• Plaster of Paris chalk is a great craft for kids.sticks of chalk image by Tammy Mobley from Fotolia.com
  
  Crafts are an excellent way for children to learn to express their personality and creativity, while also getting them up off the sofa. Plaster of Paris is a great medium for kids of all ages to use, because it is so versatile and children will love the unique texture and process of working with it. Below are some plaster of Paris craft ideas.
  
  

Sidewalk Chalk

• Kids love to draw with sidewalk chalk, and the process is even more fun when they can make their own (with help from mom or dad). It's important not to breathe in the dust from plaster of Paris, so parents should supervise. Simply mix plaster of Paris with water in a bowl until it is firm but still creamy. (Do not mix with hands, as exposure of the skin to plaster of Paris can cause irritations.) Then add tempura---mix well for a solid color or leave relatively unstirred for a more marbled effect. Two or more colors of tempura may be used to create new colors or a rainbow marble. Then pour the mixture into a container (such as an old egg carton) so that it can dry. The chalk will be usable after about a half hour, but will not be completely dry for a day.
  
  

Handprints

• Handprints are a great craft for kids. Parents love to collect them as souvenirs, while over time children can see how they are growing. Plaster of Paris handprints are a quick and easy craft. Parents simply have to mix the plaster of Paris in a bowl with water, again until it is firm but still creamy. Then pour it into a flat container. Children should press their hand(s) or foot(feet) into the mixture, and then wash it off immediately (as long-term exposure can be harmful). Be sure to stick a straw in the mixture before it dries---this creates a hole through which ribbon can be strung, if the finished product will be hung. After it has dried, parents should write the child's name and the date, and let the children add any decorations they want.
  
  

Flowerpot Pen Holder

• Flowerpot pen holders are a decorative way to keep pens in order. Mix the plaster of Paris in a bowl, once again to the correct consistency, and then pour until it nearly fills the flowerpot. Before the mixture can dry, insert a pen cap for each pen that will be kept in the container. While it dries, decorate the individual pens to look like flowers---wrap them in green tape and add tissue paper to the top to look like petals. Once the plaster of Paris is dry, paint the top green to look like grass. Then place the flower pens into their caps (embedded in the plaster of Paris).