Holly's Arts & Crafts Corner

Hello. This is Holly again. We're back with today's installment of preschool activities to occupy and enhance young, growing minds. ;-) (please read that with a hint of sarcasm.)

We have two activities for you today: making bathtub paint and paper towel watercolor painting.

Homemade Bathtub Paints (brought to you by Partners Preschool)

Items Needed:
Corn Starch
Liquid Hand soap
Food Coloring
Small Container with lid



Step 1: We used an empty plastic rectangular baby food container with a lid. Place 2 tablespoons of corn starch into the container.

Step 2: Then add 1/3 cup of liquid soap. Mix ingredients together.


Step 3: Add a couple drops of food coloring and stir again. You're all set to start painting in the bathtub.

Hint: The only thing you have to remember is that the hand soap will probably hurt if they get it in their eyes. I bet you could use Johnson's baby shampoo or something similar that might be less of an eye irritant. You can also use two different food colors to teach them about mixing colors to make new colors.

Paper Towel Watercolor Painting (brought to you by the Science Museum of Minnesota)

Items Needed:
Paper towel cut into four pieces
Full-size sheet of paper towel
Water-soluable Markers (such as Crayola washable markers)
small bowl of water
small glass or plastic cup
pencil with a nice eraser

Step 1: Draw a design on one of the small pieces of paper towel with the washable markers. The volunteer at the museum suggested a small circle with another circle around it. Of course use creativity here in making anything you want. :-)


Step 2: Once your image is drawn, place the piece of towel on top of the small glass or plastic cup.






Step 3: They used a pencil eraser at the museum but we used the end of a marker at home and it worked just as well. Dip the eraser/marker end in small amount of water (you don't want too much water on the tip) and touch it to the color on the paper towel.


Step 4: Watch as the water and ink spread out to make a new picture. It gives your artwork a tie-dye or watercolor look. You can move your artwork around the top of the cup to make sure you get all the marker wet. Remember, you don't need to add too much water, and you can wait between adding the water to see how far the water will travel on the paper towel.

Step 5: Place your artwork on top of a full-size piece of paper towel to dry and absorb any ink that might transfer through.

Hint: I think you use the cup when adding the water to the artwork so that the water will properly spread on the towel. If you leave the artwork on the counter top when adding water, it might pool underneath and you just end up with wet paper towel and it doesn't spread as nice.


Ella's masterpieces (a butterfly & the pictures she made at the museum)

I've added a new feature to the blog sidebar. I've started to label my arts and crafts projects. That way if some of you decide to try them out at a later date, you can easily find the post you're looking for!

Enjoy!