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Friday, June 24, 2011

Homemade moon sand (another fun summer project)

DSC_6995LRThe girls have been dying to try this Homemade Moon Sand recipe that I found on Pinterest, so yesterday we gave it a whirl and found that it was fun and easy! (Oh, before I forget, I added Kid Projects to the nav bar at the top of this site if anyone needs ideas like this one.)

Directions: combine 4 cups of sand, 2 cups of cornstarch, and 1 cup of water, then play using your hands, cookie cutters, small kitchen utensils, or anything else you can dream up. Add more water, a little bit at a time, to get the consistency you want.

That’s it! Really. The stuff was great.

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It behaved like doughy wet sand that holds its shape really well. The girls really liked using cookie cutters (just pack the moon sand in the cookie cutter and smooth the top, then poke it out of the cookie cutter). They played with it for almost two hours (!!!). And when it got a little dry from being loved half to death, we just added a little more water and kept going.DSC_7010LRDSC_7031LR

If you put it out in the sun, it dries whitish and kind of hard too (this discovery was a happy accident that elicited a little bit of squealing).

This project would best be done outside, but it was about 8000 degrees in the sun yesterday, and I couldn’t take it. So we put some containment towels on the kitchen floor and went to town with the moon sand in the nice cool house. Cleanup actually wasn’t too bad at all, just sent the girls outside to hose down their hands and the implements (you know they enjoyed that) and wiped down the art table and swept up any stray sand while they were hosing. Now that I’ve seen how easy the project was, I’d let the kids do it on their own on the outside picnic table and there wouldn’t be a lick of cleanup.

Happy crafting!

16 comments:

  1. Love this! Nothing like bringing the "beach" home to play. : )

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  2. Anonymous6/24/2011

    When it's 8,000 degrees, try making a "pizza box" solar oven, and cook lunch/dinner in it.

    See: www.going-green-challenge.com

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  3. Ooo, love that solar oven idea!!! And I'll bet my little bro in Arizona could try this out too. Fun.

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  4. You're awesome. I think I will try the paper bowl idea....sand, not so much. I already have lots of sand in my house from the box and the regular moon sand.

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  5. Anonymous6/24/2011

    What was your review of the day camp?

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  6. Never thought to make the stuff, great idea and so easy.

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  7. Don't know if you have seen these, but they look like a craft you might be interested in. There is also a school and barn, and even clothes for the peg dolls. I don't have kids, but I want to make one!

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/61885802/dollhouse-theme-pdf-printout

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  8. Oh...gotta try this. Today was Dahlia's first day of summer vacation and I already heard the "b" word. This recipe might come in handy. Thanks!

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  9. Anonymous6/24/2011

    Love the outfits today!

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  10. Loving all your craft ideas - as I'm sure your girls do, too! I may need to steal a few of these!

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  11. Fun idea that requires few ingredients(my kinda project!)
    I'll have to try this with my 3 and 1 year-old. They'll love it and I am running out of ideas to keep them busy!!!
    Your girls are adorable! Always love reading your blog!

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  12. Looks fun, I don't know where in the Bay Area you live, but it is always freezing at Stanford where we live. You make it sound like you live in Texas or something, by the way you talk about the heat.

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  13. That looks great! Moon Sand is kind of expensive and messy, but I love that we could play with this outside and have no regrets (from either a cost or environmental perspective) if we lose a chunk of it. The kids would LOVE this!

    We're also totally doing the tissue paper bowl-- Clover in particular would be a big fan.

    Keep the great ideas coming! It looks like your girls are having a great summer!

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  14. Looks like a great time for the kids!! I have to admit- being way too ocd- that this might put me over the edge if done inside. I think I'd rather sweat. lol.

    Love the kids project menu bar!! Can't wait to try some.

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  15. Anonymous6/27/2011

    I know that you are on pinterest and I saw on a post that you would do an invite it requested. Can you please send me an invite. jessicahillard@msn.com

    My kiddos are making the moon sand today, lets hope they have as much fun as the girls!

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  16. This is great - thank you! The next time we go to the beach I am going to take along some corn starch and mix up some moon sand. Then we can make sand castles with super fancy finishes!

    I wonder if you add food coloring if it would color the sand...or just your hands.

    Thanks again for the great craft!

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