I Spy Bag

Supplies Needed:

2 fleece/cotton squares that are 7" square
a 4" square of clear vinyl (at least 4 mm or thicker)
poly-pellets (can be found at craft stores...it's usually used for doll stuffing)
aprox. 30+ small items to fill the bag

How to Make the bag:

1. On the wrong side of one piece of fabric, using a ruler, find the exact center of the square. Using your ruler, measure out from the center and draw a line 1.5" from the center on all sides of the square (make each line about 3" long). Then using scissors or rotary cutter, carefully cut a long the lines to make your "window".

2. Center the vinyl over the window, on the wrong side of the fabric. You might find it helpful to use a bit of tape to hold it in place. Very carefully sew the vinyl to the fleece. *vinyl can sometimes stick to the sewing machine, so you might want to test it first. If you find it sticking, you can use a piece of tissue paper between the vinyl and whatever it is sticking to and just tear it away when you are done. I personally like to sew with the fabric side against the pressure foot but do whatever works for you. Be sure to double stitch to prevent anything from falling out! I do a straight stitch around the window and the go over it with something decorative.

3. If you haven't already, now would be a good time to gather all the little doo-dads, type up your "i spy" list and print it. If you have printer fabric, this is where you would do that on a 3 X 3 square.

4. Now that your front "window" square (and back "list" square, if you did that) are done, pin them together, wrong sides together and carefully sew around the bag, make a sem of 1/4"-1/2". Again, I like to double stitch.

5. Fill your bag with you objects, then start pouring the poly-pellets, a funnel is really useful here. I start with about a coup of poly-pellets and slowly add. Personally I like the pellets to fill the bag, to the top edge of the window, but it's all personal preference. You don't want to add so many that it's hard to manipulate the pellets and the objects (especially when you close it up).

6. When you are done filling, carefully shake everything to the bottom of the bag and carefully sew up your opening and then you are done!

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Recipe for Finger Paints

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cornstarch
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups cold water
food coloring

Directions:

1. In a medium pan, mix all the ingredients together. Cook over low heat 10-15 minutes. Make sure you keep stirring the mixture until the moment it turns from thin to thick.
2. After the finger pain has thickened, take the pan off the stove immediately, and let the mixture cool. I put into four bowls to cool.
3. In each bowl, I used several drops of food coloring to create the primary colors. You will need a lot more drops for red or it will be pink.

The finger paint will last for about 3 days in an airtight container. The mixture will become dry and hard to handle.

Very easy to make. Messy, but that is part of finger painting.

Moon Dough

A really easy recipe:

8 cups flour
1 cup baby oil

I only did half and it made plenty. It smells really nice too. It is best to be played with outside though. It still can make a mess. I put it in a pan that I can throw away eventually. Lasts for a long time.