Homemade Fingerpaints
Items Needed: two mixing bowls, spoon, one package Knox plain gelatin, measuring cup, water, pot,
1/2 cup cornstarch, Joy dishwashing liquid, six 4-ounce baby food jars, food coloring.
In a mixing bowl, mix the packet of powdered gelatin with 1/4 cup water until dissolved. Set aside. In a pot, mix the cornstarch with 3/4 cup water. Add two cups hot water and mix well. Heat the pot on a stove, bringing the mixture to a boil while stirring constantly. When the mixture becomes clear and thick (after one to two minutes), remove the pot from the heat. Pour in the gelatin mixture. Mix well, then pour equal amounts of the mixture into the six baby food jars. Add one drop of joy dishwashing liquid to each jar.
In the first jar, add five drops of yellow food coloring and stir well. In the second jar, add five drops of red food coloring, mix well. Third jar gets five drops of green food coloring, mix well. Fourth jar, five drops blue coloring, mix well. In the fifth jar, add four drops of yellow and one drop red food coloring, mix well. The sixth jar, add three drops red food coloring and two drops blue food coloring, (you guessed it) mix well. Let cool. You've created fingerpaints that can be used on heavy white paper. To store, seal the lids on the jars.
How It Works: The conrnstarch mixed with water is a hydrosol (a solid dispersed in liquid). Adding gelatin helps the cornstarch congeal and acts as an emulsion for the food coloring. The dishwashing liquid breaks down the drops of fat in the gelatin, allowing the cornstarch and the gelatin to mix.
*Fingerpaint can also be made by mixing food coloring with shaving cream, condensed milk, or plain yogurt.
"The Mad Scientis Handbook 2": by Joey Green
No comments:
Post a Comment