Book and a Snack, Art, Art, Art!

Touch the Art!

Spring is in the air, so we're having an outside book and a snack activity! (Or inside if you're brave:)).

All my kids from the baby on up LOVE the Touch the Art books by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo. They are board books that feature famous works of art with some element that you can touch or feel. For the older kids, there is a section in the back that has details about each artist and work of art. It's a great family activity for all ages. Babies will have a hard time destroying these books and the older kids can get some learnin'!

For an afternoon of fun, whip up these easy edible finger paints, give each a child a piece of posterboard, and let them, eat, paint, squish, smoosh, and release that inner Picasso. Great fun for all ages. We are going to do this for a family activity the next nice day we have. I can't wait to see what the baby comes up with.

The only downside is that these paintings don't keep for very long (since they're made with food). However, the "yumminess" factor makes up for it.:)

Easy Edible Finger Paints
Vanilla Instant Pudding mix (however many packages you want, it just depends on how much "paint" you are making)
Milk (according to package directions). You can substitute Soy or Rice Milk for those with allergies.
Food Coloring

Prepare pudding according to package directions. Divide into bowls and tint with food coloring. Paint away!

Chocolate Ice Cream Bath Fizzies

OK, this isn't edible but it's so easy for the kids to make (teacher gifts, etc....) I had to include it. Chocolate Ice Cream Bath Fizzies Need a quick, cheap, and fun gift? The kids can help “scoop” these out with ice cream scoops onto wax paper. Pick up some ice cream glasses at the dollar store to gift wrap them in for a fun touch! Or, I saw this picture of someone who simply wrapped a scoop in plastic wrap, put it on an ice cream cone (you'd have to tape or glue it) and tied a bow. Easy!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup citric acid (you can find this at most pharmacys or health food stores. Just call first)
1/4 cup corn starch
2 Tbs cocoa powder
7 Tbs coconut oil melted (health food store or large grocery store)

Instructions:
Mix dry ingredients, melt coconut oil and drizzle over dry ingredients and mix. Using ice cream scoop, make 3 scoops and unmold them onto waxed paper and allow to dry 2 days.

Omlettes and Cookie Paint....?

So, I've been really watching what I eat lately. In the mornings, I often make an egg white omelette. Sooooo....what to do with all those egg yolks? (I can think of plenty of un-healthy-pound-cake-like things to do with them, but that would sabotage the first sentence). Anyway, I found a great solution! Egg yolks make FANTASTIC paints for sugar cookies!

For you:
Egg White Omelette with fresh veggies, basil, reduced-fat cheese....YUM!


For the kids:
Take any sugar cookie dough (your favorite recipe or store-bought)

Cut into desired shapes. For the little artists in your home, I recommend simply making a large rectangle "canvas" for them.

Put an egg yolk into small bowl (or use an old egg carton if it's empty, they work great). Drop in desired amount of food coloring and stir. Repeat to make as many colors as you want.

Let the kids paint away!

Bake the cookies as directed in your sugar cookie recipe.

They come out looking so cute and the kids love eating their artwork! You can add royal icing accents as desired, but we just enjoyed the colors. I'll post a pic when I download the camera.

NOTE: this would be a super fun and easy party for kids!