5. Overnight crystals: Gather a few small, clear glass jars.

Clear glass candle votives, mason jars or even wine glasses work
well. The recipe for these crystals is simple: equal parts Epsom salt and
hot water. For a quart-sized Mason jar, use 1 cup salts/1 cup water.

For a pint-sized Mason jar, use ½ cup salts/ ½ cup hot water, and
for a small votive or wine glass, ¼ cup salts/ ¼ cup hot water. You
can adjust amounts according to the jars you use, just be sure to
measure the amount of Epsom salts you use so that you can add an
equal amount of water.

Pour the measured Epsom salt into the bottom of your jar. Next
pour hot water over the salts. Use the hottest water you can get
from your tap. Stir this mixture for two minutes. You can add
a drop of liquid watercolors to the hot water to tint the crystals
before mixing the water into the salts if you like. It’s best to make
a few batches, just in case one doesn’t grow. Next, put your jars
in the freezer for 10 minutes. Remove the jars from the freezer
and place in the refrigerator and allow to grow overnight. In the
morning, gently pour off any excess liquid from the jars and enjoy
your crystals!
6. Jack Frost Paintings: Mix equal parts Epsom salt
and warm water. Give kids paint brushes of various widths and
they can dip the brushes into the Epsom salt solution and paint
snowflakes or other designs onto dark-colored construction
paper. Dark blue and black-colored paper work best. As the water
evaporates from the paper, beautiful crystals are left behind.

7. Puffy Paint Snow People: This fun, inexpensive puffy
paint spreads like frosting and dries into beautiful 3-D paintings.

To make puffy paint, mix equal parts white shaving cream and
white liquid glue. This paint can be hard to wash out of bowls,
so mix this in either a disposable container or in a gallon-size
resealable plastic bag.

If you mix up the paint in a container, give kids popsicle sticks
or disposable, plastic knives for “painting.” Paintbrushes don’t
work well. If you use a plastic bag, mix ingredients by kneading
the sealed bag with your hands until well combined. Squeeze the
paint into one corner of the bag, and then snip off the corner with
scissors. Kids can “paint” by squeezing out the puffy paint from
the bag as they would a pastry bag. It is difficult to make precise
lines and shapes with this paint. The best kinds of pictures to create
with puffy paint are ice cream cones, snow people, cupcakes, etc.

You can color the paint by adding a few drops of liquid watercolor
paint, or use food coloring. Or, add texture to the paint by drawing
lines with disposable forks before it dries. For added bling, give
the masterpiece a sprinkling of glitter before it dries. Allow to dry
12-24 hours, more if the paint is extra thick!
TEXT NANCY S.

Cooked Playdough Recipe:
1 cup flour
½ cup salt
1 tablespoon cooking oil
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and cook over low heat,
stirring constantly, until the mixture forms a ball. Remove the
dough from the pan to a plate or cutting board and allow to cool
completely. When cool, knead the dough with your hands until
smooth. Store in a sealed container or bag in the refrigerator.

Tiffany Doerr Guerzon is a freelance writer and the mother of three
children. Read more of her writing at www.TDGuerzon.com
washingtonFAMILY.com February 2016 43