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New items Music and books Activities for kids About our store Driving directions Our favorite links Home		Soap sud paint Stained-glass pencil holders Bubbles Play clay Bake-dry clay 3-D paint Volcano Suet bell
		Soap sud paint
			You will need 1/2 cup dry detergent, or 1 capful liquid detergent   2 T liquid starch brown wrapping paper poster paints or food coloring an egg beater a mixing bowl an old newspaper a spoon     Instructions Beat the detergent and the liquid starch with an egg beater in a mixing bowl until it is the consistency of thick frosting.   Put the mixture into different jars, add a few drops of food coloring, and stir.   Lay down the newspaper to work on. Use the paint like finger paints on the brown paper.   If the soapsuds thicken, add a little more starch and beat with a spoon.   Be careful to allow plenty of time to dry.
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		Stained-glass pencil holders
			You will need one clean jar (spaghetti jars work well) colored tissue paper white children's craft glue     Instructions Put about 4 large teaspoons of water into a bowl and add 3 large teaspoons of white glue. Stir until it is well mixed.   Rip the tissue paper into squares (about an inch wide).   Dip a tissue square into the glue mixture; then place the square onto the jar. Repeat until the jar is covered.   You can get neat effects where the tissue squares overlap and the colors combine.   Tip: If you don't have colored tissue paper, you can use regular tissue and mix food coloring with the glue/water solution.   Variations: For a glitzy effect, sprikle glitter on the finished product. You can also use bottles to make vases.
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		Bubbles
			Ingredients 5 cups cold water 1 1/2 cups clear liquid dish soap 2 oz. glycerin or 1/2 cup corn syrup     Instructions Mix all ingredients together. Let age 24 hours for best results.
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		Play clay
			Ingredients 1/2 cup salt 1/2 cup hot water 1/4 cup cold water 1/2 cup corn starch     Instructions In pan, mix salt and hot water. Bring to a boil.   Stir cold water and corn starch in small bowl. Add cornstarch mixture to boiling water, stirring to break up lumps.   Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture is as stiff as pie dough. Then remove from heat and let cool on cutting board.   When clay cools enough to handle, divide and add food coloring, if desired. Knead until dough is smooth and pliable and color is mixed evenly. Store in airtight container.   Note: After air drying, this clay can be painted.
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		Bake-dry clay
			Ingredients 2 cups flour 1 cup salt 1 cup cold water food coloring (optional)     Instructions Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Knead until smooth.   Bake your creations on an ungreased cookie sheet at 275 F for one hour or more.
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		3-D paint
			Ingredients 1/4 cup flour 1/4 cup salt 1/4 cup water 2 Tbs powder or liquid tempera paint     Instructions Mix all ingredients together in a plastic squeeze bottle or resealable plastic bag (cut corner when ready to use).   Note: This paint is for temporary projects or goofing around. It will flake off after drying.
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		Volcano
			Ingredients A base such as a styrofoam meat tray from the grocery store A birthday party hat (the cone shaped type) An old film canister Plaster of paris gauze strips or paper mache Baking soda Vinegar, dyed with red food coloring     Instructions Put your base on the table or work surface.   Snip a hole in the top of the party hat large enough for the film canister to fit in but not fall through.   Set the hat on the base. Set the film canister in the hole you cut in the hat so that it forms a well.   Cover the hat and base with the plaster of paris or paper mache but don't cover the opening of the film canister. Make bumps and river beds on the side of the volcano.   After your volcano is dry, decorate it with paint, sticks, rocks, cotton balls, etc. Dry completely.   To erupt your volcano, put a tablespoon (give or take) of baking soda into the top of the volcano. With a toothpick or pencil, poke some holes in the baking soda. Pour the red vinegar into the top of the volcano.   Your volcano should now erupt. To repeat the eruption, just add more baking soda and more vinegar. You can do this over and over again. Have fun!
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		Suet bell (This recipe is for the birds!)
			Ingredients 1 empty yogurt container 1 pound of filler About 1/2 pound of fat   Look for filler in the house or yard. Bits of seeds, dried fruit, cake, cookie crumbs, and cheese make great filler. Fat can be from any source such as bacon, roasts, or lard.     Instructions Poke a hole in the bottom of the yogurt container and stick a piece of wire or tie string through the hole.   Melt the fat in a heavy saucepan (parental help is encouraged here) and add the filler. Mix well.   Let the mixture cool slightly before pouring it into the yogurt container. Make sure your wire or string is outside the container so you can hang your bell when it is done.   Remove the container when the fat has hardened and hang your suet bell on a branch outside. Bon Appetit!
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		& Copyright 1999-2007 by The Play House Toy Store. All rights reserved.   Send comments about this web page to Pam Crigler at pam@playhousetoys.com   http://www.playhousetoys.com/activities.html Date of last update: May 5, 2007