Home & Garden Home Messy Crafts for Kids By Jenn Savedge Writer University of Strathclyde Ithaca College Jenn Savedge is an environmental author and lecturer. She’s a former national park ranger who has written three books on eco-friendly living our editorial process Jenn Savedge Updated February 04, 2020 FIngerpainting outside will save your house from some paint spills. (Photo: Ravil Sayfullin/Shutterstock) Share Twitter Pinterest Email Home Family Pest Control Natural Cleaning DIY Green Living Thrift & Minimalism Sustainable Eating With the kids outside, summertime is the perfect time to break out those messy crafts you'd rather not do indoors. If you're kids like a little mess, they'll love these mushy, gushy, messy summertime crafts! Mud pies: Take one bucket filled with mud, add 1 bucket of sand and enough water to make the whole mess pliable. Let your kids squish and splish 'til the cows come home. Tie-dye: A few months ago, I was lucky enough to go on Emeril Green and teach Emeril and his guests how to make dyes out of veggies and herbs like cabbage, spinach, onions and turmeric. It's easy as pie and a great way to help kids get a second life out of an old T-shirt. Check out the video and instructions here, and be sure to use spray bottles to minimize the mess! Goop: Add 1 cup of cold water to 2 cups of cornflour in a bowl. Stir until the water is absorbed by the cornflour. Add a little nontoxic food coloring if you want, or just leave it plain. If possible, place goop in a large bowl and let kids play with spoons, cups, hands, sticks, etc. Fingerpaints: Fingerpainting is fun for kids of all ages and it's the perfect activity to do outside. Make up a batch of this eco-savvy fingerpaint, gather up some brushes, and let your little Picasso loose outdoors!