Colored "Glass": A Tutorial for Kids**

An irregular color wheel!

Note: This is for Cami who makes such neat crafts and who has lots of snow right now.

A few days ago I tried a colorful and easy but messy craft for kids to use outside in the snow or freezing weather. So here's what you can do to make your own colored 'glass'.

You need:
water balloons
food coloring
plastic bag(s)
cookie sheet with sides
newspapers or old towels
scissors
old clothing that you don't mind getting dirty
snow boots, coats & gloves (for after)

WORD OF CAUTION: This is a messy craft! Food coloring will stain, so do this with newspaper or towels and/or clean up spills right away, wear old clothes you don't mind getting dirty and make sure you wipe your hands before touching those clean walls! Or better yet, do parts of this outside in the cold.

Put 1 drop of food coloring into a balloon. 1 drop is enough. More than that, and it gets messier.

Carefully fill the balloon with water. Follow the directions on the package. (You may have to squeeze the water down into the balloon with one hand while the other hand is holding the top of the balloon against the end of the spigot (faucet). Carefully remove and tie off. Repeat. Place in plastic bag(s)* and freeze.

Next day: Put on old clothes. Place towels or newspaper down for protecting surfaces. (If doing outside, then you probably can skip this part). Have an adult cut the balloon. The kids can peel it off. Careful - there might be some colored liquid that falls out. Wearing gloves at this point is good to keep your hands from becoming icicles.

Put the colored glass onto the cookie sheet (this helps to catch drips).

Put on your coats, boots and gloves... maybe a hat.

Go out and play.
But no throwing at each other - it'll be like getting pummeled with a rock. Ouch!

* You don't have to put them into plastic bags, but it's a precaution against freezer spills.

** for adults to do with and/or for the kids unless you have older ones