We do a fair amount of painting around Chez Harper, but once in awhile I want a less messy activity. So today I tried an idea I saw at Frugal Family Fun. I may have had more fun making them than Claire did playing with them, but they’ll be around awhile for those moments of boredom when a quick distraction will do.

I took file folder and cut out a 5″ by 7″ window. Then I decorated them with markers. Then I took a gallon-size heavy duty zip-top bag and put in the following:

1/3 cup of mineral oil
1/3 cup of color A
1/3 cup of color B
A dash of glitter

Gently press the bag so all the air is pressed out and seal. With packing tape, seal the zip-top. Then I taped the bags inside the file folders and taped the folders shut. If I’d had quart-size bags it might have been a bit easier — in that case I’d have used 1/4 cup of each item.