color and pour a little into a suacer.
Spread it around with the brush
Press the cut side of the apple into the paint, you may need to do it several times.
Press onto a piece of spare paper to practise and try out different patterns.
As soon as you feel sure of how to do it start on your cards or wrapping paper.
Dip into the paint after each press.
Put the paper aside to dry.