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Food-Coloring Crayons

Your child can color a picture, the bathtub, or herself with these homemade crayons -- they wash away in a flash!
By: Christine Dvornik

Food-Coloring Crayons

Age: Preschool through elementary
Time: 30 minutes or more
Type of activity: Arts and Crafts

Put one of these crayons in the soap dish – washing up for dinner has never been so colorful!

Materials needed:
· 1 cup Ivory Snow soap powder (this brand is the most gentle for skin)
· Food coloring (as many colors as you'd like)
· 2 tablespoons hot water
· 1 small mixing bowl for each color crayon you want to make
· Ice tray or candy mold (for the crayon molds)
· Mixing spoon

What to do:

Step One: In a large mixing bowl, stir the soap flakes and hot water until the mixture thickens.

Step Two: Spoon an even amount of the mixture into each of the small bowls.

Step Three: Add a few drops of the food coloring into each of the bowls. Keep mixing in more color until your mixture is a thick paste.

Step Four: Spoon even amounts of the crayon mixture into the molds. Make sure there are no air bubbles in the paste.

Step Five: Set your crayon molds aside to dry. Be patient -- it can take up to a week to dry fully.

Step Six: After the molds are dry, remove your new crayons from the mold. Set them aside somewhere they will not be disturbed. Let your crayons dry for another day or two.

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