Natural and Sustainable

I have posted a few projects before, but here are a couple that are for older kids that can help them learn a few things as well. And the best part is, they are all eco-friendly.

• Colored Oil: Pour about a tbs. of vegetable oil into a clear, tall glass. Next add a few drops of natural liquid food die in the shades of red, green or even blue. Mix the colors so that they will break apart into small droplets and then pour the entire contents into a tall glass of water. The colors will make strains of color.

• Paper Mache Piggy Bank: Blowing up a round balloon, tie off so that the air won’t leak out. Using an old egg carton, cup out two egg holder cups from the carton and tape one to the front of the balloon covering the balloon knot. And then tape four more around the bottom to act as “feet” for the balloon. Set aside. Meanwhile, mix a cup of flour, two cups of water and a tbs. of salt in a large bowl. Using old newspaper, tear into strips and dip each strip of newspaper into the mixture and cover the entire balloon with the strips, allow to dry over night. Once the strips are dry, use a small straight pin and pop the balloon underneath the strips. If your strips are completely dry, when you pop the balloon it will cave in in some areas so make sure it is completely dry before popping. Next, paint your pig and give it some eyes and some ears. Cut a hole in the bottom and a small thin opening in the top for your money. Use a cork or tap to cover the bottom to hold the money in.

• Fish Aquarium Shoebox: Using and old shoebox, cut a square out of the lid of the shoebox leaving about 2 inches of side around the top. Inside the shoe box paint the sides and the bottom blue and the part you cut away from the lid cut out small fish and paint them all sorts of colors. Finally, using thread, tie the thread to the fish and hang from the top of the box if the shoebox is on its side. Paint the lid of the shoebox black and enjoy your shoebox fish tank.

*Natural and Sustainable Living Tip: With a bit of imagination and some paint or glue you can pretty much make anything during the cold winter months to entertain you or your friends. So before throwing something out, use your creativity and try to come up with something to repurpose it for.