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Our Craft Recipes section are just that recipes for crafting.  You will find helpful recipes here that can be bought from most craft supply stores but why buy them if you can make them yourself.

3/4 cup water
2 Tbsp corn syrup
1 tsp white vinegar
1/2 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup cold water

Mix water, corn syrup and white vinegar in a small saucepan.  Bring to a full, rolling boil.  In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with cold water.  Add this mixture slowly to the hot mixture, stirring constantly.  Let stand overnight before using.

Waterproof Glue

2 packets (1/2 ounce) unflavored gelatin

2 tablespoons cold water

3 tablespoons skimmed milk

few drops of wintergreen oil (optional)

In a small bow. sprinkle gelatin over cold water and wait until softened. Pour milk into a pot and bring to a boil. Pour into softened gelatin and stir until dissolved. Add wintergreen oil (acts as a preservative) if you would like to keep it for longer than a day. 

Stamp Gum

1 packet (1/4 ounce) of unflavored gelatin

1 Tbs. cold water

3 Tbs. boiling water

1/2 tsp. white corn syrup

1/2 tsp. lemon or peppermint extract

2 drops boric acid solution

Sprinkle the gelatin into the cold water and wait until softened. Pour softened gelatin into the boiling water, stirring until dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

When ready to use brush a little to the area that you would like it and let dry.  Brush your items with glue and let dry. When you're ready to use the item, just moisten it a bit and stick.  If you are not using all of your Stamp Gum, store in jar with lid.  If it dries up, just scoop it out and reheat.

Homemade Sticker Glue
 

1/2 cup White Vinegar  

1 cup Elmer's White Glue

Combine One part White Vinegar and Two parts white glue.  Mix it really well.  Put in jar with lid or use an empty Elmer's glue bottle.

Apply it with paint brush on the back of your picture, let it dry face down.  It will take approximately 15 to 30 minutes to completely dry, maybe longer if you live in an area with high humidity.

Bookbinder's Paste

1 teaspoon flour
2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon. powdered alum
1/3 cup water

Mix dry ingredients. Add water slowly, stirring out lumps. Cook in a double boiler over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat when paste begins to thicken; it will thicken more as it cools. Keep covered. Thins with water when necessary.

Decoupage Glue

white glue
warm water

Combine 3 parts glue with 1 part water. Mix thoroughly. Store in air-tight container.
 

Modge Podge Glaze

Mix 3 parts white glue (Elmer's or any cheap brand) to 1 part water.
Add more or less water to get the desired texture and thickness.
Add 2 Tbsp. varnish, for shine.  Put into container with screw on lid.

Just Like Modge Podge

1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. non-self rising flour
1/2 tsp. powdered alum
1 3/4 c. water
1/4 tsp. oil of cinnamon

In medium size pan, mix together sugar, flour and alum.
Gradually add 1 cup water, stirring vigorously to break up lumps.
Boil until clear and smooth, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.
Add remaining water and oil.  Stir until thoroughly mixed.  Put into container with screw on lid.

Glass Glue

2 pkgs unflavored gelatin
2 Tbsp cold water
3 Tbsp skimmed milk

Empty unflavored gelatin into cold water.  Stir and set aside to soften.  Heat skimmed milk to a boil and pour over gelatin.  Stir thoroughly until dissolved.  Apply to objects with a brush while the glue is still warm.  This glue is waterproof and can be used for almost anything, but does not store well so is really only good for the day you make it.

1 cup water
1/4 cup flour
5 cups lightly boiling water

Mix the flour into 1 cup water until the mixture is thin and runny.  Stir this mixture into the lightly boiling water.  Gently boil and stir for 2 to 3 minutes.  Cool before using.

Glitter Glue

white glue
glitter
powdered tempera paint (optional)

Combine 2 parts glue with 1 part glitter. Add powdered tempera paint if desired. Mix thoroughly. Store in air-tight container.
 

Fire and Waterproof Cement

half pint of milk

half pint of vinegar

4 or 5 eggs

quick-lime
 

To half a pint of milk add half a pint of vinegar to curdle it; then separate the curd from the whey, and mix the whey with 4 or 5 eggs; beating the whole well together; when it is well mixed, add a little quick-lime through a sieve, until it has acquired the consistence of a thick paste. This is for cementing marble, in or out of the weather.

Black Ink Without Sediment

Take 1 lb. logwood, 1 gallon soft water, simmer in an iron vessel for one hour, then dissolve in a little hot water 24 grains bychromate of potash, and 12 grains prussiate of potash, and stir into the liquid while over the fire, then take it off and strain it through fine cloth. This ink is a jet black flows freely from the pen and will stand the test of oexylic acid.

Indelible Ink for Cloth

1 inch of the stick of the nitrate of silver dissolved in a little water, and stirred into each gallon of the Black Ink Without Sediment mixture, makes first rate indelible ink for cloth.

Transfer Ink

2 tablespoons soap powder, like Ivory Snow (not detergent) or scrapings from a bar of soap

1/4 cup hot water

1 tablespoon turpentine

Dissolve soap powder in hot water. Add turpentine. Use when cool.
To use, dip a brush into the ink and brush over the picture to be transferred, wait about ten seconds then place a piece of paper over the picture and rub the back of it with a spoon. The picture will be transferred to the paper. If the ink solidifies in its container, set the bottle in a pan of warm water to melt, then shake well before using.

Rubber Stamp Ink

powdered clothes dye

1/4 teaspoon alcohol

5 tablespoon glycerin

Mix dye with alcohol until it resembles thin cream. Add glycerin and stir until thoroughly mixed.
Pour ink over used up stamp pad. To make a stamp pad, cut foam rubber to fit the bottom of a small plastic box, then pour the ink over the stamp pad. Keep the box tightly covered when not in use.

4 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tsp powdered alum
1 1/2 cups water
Food coloring (optional)

Mix all ingredients tin a large bowl.  If the dough is too dry, work in another tablespoon of water with your hands.  Dough can be colored by dividing it into several parts and kneading a drop or two of food coloring into each part.  Roll or mold as desired.

To Roll:  Roll dough 1/8" thick on lightly floured board.  Cut with cookie cutters dipped in flour.  Make a hole in the top, 1/4" down, for hanging, by using the end of a plastic straw dipped in flour.  Shake the dots of clay from the straw and press on as decorations.

To Mold:  Shape dough no more than 1/2" thick into figures such as flowers, fruits, animals, etc.  Insert a fine wire in each for hanging.

Bake ornaments on ungreased cookie sheet for about 30 minutes in a 250 degree oven.  Turn and bake another 1 1/2 hours until hard and dry.  Remove and cool.  When done, sand lightly with fine sandpaper until smooth.  Paint with plastic-based poster paint, acrylic paint or markers.  Paint both sides.  Allow paint to dry and seal with clear shellac, acrylic spray or clear nail polish.

This recipe makes about 5 dozen 2 1/2" ornaments.

2 cups salt
2/3 cup water
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water

Stir salt and water over heat 4-5 minutes.  Remove from heat; add cornstarch and 1/2 cup cold water.  Stir until smooth; return to heat and cook until thick.  Store in a plastic bag.

Puffy Paint

Flour
Salt
Water
Tempera Paint

Mix equal amounts of flour, salt and water. Add liquid tempera paint for color. Pour mixture into squeeze bottles and paint. Mixture will harden in a puffy shape.

Water Colors

1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 tablespoons baking soda
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 tablespoon glycerin
plastic bottle caps or paint pans, or Styrofoam egg carton
red, yellow and blue food coloring

Mix vinegar and baking soda together in a small bowl.

When mixture stops foaming, add cornstarch and glycerin, mixing well.

Pour mixture into bottle caps or paint pans

Add several drops of a different food coloring to each pan or cap or carton cup. Stir until the color is well-mixed. Be sure to add plenty of coloring, since the tint will lighten upon drying. Mix primary colors to make secondary colors. Let set overnight to harden.
This makes a good substitute for purchased watercolor sets.  Use as you would a purchased watercolor set.

Poster Paint

1/4 cup flour

1 cup water

3 tbsp. powdered tempera paint

2 tbsp. water

1/2 tsp. liquid starch or liquid detergent

Measure flour into saucepan. Slowly add 1 cup water until mixture is smooth. Heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Cool. Add 1/4 cup flour paste into small jar or plastic container. Add tempera paint and water for each color. For opaque finish add liquid starch. For glossy finish add liquid detergent.

Shimmer Clay

1 cup baking soda
½ cup cornstarch
¾ cup water
Food coloring (optional)

In a saucepan, stir together the baking soda and cornstarch. Add the water, mixing well.

Cook the mixture over low heat (adults should supervise), stirring occasionally, until it resembles mashed potatoes, about 7 to 10 minutes. You will need to stir it almost constantly the last few minutes as it thickens.

Remove the pan from the heat and set it aside. When the dough has cooled, turn it out onto a floured board. Knead the dough with your hands, adding more cornstarch as needed, to create a workable clay.

Allow your projects to air-dry over night.  If you live in a very humid area, drying time may take longer.

Tips:

For tinted clay, separate clay mixture into glass or ceramic bowls.  Knead in a few drops of food coloring.  Refrigerate any leftover dough in a Ziploc bag up to three days.

Tutti Fruitti Watercolor

several packets of unsweetened drink mixes (2q. size)

Water

For each color, combine one packet of drink mix and two teaspoons of water in a small cup, stirring until the mix dissolves.  Store in jars with lids in the refrigerator. 

If you'd like to use this recipe to create aromatic ornaments or smelly stickers.  Add a few drops essence of oil into each color.

Puffy Glitter Paint

½ cup salt
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup water
Food coloring

Mix together the salt, flour, and water; the mixture should be about the consistency of pudding.

Add food coloring until the desired shade is reached.  Store in jars with lids or use a funnel to transfer the paint to a squeeze bottle.

Shoe Dye - for canvas or linen shoes

White liquid shoe polish
Food coloring

Squeeze some of the shoe polish into a bowl. Add food coloring and mix. Apply with a soft dry cloth.

Flower Preservative with Cornmeal

1 pt Powdered Borax
2 pt Cornmeal
Covered cardboard box (shoe or stationery box)
Fresh flowers

Thoroughly mix borax and cornmeal.

Cover the bottom of the box with 3/4 of an inch of this mixture.

Cut flower stems about 1 inch long. Lay the flowers face down in this mixture. Spread the petals and leaves so that they lie as flat as possible. Do not place flowers too close together.

Cover the flowers with 3/4 of an inch of the mixture.

Place the lid on the box and keep at room temperature for 3 to 4 weeks. This is an excellent way to preserve corsages or flowers from someone special. Try daisies, pansies, apple blossoms, asters, violets, and other flowers with this method. They will stay summer fresh indefinitely.

Flower Drying Formula

10 parts white cornmeal
3 parts borax

Mix together. Bury flowers in the mixture. Let set for 2 weeks, and the dried flowers will last for years.  Put mixture in jar with lid.  Can be reused again.

Newspaper Clipping Preservative

1 white antacid tablet
1 qt. club soda

Dissolve antacid tablet in club soda overnight. Lay newspaper clippings in solution for one hour, then gently pat dry.

Spackle

Baking soda
"Elmer's" Glue

Mix to the proper consistency.  This is used for any miniature building projects.

Textured Snow

drier lint

white acrylic paint

water

Mix desired amount of paint and enough drier lint to make a paste.  Add a bit of water to dilute if you make the paste too thick.  Store in airtight container.

Variations:  You can also use wood shavings, threads, crushed foam used for packing (must be shredded in tiny pieces), pencil shavings (only the wood shavings), sawdust.

Waterproof Fabric Sealant

3 C. soybean oil
1 1/2 C. turpentine

Mix and paint on outer surface. Allow to dry.

NOTE: USE ONLY ON OUTDOOR-TYPE ARTICLES SUCH AS CANVAS TENTS AND BAGS.

courtesy of Crafts On-Line

http://colcommunity.tripod.com