Puffy Paint!

Wow, this one was exciting, let me tell you.

I found this idea via Irresistible Ideas For Play Based Learning's blog, here http://www.playbasedlearning.com.au/2011/05/puffy-paint-pictures/

What I love MOST about it is how easy it is, not to mention great fun!

The basic idea is you mix some paint, paint a picture, then microwave said picture.
Ready?

Here we go!

Recipe:

• 1 Tbsp Self Raising Flour
• 1 Tbsp salt
• Food colouring (we used only red, blue and yellow with fantastic results)
• enough water to make a thick gloopy pastey paint

We used plain white paper for a lack of better options. However, I think that white cardboard would have worked better and warped less... 

 ingredients

 mixa-mixing

 We found that big gloopy globs of paint worked best!

Once you've finished painting all your masterpieces, simply trot them on over to the microwave and zap them for 30 seconds. We did find that some of the more paint-heavy pieces needed a bit longer, we just kept giving them 10-20 second bursts if bits were still damp....

 WOW! Waiting for the finished products to cool down (only takes a few seconds)

 Lovely to touch! Very tactile....

Biscuit's verdict: "It's very puffy. Very lovely"

The finished product is hard and puffy. I was pleased to find it doesn't deflate! I assume the salt also keeps the whole thing from turning a bit fungified within a day or so. 

I can't recommend this one enough! Definitely a hit! And BONUS - not too messy either :)