We're kicking this week off with another installment of the new "We Tried It!" series. These magic milk colors have been on our to-do list for a long time (like ever since I first got on Pinterest long). I'm sure you can tell by the photo above, this project is the perfect mix of art, science, and fun. I've seen the idea several places over the last few months but I first spotted it here. I'd highly recommend checking it out (hint: there are two equally exciting bonus activities).
It's a good bet you already have everything you need for this one in your kitchen - milk, food coloring, dish soap, and a toothpick. Start off by pouring your milk into a small dish with a lip. We found tupperware lids worked really well. Also, we experimented with a few types of milk (with a baby and a toddler in the house we have non-fat, 2%, and whole on hand at all times) and whole milk definitely worked the best.
After the milk is poured, add a few drops of various colors of food coloring all around your dish. Now comes the "magic" toothpick. Dip said toothpick in a little dish soap and ask your kiddo to put it in the food coloring. The reaction of the soap disrupting the surface tension of the milk causes the colors to radiate away from the toothpick.
The more you dip, the more the colors swirl and mix. Trust me when I tell you, the results are pretty spectacular.
Eventually, your milk will start to look like this as the colors begin to muddle together.
Which means it's time for a fresh dish. We did this activity three times total and this blue/green/yellow version was my favorite.
Once the color-mixing excitement was over, we did what we ultimately end up doing with a lot of art projects and turned it into painting time. A few paper towels on top of a cookie sheet is our go-to canvas.
Thanks again to Our Best Bites, you made our afternoon! Will you guys be trying this one soon? As always, let me know if there's a project you love or want us to try.
Similar Stuff: We Tried It! - Edible Finger Paints
Beautiful! Looks like it could be mesmerizing.
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing this in blog posts and I just need to try it myself.
We had a science night with some family friends and this was one of the experiments. The kids loved it and wanted to do it over and over again.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun project! We were on the path to major meltdown city this morning when I pulled up your blog and voila! You saved us :)
ReplyDeleteYou totally inspire me! I voted for your blog as well!! I adore coming here
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind word guys!! I'm always so impressed by the creativity in the blogosphere and I love sharing my favorites with you. I'm REALLY loving that this new "we tried it" feature is propelling our family to do more too :).
ReplyDeleteOh, we are doing this! I'm always looking for rainy day fun and this is perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks a bunch!
Fun! Can't wait to try it out.
ReplyDeletesuperb !
ReplyDeleteLove this!
ReplyDeletewe did it and I linked it back to you as where I was inspired
Here's our go at it!
http://mommamonstersconfessions.blogspot.com/2011/08/82211-mm-milk-magic.html
I loved it so much I made it my background, LOL
Love this idea!!! So creative and fun!
ReplyDeleteLook for a link back to you on our next Clickworthy post at www.scottsdaledaycare.com/raising-happy-kids-blog!
Very neat! I don't even have a kid and I want to try it! Found your blog through craftgawker. Would like to try this with my 4 year old cousin, but the painting part... Are the paintings fridge-hanging worthy? or will the milk component spoil?
ReplyDeleteNo, the art is not "fridge-hanging" worthy. One of my mottos here is that art for young children is about the process, not the product. We tossed these out after we were done :)
ReplyDeleteThis was an awesome, quiet activity. My toddler absolutely LOVED it!!
ReplyDeleteYou can use milk paint without soap of course, to paint a hearty White or Oat bread and then put it in the toaster...great photos by the way!
ReplyDelete~Kit
This could be an excellent use for the couple days past the use by date milk.
ReplyDeleteThat looks liek so much fun! I can't wait to try it with my kids!
ReplyDeleteMy boys have been thoroughly enjoying this this morning! I laugh that I love the vibrant colors, but my 5 1/2 year old loves getting all the colors to mix to black. "Looks like oil" he says. His brain is wired for engineering!
ReplyDeleteWe did this tonight. So fun. Thank you.
ReplyDeletesaw this and did it right away :) that is pretty cool!
ReplyDeleteSuper fun project! Koen enjoyed the process and the product. All smiles.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll be trying this out this afternoon! I can only hope my *ahem* ENERGETIC 3 year old boy doesn't decide to do any splashing...
ReplyDelete