St. Patrick’s Day is a few weeks away and in case you were looking for some crafts to celebrate the holiday we’ve got you covered. The first craft involves some time in the kitchen, but once your kids get their hands on the finished product their imaginations will run wild and playtime will go on for hours. The second craft we came across is simple, but can be a little messy, but clean up is a breeze and you’ll be left with an art project you can put on display. Big thank you to the folks over at Modern Parents Messy Kids and Plain Vanilla Mom for sharing their take homemade play dough.

Sparkly Lime Play Dough

Image via Plain Vanilla Mom

Materials

• 1 c – white flour
• 1 c – warm water
• 2 tbsp – salt
• 2 tbsp – cream of tartar
• 2 tbsp – cooking oil
• 1 13oz pk – Lime Jello
• Green Food Coloring
• Green glitter

Instructions

1. Mix all of the ingredients together in a small saucepan. Keep mixing until most of the lumps are gone. Add drops of green food coloring until you’ve achieved a vibrant shade of green.
2. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously until it thickens into a ball of dough. Keep stirring until you’re unable to stir anymore.
3. Once it has finished cooking, place the dough onto a floured cutting board or other flat surface and wait for it to cool which should be about 20 – 30 minutes.
4. Once cool knead it, adding in flour until it is no longer sticky (about 1/2 cup). Knead in the glitter at this point too. Don’t be afraid to use a lot just add it a little at a time.
5. Once you’ve added all the glitter, Viola! You’ve made awesome green glitter play dough that also smells amazing and your kids will love playing with! You can keep the play dough in an air tight container in the refrigerator when not being used. If it get sticks just add some flour.

If you’d like to incorporate any additional tools to facilitate in their play feel free. Consider shamrock cookie cutters, goggly eyes, pipe cleaners, gold coins, etc. the possibilities are endless.

Handprint Shamrock

Materials

• Green finger paint
• White construction or xerox paper
• Paper plates
• Glitter (gold or green)

Instructions

1. Pour some green finger paint on a paper plate.
2. Have your little one place their hand in the paint and then press their hand onto the construction or xerox paper about center to begin creating your shamrock.
3. Repeat this two more times placing the handprint next the previous handprint until you form them in a circular pattern.
4. Dip your child’s index finger in paint and have them draw the stem.
5. For a touch of sparkle you can sprinkle glitter over the handprints before they dry.

We hope these two crafts are just what you were looking for. They are fun, and help develop your child’s motor skills. Working with play dough also allows your little one to use their imagination and once they start the fun will never stop!