Recipes for Art
A collection of preschool recipes for art. Many of the recipes have video to explain the process and go with units, lesson plans and pre k themes.

Sandy Clay
Perfect for your vacation, beach and summer themes. The clay resembles wet sand and is perfect for molding. If you leave the dough out to air dry for two days, you can paint it. No time to visit the beach? Make indoor sandcastles.
Recipe Here |

Edible Play Clay
Whip up a batch of this edible play. Great for children that still like to put things in their mouths. The recipe doesn’t use flour or peanut butter.
Recipe Here.
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Homemade Stamping Ink
Tired of dry stamping pads? Looking for something a little more cost effective? Make your own homemade rubber stamping ink. It is quick and easy! Recipe Here |

Glitter Gel Paint
Glitter gel is simple to make and dries clear. Once it dries completely you will only see the sparkles left behind by the glitter. You can brush the glitter gel over any creation that you have drawn or painted to spread glitter in an even look. Recipe Here |

Hatching Dinosaur Eggs
Hatch up some fun by making dinosaur eggs. Add a plastic dinosaur inside & have your children become paleontologists for the day by searching for eggs and exploring what is inside. “Hatching” their very own dinosaurs. Recipe Here |

Cinnamon Dough Ornaments
Sweet smelling ornaments for your tree, gift tags, garland or whatever else you can think of.
Directions Here |
Fossil Dough
Excellent use for that last cup of coffee and the grounds. This no-cook dough was named by my preschoolers because they said it reminds them of fossils. Directions Here |
Homemade Water Colors
Do you run out of green and blue watercolors before any other color? Muddy colors? Your problems are solved. Save your empty plastic soda bottle tops and fill them up for individual paint cups.
Directions Here |
Homemade Tempera Paint
Create your own rainbow of colors and you control the amount of each color you need. Never run out of paint again. Best part it’s only a fraction of the cost of leading store brands. It lasts for about 2 months if you pour it into individual cups for painting. Dispose of the used paint so you do not introduce bacteria into the sealed jars. Replace cover after each use. Directions Here |
Moon Sand
Whether you call it moon sand, cloud dough or something else… all I know it light, fluffy and a ton of fun. Not to mention, it only takes two ingredients. Directions HERE |
Kool-Aid Snow Paint
Let your Picasso’s run wild creating snow sculptures and then spray painting them. Directions Here |
Scratch & Sniff Watercolors
Great for working with the five senses. Once the watercolors dry, the children and scratch and sniff them. It is not a long lasting scratch and sniff – only for the day, but they are still fun. Directions Here |

Face Paint
Cheap alternative to purchasing face paint you do not have a clue how to pronounce the names of ingredients on. Make any color you desire.
Recipe Here |

Salt Dough Ornaments
Gift giving just got a whole lot easier. Simply roll out the dough, cut with a cookie cutter, bake, and paint. Works for small-scale sculptures too. Recipe Here |
Dying Pumpkin Seeds
Dye pumpkin seeds any color you would like. They can be used as counters in centers and in art projects.
Directions Here |

Fruit Putty
Feels like play dough but molds like a putty. Directions Here |

Glitter Alternative
Some classrooms can not use glitter. Use sugar or salt to give your art a little sparkle.
Directions Here |
Corn Syrup Paint
Unique paint that looks wet even when it is dry.
Directions Here |
Slime
Great for hours of fun. Suggested that you use this with older preschoolers and school-age children. It is not edible.
Directions Here |
Liquid Sidewalk Chalk
3 ingredients are all it takes to create sidewalk masterpieces. Create the colors you want in a matter of minutes. Recipe HERE. |
Crazy Crayons
A great project for all your broken crayons. They make wonderful gifts for children and fit comfortably in their hands.
Directions Here |

Bubbles
Bubble solution is relatively inexpensive in the store but try purchasing it for 20 children…right? Try one of the three recipes that I promise will not break the bank the first time they get knocked over.
Recipe Here |

Dyed Rice
Color and / or scent regular white rice to use for pouring and measuring in the sensory table or in use it in art projects.
Directions Here |
Kool-Aid Playdough
Make any color dough you would like using Kool-Aid to color and scent your dough.
Directions Here |

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