Frugal Fingerpaint Fun

Ava was really bored this afternoon and we hadn't really done anything fun all weekend, so I decided to make her some fingerpaint. This was a wonderfully fun craft activity for us to do together. You can tell from the photos below that it was a huge hit!

Her "art smock" is one of the thrift store pillowcases with some rudimentary holes cut in it. I got her involved in each step; Mixing the paint, putting in the colour, making the smock, laying out the papers etc. All up it kept her occupied for about 40 minutes which is impressive for an activity that doesn't involve a TV.

Now credit where credit is due, the recipe for the paint (and the title for this post) comes from this amazing website I belong to called www.cheapskates.com.au
It is well worth paying the fee to belong. I've saved so much more than what it has cost in the past year. There is also a blog. I wasn't sure about posting the recipe, but a quick Google search revealed it is no secret, so here it is:

Mix 1/2 cup cornflour with 3 tablespoons of sugar in a saucepan. Add two cups of cold water and stir over low heat constantly until it sets into a thick goop. Have a little patience. Mix in food colourings in separate containers. You can also add a detergent at this stage to prevent staining but only if you are sure your little one won't eat it.

I mentioned making a new outfit for Ava last night. Well it is almost finished, just needs neatening and hemming. But it is Sunday night and then means clearing everything away, reclaiming my work desk and getting ready for another week.