F R O M    T H E    E X P E R T S

Magical Mixes - Easy and Fun

Bubble Solution

• 1 cup water

• 4 tbsp. clear dish detergent (Joy is great!)

• 2 tbsp. clear syrup (corn syrup like Karo works well

Mix ingredients together. Use straws to blow bubbles.

Colored Rice or Noodles
Noodles and Rice are one ingredients that's easy to find in almost any country. This recipe yields brightly colored rice for use in any craft project.

• 1 cup white rice (also works with pasta)
• 1 tsp. rubbing alcohol
• food coloring

Mix a few drops of food coloring with alcohol. Put rice in seal able container. Pour liquid mixture over rice and shake until color is evenly distributed. Spread colored rice in a thin layer to dry. Store rice in dry air-tight container.

Colored Rice
An alternative to coloring--especially helpful for tactile learners

• fine sand
• dry tempera paints

Mix sand with dry tempera paints until sand reaches desired color. Store in a reseal able container.

Using fingers, toothpicks, or paintbrushes, kids can lightly coat an area with glue. They may then sprinkle the area with colored sand, shaking the paper gently to equally distribute sand, then returning excess to container. This is a fun alternative to traditional coloring.

Flubber
Mix together in one bowl

• 1 cup white glue
• 3/4 cup warm water
• green food coloring (or whatever color you want)

Mix together in a second bowl

• 2 tsp. Borax
• 1/2 cup warm water

After both mixtures have been well-mixed, mix both together in one large bowl. Do not stir. Just reach in and pull out the glob of "flubber." Need glob for a few minutes. Store in air-tight container.

Salt Glitter

Want to use glitter in a project, but can't find the stuff anywhere? No problem! This easy-to-make (and inexpensive) recipe offers a great substitute!

• 1/2 cup salt
• 5-8 drops food coloring

Mix salt with food coloring, adding one drop of coloring at a time until desired color is reached. Spread colored salt in a thin layer to air dry or microwave 1-2 minutes until moisture is evaporated.

If food coloring is not available, you may use watercolors (the more concentrated, the better), but you'll need to allow for longer drying times.

Store your dried salt glitter in a salt shaker! This makes the glitter easy for students to use while limiting the mess.

Silly Putty

• 1 cup white glue
• food coloring
• 2 drops oil of cloves
• approximately 1/2 cup liquid starch

Mix glue with a few drops of food coloring until desired color is achieved. (Pastels work best; it's almost impossible to get brighter colors.) Stir in oil of cloves. Then begin adding liquid starch. Continue stirring in starch until mixture reaches a shapeable, stretchable consistency. You may need slightly less or more than one cup of starch, depending on humidity. Store in an airtight container.

Soap Crayons

• 1 cup Ivory Snow
• 2 Tbsp. hot water
• liquid food coloring

Mix soap flakes with hot water. The mixture will be very stiff. Divide dough into four or five balls. Add a different color to each, adding a few drops of food coloring at a time until it becomes a rich, thick paste. Press into small paper cups or other molds and allow to dry for at least a week. After "crayons" harden, remove from molds and allow to dry at least another week before use.

Soap Foam

• 6 tbsp. liquid starch
• 1 cup soap powder (A mild laundry detergent works well.)
• liquid food coloring or dry tempera paints

Whip all ingredients with a mixer. Plan to make a separate recipe for each color. Foam may be stored briefly in an air-tight container. (It deflates over time, but may be resurrected at least a couple of times by whipping again.)