I always loved these tissue paper crafts as a kid. Easy to do with simple supplies, but looks great!   Something fun to do over the weekend! 

A fun simple art activity with supplies you may already have around the house: 

Supplies:
knife
potato
pencil
spoon
tempra paints and brush
paper
Technique
1. With the help of an adult, cut a potato in half, with a pencil, draw a simple geometric shape, letter, or any created design on the sliced portion of the potato.

2. With the spoon, scrape away the part of the potato that is not part of the shape. The shape will be raised; the background will be cut and scraped away.

3. Paint any color on the remaining raised shape. Then, firmly press the potato on the paper to make a print. Make several prints before repainting. Each print will be lighter than the first.

4. Shading Step: With the spoon or other digging utensil, scoop away a little more of the remaining shape. Paint a different color on the potato shape and press the potato on the prints already made. Try to print exactly on the area of the first print. This will produce the look of dual colored shading. Continue this method to make more shaded prints or additional prints.

Variations:
Explore making prints with other objects from around the house, such as these suggestions:
bar of soap
carrot
block
nuts and bolts
eraser on a pencil
crumpled foil

By: Amanda Formaro

Difficulty: Easy

Age: 5 and up

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Show your love for the USA by making one of these fun and patriotic pins!

What you'll need:

How to make it:

1. Mix together the salt, flour, and water. If dough is sticky, add additional tablespoons of flour one at a time until the mixture is smooth a pliable. Be careful not to add too much or your projects will crack.
2. Roll out or press dough with your hand and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes or form your own shapes.
3. Place shapes on cookie sheet and heat oven to 250 degrees F.
4. Place cookie sheet in oven and bake for 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours, or until items are dry. Remove from oven and let cool.
5. Paint all the shapes
6. Turn pins over and glue on pin backs. Use a generous amount of glue and let them dry completely before wearing.

Tips:

• Salt dough can be kept in a covered container for a couple of days.
• It is not necessary to dry out salt dough in the oven, you can air dry it, but the oven is faster.

Fun and easy activity for the summer!

Homemade Finger Paints

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Total Time Needed:

1 Hour

Inexpensive easy to make with items likely to have from home!

Materials

• 1 cup of cold water
• 1/4 cup of cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup
• Washable, nontoxic tempera paint

• Bowls
• Finger-paint paper or freezer paper
• Masking tape

Instructions

1. Before you begin: Spread out a plastic tablecloth, keep wipes handy, and wear a smock or old clothes.

2. In a small saucepan, stir together the cold water and cornstarch. Whisk the mixture over low heat for about 5 minutes until it thickens and clears -- this will happen all at once. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of light corn syrup, then divide the mixture into bowls and stir a squirt of tempera paint into each one.

3. After the paint has cooled, scoop blobs of it onto finger-paint paper (taped to your table) or let your kids scoop it out themselves -- whichever they prefer -- and commence smearing. Leftover paint can be stored in sealed containers in the fridge for a day or two.