Children love to get creative. Perhaps this is why small children between the ages of 3 and 5 in particular like to let their imagination run wild and create something again and again. The possibilities are simply endless, even when it comes to craft materials. As far as accessories are concerned, the basic equipment: scissors, brushes and glue should not be missing in the household. But not all glue is the same. Finding a non-toxic option for children between 3 and 5 years old proves to be a difficult task for many parents. The little ones occasionally put their fingers in their mouths, touch their eyes and face. If you use ordinary adhesives, a lot can go wrong. The problem can be avoided with a harmless adhesive. We offer some ideas on how you can make your own non-toxic craft glue.
Make your own craft glue from flour
When it comes to non-toxic craft glue, you simply can't ignore flour glue. The basic recipe is pretty simple and suitable even for beginner crafters. The flour glue dries out over time and after several days it can no longer hold what it is supposed to hold. But it is ideal for creating paper decorations several hours before the party.
Preparation: Mix water and flour 1 to 1 in a bowl. Stir until the liquid has the consistency of pancake batter. Beat with the whisk until smooth. Place in a preheated pot and slowly bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight storage container and apply with a brush. If the adhesive dries out over time, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of water and stir well.
Cornstarch recipe
The next recipe with cornstarch is also super easy, but the end result is better than with flour. The glue can be helpful when crafting with paper because it has a uniform consistency. Cardboard can also be glued smoothly to cardboard.
Preparation: Bring 3/4 cup water to the boil in a pot. Add 1/4 cup cornstarch, stir in 2 tablespoons light corn syrup and add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Mix all ingredients carefully until a smooth mixture is formed. Stir the mixture over low heat until it thickens. In the airtight storage container where you will store the glue later, stir together 1/4 cup cornstarch and 1/4 cup water until smooth. Remove the pot from the heat and slowly pour the hot adhesive into the can, continuing to stir until a smooth mixture forms. Wait until the craft glue cools down.
Make your own slime
The next recipe for craft glue with corn syrup is quick to prepare and is perfect for making thispopular slime. Children love to play with the slime, and the basic recipe is to make it with borax. But now the harmful substance can be eliminated and is replaced by an adhesive made from natural ingredients.
In a small pot, mix 3/4 cup water with 2 tablespoons corn syrup, add 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar. Bring the liquid to a boil while stirring constantly. In a bowl, mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with 3/4 cup cold water. Slowly add the cold mixture to the warm mixture, stirring continuously for a minute. Remove from heat and let cool. Then pour it into an airtight storage container and let it sit at room temperature for one night. Only then use it.
2 simple recipes with edible ingredients
You want somethingwith the childrencrafting on rainy weekends? Then you can use the next two recipes for edible craft glue. Although it only sticks for a short time, it is ideal for crafting with the little ones. In the first recipe, 1/2 cup of water is added to the flour and stirred until the consistency resembles cream. Then place in a saucepan and simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Allow to cool.
In the second variant, a thick paste is made without cooking - even kindergarten-aged children can easily master the task. Simply add 1/2 cup water to 1/2 cup flour until a sticky mixture forms. Add a pinch of salt. By the way, if you wish, you can color this glue with food coloring to make it look more attractive.
Make your own waterproof craft glue
Have to every now and thenwhile craftingcertain details must be glued waterproof. Then the next recipe comes to the rescue. The glue is made without milk and therefore has a longer shelf life. As far as making it, it's pretty simple. In any case, you have to make sure that the adhesive is applied warm. Before each use, warm up some of the adhesive in a bowl on a water bath. It may take a few days for the craft glue to dry completely, but then it sticks very well. In any case, it is not strong enough to glue porcelain plates together, for example.
This is how the glue is made: Bring 6 tablespoons of water to the boil in a pot. Remove the pot from the heat and add 14 grams of gelatin. Stir until the gelatin dissolves. Add 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar and 1 tablespoon gelatin. Stir vigorously and allow to cool before pouring the adhesive into the airtight storage container.
Recipe with milk for glass
The next recipe is for a craft glue for glass. The universal adhesive sticks very well and is even suitable for porcelain dishes. You can also use it to attach labels to cans and bottles or to glue glass to other materials. If you want to glue glass to wood, metal or plastic, the first thing you should do is melt the glue in a water bath and apply it as a liquid. If you want to glue two pieces of glass together, you don't need to melt the craft glue. The glue contains milk, but it will last much longer if you add peppermint extract to it.
And here comes the recipe: Pour 2 tablespoons of cold water into a small bowl. Add 2 packs of gelatin to the water and leave for an hour. Warm up 2 tablespoons of skimmed milk. Just before the milk starts to boil, remove the pot from the heat. Add to the gelatin solution. Stir vigorously until the gelatin dissolves. Either use the finished adhesive straight away, or add 2-3 drops of clove oil and use the next day. Optional: Stir in peppermint extract instead of clove oil and use over the next 2-3 days. If the adhesive smells bad, throw it away.
Make for cardboard and cardboard
The next craft glue has a shelf life of several weeks and is perfect for creating collages. The glue also proves to be very useful when other cardboard details need to be attached to the cardboard.
Simply add 1/4 cup of flour to a glass of lukewarm water. The consistency of the adhesive should be liquid. Bring 5 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Add the flour mixture and mix well. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool.
Arabic gum recipe
This next universal glue recipe is perfect for anyone who needs a really strong adhesive for their craft project. Also suitable for porcelain. Simply apply a thin layer with a matchstick, then press the two pieces together and wait for the glue to dry. This can take an hour, so patience is required. Wait 24 hours before washing or using the dishes. This adhesive will last for around a year. This is how the universal glue is made: In a bowl, mix 3 tablespoons of Arabic gum, 1 tablespoon of glycerin and 1/2 tablespoon of water. Store the mixture in an airtight storage container for a year.
Whether for crafting with paper, with glass/plastic or with clay and cardboard – there is a suitable recipe for adhesives made from edible ingredients for every material. If you want to make craft glue yourself, you have to pay attention to storage. Airtight storage containers are ideal and guarantee a long shelf life. If this is your first time using a homemade adhesive, you can test it on a small area first. If it doesn't stick, you can opt for the universal adhesive. Basically, all craft glues are non-toxic and are therefore considered to be harmless to health. For safety, always be careful not to let children eat the glue or touch their eyes. Never leave children unsupervised while doing crafts. Keep the adhesives on high shelves where children cannot reach them. If the glue smells bad, you can throw it away immediately and clean the storage container thoroughly. We hope you enjoy crafting!
