Tried it and Liked It - Mess-less Finger Painting

Mess-less Finger Painting

As a parent I am always trying to introduce new things to my children. I truly believe we never stop learning. I was surfing the Pinterest and came across this little idea from "hippiehousewife's Blog" and she also credits this idea back to "Mamasmiles Blog". Each taking the idea and making it their very own. I also am taking this one step more.

Mess-less Finger Painting

Items Needed:

1 large gallon storage bag

1 roll of painters tape (I used duct tape but it stuck to the table)

Finger Paint

Instructions to Create:

1) Squirt in a blob of each color into the bag in different areas.

(I used for this experiment, already finger paint that I had on hand)

2) Seal the bag and tape it down on to the table. Hippie Housewife put a white sheet of paper behind it, which I will do next time.

( I used duct tape this time, but the second one I made I used painters tape, much better)

3) Let your child at it.

This craft was a keeper. Thinking of going bigger. Maybe with homemade finger paint, and a painters tarp folded in half. A nice driveway craft on a warm sunny day. Body Painting without the mess.

Ours turned out like this.

And we also took ours and hung up on the window, it was a cold sunny day. We liked to see the sun come through the paint.

This was a craft that was really fun. We learned about mixing colors and enjoyed the squishness of it all.
My favorite part was no mess. Unless your 4 years old decides he must find out what is in the inside, then it is a mess.

Try this and let me know how you liked it.

I thought I would add a recipe for homemade finger paint. Since it is expensive and home made is always the best way.


Home Made Finger Paint

Items Needed; 

 3 tbs sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup corn starch
2 cups of water
food coloring
small containers to put different colors in it

Instructions on Creating:

1) Combine salt, cornstarch, water and cook on low until thickens.

2) Let cool.

3) Pour into containers (we used baby food jars (cause I always make extra to keep)

4) Mix in food coloring.

That Wipe Able Marker and Learning Sheets

I have through the years have raised many children along with my own. I was a constant fan of always learning, worksheets was an all time favorite. At one time when my two oldest were younger I would have at least 5 more in tow of the same age. I couldn't afford to go and buy a workbook for everyone. At that time the computer came to this world and a printer. I loved printing out worksheets. I used the idea of using those clear insert pages for notebooks. The kind you can slip a paper in the pocket and then clip into the notebook. Back when I started this idea, we just used crayons, but then came the invention (or I had just found them) the washable wipe able marker.

Wipe Able Marker and Learning Sheets

You will need:

1) A children's workbook (or go on the Internet and print the ones you like)  

    For older kids you could print word finds, and connect the dots.

2) Clear Page Inserts for Notebooks ( as many as you think you need, remember you can work on both sides.

3) Wipe able marker and an eraser (we use a dry washrag)

To put this together:

1) Insert your pages into the clear sleeves. Then put them into the notebook. You can use it as a book to work from. My son is 4 so he actually does better when I take out one page at a time. 

You write on them.

and then wipe them off

This creates a re-usable surface. I like this saves money, and when you put them in the clear inserts, you can keep them nice.

We have been using these for years and I thought maybe it was time to share.

I hope that if you give it a try that you come back and comment and let me know how it worked.

Thanks again for stopping in.