Crafts and Marbles from Germany!

My high school BFF, Jenn, has a beautifully delicious daughter named Emma. She lives in Germany and I miss her lots! She has tons of great ideas and is super crafty. Here are just a few of her fun and creative activities.

She also has a great blog you all should check out.

http://latofrankfurt.blogspot.com/

Right now, my daughter is still in the age where she's pretty easy to please. However she hangs with a somewhat older crowd (2-3 year olds!), so I always need a few things up my sleeve to make the day a pleasurable one for all! Summer in Europe doesn't guarantee you good weather, therefore you always have to have some things in your bag-o-tricks that can be done in both the outdoors and in. Most of things things are just that, but of course I always recommend doing art projects outdoors for more fun AND EASIER CLEANUP!!

Marble Painting:

You will need:

Marbles (dependant upon how many paint colors you use), paint, paper, and a box (that the paper fits into) with some height on it to keep the marbles contained.

Place the marbles in your paint containers (we use old baby food jars - plastic cups work great, too), and the paper on the bottom of the box.

Then, just get the marbles out of the containers (we use old baby food spoons - again, plastic works fine) and just toss into the box and ROLL; ROLL; ROLL!!

One color at a time seems to work better than all at once.

Once they are done you can hang them clothesline style to dry and have them sign their names. One of the mothers even framed hers and it looked fabulous!

Paper Mache ANYTHING:

You can make and do just about anything with paper mache. You can make a pinata, or a mask, or just something to have fun with!

You will need:

Balloons, starch, water, newspaper cut into strips, paints.

You can look up exact instructions on the internet, but you basicall blow a balloon up to whatever size you want for what you are doing, then take the newspaperstrips and dunk them into your starch-water mixture and place on the balloon. OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Let it dry, and then you can pop the balloon with a needle, and use scissors or a utility knife to cut an opening (for a pinata), or mouth-eye-nose holes (for a mask).

Then paint!

It's alot of fun, and produces great results!

Non-Toxic, Homemade Paint:

You will need:

Flour, Water, Food Coloring

This is so simple!!

Equal parts Flour and Water, and then use the back of the Food Coloring box to make your own Signature colors!

Note: this consistency is more like acrylic, in that it needs longer to completely dry but will have a really nice texture to it!

Thanks love! I have never heard of the Marble Painting before and I am for sure going to try that with my kiddos!

Miss you!