One of our most favorite things to play with is play dough and cookie cutters. This can keep us busy for a long time. We found a great recipe for Kool Dough, which comes in any color and flavor you choose. Have your mom or dad help you make some. It stores great in an old butter tub or plastic peanut butter jar. Our last batch is nearly a year old and still in good shape.

Kool Dough

3 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 Cup salt
2 Packages Kool-Aid
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 Cups boiling water

Mix flour, salt, and Kool-Aid in a bowl, then add the oil and water. Stir with a spoon.(Be careful because it is hot!) When cool, knead with your hands. Add flour as needed to obtain the right texture. Do not halve the recipe. *This dough does not dry very well. It does last a very long time if kept in an air tight container.

Handprint Card or Poster

This is a neat project to do and give as a gift to your mom, dad, or grandparents. You will need:

~Paper (heavy paper or cardstock works best)
~Finger Paint, in your choice of color(S).
~Ink pen...to write the following poem. Or you can go here and print a copy.

Now you are ready to create a masterpiece!

~Write or print poem on your paper
~Get your hands covered with fingerpaint and press hands down on both sides of the poem.
~Sign and date your masterpiece.

When I Was Small

Sometimes I might upset you
Just because I'm small
By leaving fingerprints of mine~
On a table, chair, or wall.

But everyday I grow a bit
And I'll be big one day
When all my tiny fingerprints
Have long been cleaned away.

So keep these prints of my hands,
To help you recall
Just how big my fingers were
That time when I was small.

*note: your handprints will be much bigger than what is actually shown here. Your prints should go out to the sides of the poem.

Here is another great gift to make for a parent or grandparent Items needed:

1 piece of 8 x 11 1/2 textured card-stock
acrylic craft paints in your choice of colors
foam craft brush or paint brush
OR paper plates or pie tins-for the paint
photo mat to fit an 8 x 10 picture
photo frame of your choice

Exacto knife or scissors



Cut one ince off the card stock to make it an 8 x 10 1/2 size. Pour enough paint in pie tin to cover hands. I have found that it is easier and cleaner to paint the kids hands using a foam paint brush. Have kids press hands on the cardstock, leaving enough room to fit inside the mat and for any writing you wish to do. Once paint has dried, add your sentiments, mat and frame.


Here are some examples of sentiments:

I do not need to be rich, My children(grandchildren) are my treasures.

Enjoy the little things, For one day you may look back and
realize they were big things.

Tiny handprints are ours to love, The sweetest gift from God above!











Animated train compliments of

All other graphics were found at



and from Sharon's Land of Hearts


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Updated 02/23/01
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