Kaleidoscope Crayon Melting Art

If your kids are like mine, they refuse to use the little leftover nibs of broken crayons. And if you're like me, you refuse to throw them out. Well, a few weeks ago we posted a fun recipe for Broken Crayon Muffins that was one great use for those little buggers. Here's another.

Have on Hand:
Wax paper
Iron
Crayon scraps
Cotton fabric, pillowcase or towel

Boredom Buster Description:

1. Peel paper from crayons.
2. Combine crayon crumbs in interesting color patterns on a sheet of wax paper.
3. Cover with another sheet of wax paper of the same size.
4. Place this wax paper/crayon/wax paper sandwich between two pieces of cotton fabric and press with a hot iron.
5. Allow to cool and unveil your crayon melt masterpiece.

Make-Your-Own Puppet Show

 Have on Hand:   socks, yarn, felt, glue, paper bags, tongue depressors, fairy tale books

Boredom Buster Description:      What better way to combat boredom than make a puppet show.  Make puppets from socks, paper bags, or sticks and paper.  Fairy tales are a great place to start for the story telling part.  Read a simple story, like The 3 Bears, or the 3 Billy Goats Gruff and retell the story with puppets. Invite a friend to watch or help with the telling.

Boredom Buster Bio:      As a child, my friends and I spent the summers entertaining each other with puppet plays.  I highly recommend it for bumping boredom out of the house. Judith Snyder is the author of What Do You See?  Check out her web site for activities that compliment her book: http//:judithsnyderwrites.com

Thank you, Judith Snyder, for this great idea!

Peanut Butter Playdough

 

Here's another family favorite ...

Have on Hand:

• 3 1/2 cups peanut butter
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 1/2 cups honey
• 4 cups dry milk powder

Boredom Buster Description:  My son remembered loving this idea  ... but I honestly don't remember making it.  Hah! So whether he played with (or ate) this play dough at home, at a friend's house or at school it obviously was a big hit. And it sounded like a great idea to me. Here's the best recipe I found online:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/peanut-butter-playdough/

Let me know if you have a recipe you like better.

Cardboard Dollhouse

Have on Hand:  Home catalogs or magazines, cardboard or cardboard box, scissors, glue or glue stick.

Boredom Buster Description:  My mom gave me this idea when I was young.I had a large piece of cardboard from a box, probably 3ft by 3ft. I divided it into rooms and them pasted furniture for each type room in the box. A flat dollhouse if you will, with sofas for the living room and rugs and end tables and lamps, baby furniture, etc. I loved playing with it.

Boredom Buster Bio:  I love doing crafts with my 4-year-old granddaughter. Whenever I was bored as a kid, my mother always said, "You could go clean your room!" Some how I always managed to go find something else to do.  Good advice from Mom!

Thank you,  Pat Golding, for your great idea!