MAKING BEADS
DOUGH BEADS
You will need ½ cup each of flour, cornstarch and salt.

Combine the above dry ingredients into a bowl.
Place warm water into a measuring cup and add some powdered tempera paint or food coloring for color.
Slowly pour the water into the bowl while mixing the ingredients.
If the dough ends up sticky, add more flour.
If it seems dry, keep adding water until it becomes like play dough.
Show your child how to roll the dough into small balls.
Let your child poke holes in his balls with a straw.
Set the balls out on a tray covered with waxed paper, to dry.
Variation: Create additional colors by making multiple batches of
clay.
 
SAND BEADS
You will need 2/3 cup sand; ½ cup water and 1/3 cup cornstarch for this recipe.
 Place the above ingredients into a non-stick sauce pan.
Add five or six drops of food coloring to the mixture.
Cook on low, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens.
Allow mixture to cool.
Show your child how to roll the dough into small balls.
Let your child poke holes in her balls with a straw.
Set the balls out on a tray covered with waxed paper, to dry.
Variation: For multiple colors, make additional batches of clay.
 
PASTA BEADS
You will need a pasta with a large hole through it, such as; penne, or rigatoni.
Let your child place ½ cup uncooked pasta into a bowl.
Add ½ Tbsp. rubbing alcohol and 3-4 drops of food coloring.
Let your child stir the pasta, coating each pasta with the color.
Dump the pasta out onto a tray covered with waxed paper.
Allow to dry overnight.
 
STRINGING BEADS
Wrap tape around one end of a 14” piece of yarn, for a yarn needle.
Tie one of the beads to the other end.
Show your child how to string the beads onto the needle and then onto the yarn.
Help your child by tying the ends together to create necklaces and bracelets.
 
 

 

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