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Homemade Finger Paints

posted by Annie B. Bond Jan 15, 1999 1:18 am
Homemade Finger Paints
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Ever see a child use finger paints and not put their colorful, gooey fingers
in their mouths? Protect their health and let them have fun using this
homemade finger paint recipe that is free of synthetic dyes and pigments.

  • 1 c. cornstarch
  • 1/2 c. water
  • 1/3 cup soap flakes melted with 1/2 cup boiling water
  • juice dyes (see below)

Make your own soap flakes by grating a bar of homemade hand soap
(available in your health food store) until you have 1/3 of a cup of soap
flakes.

Combine the cornstarch, water, and melted soap in a bowl. Stir to blend. Let
the mixture set until it has become thick. Divide into separate bowls and
stir in juice dyes for color.

How to Make Juice Dyes

  • One or more of the following: frozen berries, canned beets, or 1/2 cup plant
    material (blueberries, beets, walnut hulls, cranberries, tea).
  • Water as needed.
  • Use the juice straight from thawed berries, or juice drained from canned
    beets. Mix colors for hue variations. If using fresh berries, fruit, walnut
    hulls, or tea, combine the plant material with 1 cup of water in a pan and
    simmer over low heat for 1/2 hour or so, adding more water as it evaporates.
More on Crafts & Hobbies (63 articles available)
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3 Comments       add a comment »
Brandi F.

Will the soap flakes hurt the child if they stick their hands in their mouth?

Mary Kloss

Thank you, thank you for this recipe. I was hoping to find it at the care2 site where I always find safer solutions to what I am looking for.

Rebecca W.

So excited to try this!

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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