Yummy PlayDough

I'm always a bit concerned when my kids are given commercial playdough to play at school. There are so many artificial ingredients, and my little one loves putting this stuff in his mouth...argh!
We came across two awesome recipes for eatable playdough. Check them out! Kids love making them too!

Peanut Butter Playdough
If you’re making this for school or your child has a nut allergy, you can replace the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter to make this a nut free recipe.
In a large bowl, combine:

• 1 cup creamy peanut or sunflower seed butter
• 1/2 cup honey or agave nectar
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Mix well, until you have a doughy consistency. If the dough is a bit crumbly, drizzle a bit more honey or agave nectar. If it’s too sticky, more powdered sugar will do the trick!

Chocolate Playdough
In a large bowl, mix:

• 2 cups vanilla frosting (home made or store bought will do)
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/4 cup powdered sugar

Mix this up well. If it’s too sticky, add more powdered sugar. If it’s on the crumbly side, you can add a small amount of water (1/2 teaspoon at a time) to moisten it up.

Source: Crafting a Green World

Recycled Halloween

Make a Halloween witch or ghost windsock decoration using recycled milk jugs, plastic bags, and stuff you have around the house! Super easy. Weather-proof too!
By Kate from Darlington, WI

Do-Your-Own Blocks: Fun and Creative!

Painting your own building blocks is a fun and creative project for kids. Here’s how to do it, from Crafting a Green World:

You will need:

• Wooden building blocks, clean and sanded. All shapes and sizes of blocks are appropriate for this project.
• Primer. You can use any primer that’s appropriate for wood and for your paints. Since I’m using artist’s acrylics, I prime with gesso.
• Paints and brushes. Choose the best-quality acrylic paints that you can afford. Craft acrylics are fine, but I personally prefer artist’s acrylics.
• Sealant or varnish. Again, use any sealant that’s appropriate to use with your paints.

1. Prime your blocks and let dry. You’ll have to do this in two stages, because you’ll need to leave one surface unpainted so that the block can rest on it while all the other surfaces dry. Then, paint that one unfinished surface and let it dry.
2. Paint your blocks and let dry, again doing this in two stages. The flatter that you keep your painted surfaces, the better they’ll continue to function as building blocks, so avoid leaving ridges or drips in the paint as you work.
3. When the blocks are completely dry, usually overnight, seal them with your sealant or varnish.

These blocks are gorgeous, educational, creative, and fun, and since you painted them yourself, you know that they’re non-toxic.

Source: Crafting a Green World

Sticky Tree for Kids Rooms

Check out these tree decals made of reusable fabric. So classy and fun for the kids' room. It has an adhesive that can be used again and again. You just have to use your imagination to customize tree designs. Made  from original handpainted images, it looks as if it is painted on.

You can make one big tall tree, 2 smaller trees, or one shorter wide tree. It includes:
1 Trunk
10 branches in varying sizes
1 Purple Deer
1 Butterfly
1 Blue sleepy owl
3 Sets of grass
Approx 30 leaves in varying sizes

Sheet size is: 65/20" (1700/ 500mm)

Made by Stickytiki, an Etsy store

Heirloom Alphabet, Number and Puzzle

Very cool heirloom alphabet, number and puzzle blocks set! It comes with 12 alphabet blocks, featuring a full picture puzzle on one side, all 26 letters of the alphabet, and numbers 1-10. Handmade with a vintage appeal, these brightly colored blocks can be used decoratively in babies room or as a learning tool with older children. Made with all certified nontoxic and child friendly materials.
Each block measures 1.5 inches square hand cut poplar. They are decorated with a mix of papers on all side and then they are sealed with several coats of a satin finish, AP non-toxic, water-proof, water-based hard coat sealer. Includes coordinating drawstring bag.

Made by Maternal Nest, and Etsy store

Speaking of Creativity...

March is the National Craft Month, so nothing more appropriate than giving eco-friendly, non-toxic crafting tools for our little ones!

We found these awesome Erasable Crayons for kids. The set comes with 25 different colors. Uniquely extra long, they can be sharpened to a fine pencil point. Wrapper free and ideal for parents! They are erasable and washable off walls, floors, and most fabrics. All certified non-toxic.

Made by Faber Castell, sold by Stubby Pencil Studio and Amazon.com

For Eco Creative Kids

Check out these "gourmet scented" pencils made from 100% recycled newspapers. Made from rolled sheets of newspaper instead of wood , they are available in yummy scents like Bubble Gum, Cherry, Grape, Chocolate, Orange, etc.

The layers of newspaper are noticeable as you sharpen the same way as all other wood pencils. These cool eco pencils are available in graphite (#2) and color.

Find them at  Stubby Pencil Studio or Amazon.com

Paintable Villa

These unique green, eco-friendly toy provides your child with hours of creative play after the painting is over. It comes with a set of eight, washable, non-toxic water colors.
The cottages are 100% recyclable. Made with sturdy double walled corrugated board, all non-toxic and extremely durable.
Kids can use unlimited imagination to create a whole city!


From Inventive Parent

Multilingual Cards

These products are perfect for multilingual kids! Gender neutral wall cards made from 100% recycled cardstock, with numbers or alphabet in foreign languages. Perfect for the nursery or playroom. Each set of cards come wrapped in a biodegradable cello package.
Card sets are available in sizes 5x7 or 8x10. They come in English, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, German, French and Swedish.

From Children Inspire Design.

Spinach Modeling Dough?

Check out the modeling dough, the natural paint and markers from Clementine.
The modeling dough is based on soy and wheat, colored with turmeric, carmine and spinach. The paints are free from chemical dyes and petrochemicals. All certified non-toxic, very environmentally friendly, and fun for kids!

For additional product information, logon to clementineart.com