Danita Pagel Thomas, a kid concoction expert, shows how to make toys out of nearly anything that is lying around the house.
Recycled Candles
Materials:
leftover votive candles
kitchen grater
wicks
small glass jars (baby food jars work great)
Steps:
- Take any votive or taper candle that hasn't burned all the way and grate it down with a kitchen grater. Ideally, grate different colors so that you can create multilayered candles.
- Clean and rinse the small jars and allow to dry. Fill the jar with the candle shavings. Use a different color for each layer, then when the jar is filled, stick the wick directly in the center. This is a great way to extend the life of used candles while creating a new, distinctive candle.
Filter Flowers
Materials:
food coloring (choose three or four colors)
water in small cups
coffee filters
pipe cleaners
Steps:
- Start by adding food coloring to small cups filled with water. Have three or four colors available.
- Fold each coffee filter into a thin strip. You will need three coffee filters to create a single filter flower.
- Dip the filter into a cup of water to dye it. Only dip in around 1/3 of the filter, then flip the filter over and dip into a different color (figure A). Fold the filter and dip a third time to entirely cover the filter. A tie-dye effect is created.
- Unfold the filter and allow to dry.
- When the filters are dry and crisp, stack three filters inside of each other and push them down as far as you can. Pinch the filters together as if you are creating a fan.
- Wrap a pipe cleaner around the base of the filters (figure B), then fluff out the top. Create three filter flowers and place them in a vase to complete the project.
Crepe Paper Dough
Materials:
leftover crepe paper
large bowl filled with water
food coloring
1/4 cup salt
1/2 cup flour
Steps:
- Tear crepe paper into small pieces and soak overnight in water colored with food coloring.
- Remove crepe paper and squeeze out excess water. Place the wet crepe paper in a separate bowl with salt and flour.
- Knead the mixture for several minutes until it becomes doughy. Once doughy, it can be shaped almost anyway a child would like. String together chunks to make a necklace, or place different pieces on a picture frame or clay pot (figure C). This is a fun concoction that the kids will love.
Dryer-Lint Clay
Materials:
3 cups dryer lint
2 cups warm water
2/3 cup wheat flour
Steps:
- In a large pot, stir all ingredients together over low heat.
- Once the mixture becomes gooey, it can be pressed onto practically anything, such as a beverage bottle. The clay will go on gooey but it will dry to a neat, hard finish. Use beads, jewels or other decorations with the clay (figure D).
Resources The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions 2: More Than 65 Wacky, Wild & Crazy Concoctions
by John E. Thomas, Danita Pagel Thomas
Kid Concoctions Company, 2000
Order this title from Amazon.com.
The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions: More Than 65 Wacky, Wild & Crazy Concoctions
by John E. Thomas, Danita Pagel Thomas
Kid Concoctions Company, 1998
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Guests Danita Pagel Thomas
Author / Co-Owner, The Kid Concoctions Company
18283 Glen Cairn Way
Strongsville, OH 44136
Toll Free Phone: 800-321-9236
Email:
cstoll@fitnessquest.com
URL:
www.kidconcoctions.com
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