I know it sounds a little odd to paint with food scraps. But that's exactly what we do at our house. Not only does it create a simple project for your little ones, but it gets a little use out of those fruits and veggies that may be too old to eat, but not completely gone. I'd prefer my kids actually eat the produce I pay for, but this is better than tossing directly into the trash. Well, just a little better.
Here's what you need:
- 1 apple
- 1 potato
- 1 celery root
- paints
- paint brushes
- paper
- paper towels for clean up
- water to clean brushes
1. Celery painting- the next time you cut off the end of the celery, keep the root portion. Dip the end you cut into paint and create a flower print on paper, or even on canvas. You can fill in any gaps where the paint is missing, or leave it for an authentic look.
2. Potato painting- simply cut a potato in half. Dip in paint, or use a paint brush to cover the fleshy end of the potato. Press onto paper and make this unique print. You can use black paint or a sharpie to create dots and a body for a lady bug, or add a smiley face.
3. Apple painting- cut in half to create a butterfly shape. Dip in paint, or use a brush to cover the fleshy part of the apple and press onto paper. If you cut the apple through the middle it will create a natural star shape for a really cool print. You can use black paint, or a sharpie to draw in the body, or add special colors to morph your colorful shape into a butterfly.
We used ours to make a rose garden with some bugs and butterflies. Perfect as this snow day has us thinking ahead to spring! Thankfully, we already had these things on hand so no need to leave the house!
If you are looking for something fun and unique to do with your kids, I definitely recommend looking beyond the brush and getting a little creative with the way you paint.
The Whatever Mom is a full-time wife and twin mama living on coffee and wine. She enjoys the pure rush of cleaning the BIG potty between loads of laundry. It is her dream that moms everywhere accept and embrace the Whatever Mom philosophy which can be found here. You can also find her musings and popular shares on Facebook and Twitter. Stay up to date with her creative ideas and outings on Pinterest.
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