DECORATIVE DYE

Color rice, macaroni or pasta with this easy-to-make dye.

1 container with lid
1 tablespoon rubbing alcohol
6 drops food coloring

Put rubbing alcohol and food coloring into the container. Place the objects to be dyed into the mixture, and secure the lid. Shake the container gently for about 1 minute.

Spread the dyed objects on a paper towel to dry.

If you dye noodles with large openings, you can string them and make necklaces, bracelets, etc. You can also dye rice or sand and make beautiful art projects. Use your imagination.

EASTER EGG COLORING

1/4 tsp. food coloring
1/2 C. hot water
1 T. white vinegar

Mix together in a deep cup.

EASY-OFF TATTOOS

Kids love this!

1 tablespoon cold cream
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon water
Food coloring
Paint brush (clean)

Mix all ingredients together, stirring to mix well. Using the paintbrush, create your tattoo.

GOUACHE PAINT

This is an opaque paint that dries quickly and can be painted on in layers.

2 cups dextrin (from a hobby store)
4 tablespoons distilled water
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoons glycerin
1/2 teaspoon boric acid solution
Powdered or poster paints

Dissolve the dextrin in the water (will be foamy). Add honey, glycerin and boric acid. Stir well or shake in covered jar.

Mix this base with powdered paint or poster paint and store tightly covered. Thin with water if too thick.

GREASEPAINT FORMULAS FOR MAKEUP

White Formula
2 teaspoons white shortening
5 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon white flour
Glycerin
Food color

Using a rubber spatula, blend first 3 ingredients on a white plate to form a smooth paste. Add 3 or 4 drops glycerin for a creamy consistency. The yield should be enough for a child's face. Using fingers, stroke in one direction, spreading mixture over face.

NOTE: use a white under-eye makeup stick for good overall coverage.

Brown Formula
1 teaspoon white shortening
2 1/2 teaspoons cocoa powder (with no sugar)

Mix and use as for the white formula.

Greasepaint can be removed easily with white shortening, cold cream or baby oil.

MOO PAINT

1 cup sweetened condensed milk
Food coloring

Mix ingredients. This makes a very bright, glossy-colored paint.

PUFFY PAINT

Flour
Salt
Water
Tempera paint

Mix equal amounts of flour, salt and water. Add liquid Tempera paint for color. Pour mixture into squeeze bottles and paint. Mixture will harden in a puffy shape.

WASHABLE WINDOW PAINT

Tempera paints (powdered or premixed)
Clear dishwashing liquid

Mix powdered paint with dish soap until it resembles house paint. Or mix just a little dish soap into premixed paints. Line the window sash with masking tape and be sure to spread newspaper around to protect the area. To erase paint or touch up mistakes just wipe paint away with a dry paper towel.

WATER COLORS

1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid
1/2 teaspoon food coloring or Wonder Colors

Mix these ingredients. Paint on paper with a small brush.

WONDER COLORS

Red
1 cup beets, fresh or canned
Water to cover
2 teaspoons vinegar

Cover fresh beets with water and boil in an enamel or glass pan until barely done. Remove the beets and peel, slice, and chop them, reserving the juice. Return beets to the juice and soak them for 4 hours. Strain liquid and measure out 3/4 cup. Add the vinegar to the liquid. If using canned beets, strain out 3/4 cup of the liquid and add 2 teaspoons of vinegar.

1 cup cranberries
Water to cover

Cover cranberries with water and boil for 2 hours, mashing the cranberries as they soften. Strain liquid.

Copper or Yellow
Outer skins of 5 yellow onions
1 cup water

Boil the dark, dry outer skins of yellow onions in a covered glass or enamel pan for 10 minutes, or until the liquid is dark yellow. Strain the juice.

1 cup daffodil, acacia or crocus blossoms
Water to cover

Cover blossoms with water in an enamel or glass pan, bring to a boil, and simmer, covered, for 2 hours. Strain liquid.

Blue
1/2 head red cabbage, chopped
1 cup water

Simmer the cabbage and water in a covered enamel or glass pan until the cabbage turns dark green and is just tender. Strain the juice, which will be blue.

1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or canned
Water to cover

For a darker shade of blue, cover the fresh blueberries with water and simmer for 30 minutes. Mash the berries and strain the juice. If using canned blueberries, strain the juice.

Purple
1/2 cup fresh-frozen blackberries

Allow the frozen blackberries to soften at room temperature for 30 minutes, then blend for 30 seconds.

Green
Outer skins of 5 red onions
1 cup water

Boil the outer skins of the onions in the water in a covered enamel or glass pan for 10 minutes. Strain the juice.

1 cup grass clippings, spinach, or moss
Water to cover

Cover the grass, spinach, or moss with water and boil in an enamel or glass pan for 1 minute, and then simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid.

Brown
1 cup coffee grounds or 10 tea bags
1 cup water

Cover coffee grounds with water or add tea bags to water. Simmer, uncovered, in an enamel or a glass pan for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid.

Hints: If you plan to use any of these colors on fabrics, you will have to boil the fabric in a fixer or mordant before adding the colors. You can use either 4 tablespoons of potassium alum mixed with 1 tablespoon cream of tartar, or 1 teaspoon of chrome mixed with 1-1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar. To apply mordant to fabric, dissolve the mordant you have chosen in 1 cup of water. Add this mixture to a large pot containing at least 1 gallon of water. Use the above measures of mordant for each 8 ounces of fabric. Add the fabric, making sure there is enough water to cover, and simmer for 1 to 4 hours, depending on the color intensity that you want to achieve. Turn off the heat and let the fabric rest for another 4 hours; rinse, and dry.

Try experimenting with flowers and leafy materials that you can boil for color. Small rocks, berries, and twigs yield pretty colors.