AKICILJ

[rivka]

I know I have LJ readers who are much, much more crafty than I will ever be.

Alex wants to have a medieval-y, princess-y birthday party this year, and I thought it would be fun to let the kids decorate a "goblet" to take home. I don't know how completely impractical this idea is, though.

Are there products which could be used to decorate, say, a plastic wine glass, such that the glass could be safely used and washed? I'd be interested in either coloring agents (like markers or paints) or gluing agents. To work as a party idea, it needs to be reasonably safe for little kids to use - so, for example, no superglue.

Comments

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

What about using Elmer's glue to attach plastic gems and things? They'd be delicate, but washable.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

You mean the regular white school glue? Huh. I would have assumed that it would wash off. If it wouldn't, then yeah, that makes the idea super easy.

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

Once it's dry, it's dry, IIRC.

[bunnymcfoo.livejournal.com]

:/ I'm not so sure. I know a lot of people who use Elmers on their hair for mohawks, and it washes out.

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

That would take more washing than these glasses are likely to get, I think.

[bunnymcfoo.livejournal.com]

fair enough!

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

A college friend used to Elmer's her hair, but she diluted the glue first, and even then it was a pain to wash out.

[johnpalmer.livejournal.com]

I'm not an Elmers-expert, but it's intended to wash off of things; if put into a dishwasher, it would probably cause most of the pretties to fall off. If it was used for something where you're only ever going to wash the inside and damp-wipe the outside, it should work fine.

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

I think that's the expectation here.

[jenett]

http://www.holidaycrafter.com/article1101.html talks about doing Passover goblets with pens that held up well (and she talks about using other materials.)

And http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf36151089.tip.html has some more ideas about paints to use.

One other option - if you've got a paint your own pottery place handy, some of them will let you buy the items, paint them at home, and then bring them back to fire them. Might not be ideal with younger kids who'd like to take stuff home immediately, but I suggest just in case you decide it'd work for something later.

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

According to their website, Sharpies are non-toxic:

http://www.sharpie.com/enUS/Product/Sharpie_Fine_Point_Permanent_Marker.html

Or these:

http://www.enasco.com/product/9729055

There are also the type than can write on porcelain and be dishwasher safe, but they run about $50 a set:

http://www.delphiglass.com/index.cfm?page=itemList&stage=2

[aendr.livejournal.com]

Sharpies wash off plastic beakers very easily, I've found.

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

so, for example, no superglue.

Well you're no damn fun!

:)

Getting safe stuff to stick on plastic is beyond my knowledge, but I love Alex's idea on the party theme and I'm looking forward to pictures!

[platypus]

Maybe self-stick jewels for the jewel part? I'm assuming any washing would be done by hand, and that the goblets would probably not be under heavy use for very long.

[ratphooey.livejournal.com]

This is a great idea! Much less messy.

[bibliotrope.livejournal.com]

Perhaps try to keep the markings a certain distance (an inch or so) from the rim so the art would be less likely to come in contact with lips. Masking tape might work for this.

[elusis.livejournal.com]

I would not use Elmer's as it is water-soluble and doesn't hold non-porous things super well. E-6000 (get the tube with the tip, or else you'll have to squeeze it out on paper and apply with toothpicks or popsicle sticks) would work. Hot glue would too but isn't kid-friendly.

[ailbhe]

Could they design the goblets and have grownups glue the gems on? eg draw little green and red circles where they want emerald and ruby stones? I'm not sure what scale of party you're planning here.

I really wouldn't use PVA glue, though.

Pointy-hat-with-tissue-scarf things might be easier to make and take home? though they might all ARRIVE with them on.

[juthwara.livejournal.com]

A general sort of craft glue that says it works for fabric (since anything for fabric would need to be able to withstand being washed) would probably work and not be too toxic. Something like this:

http://shop.hobbylobby.com/products/sobo-premium-craft-and-fabric-glue-177014/

My general experience of paint is that unless it explicitly says it's washable, it's usually permanent. Something that says it's acrylic and water-based would be safest.

Or if you decide the idea of supervising multiple small children working with materials that won't come out of clothes is too daunting, you could have them decorate crowns instead. You can get foam crowns pretty cheaply and they make lots of different stickers you could put on them.

[elusis.livejournal.com]

FWIW, the glue you linked to says "do not wash." :)

I wonder if acrylic craft paints would work on a plastic glass? They might chip or flake but a grownup could give them a spray coating of clear acrylic at the end. (I like the idea of putting masking tape at the rim to make sure no paint/glue gets there.)

[aendr.livejournal.com]

Acrylic craft paints flake off glass glasses after repeated washing. I haven't tried them on plastics. I like the idea of the spray coating. It could also go over any glued on gems, and that would help hold them in place. We should bear in mind that some kids will want to actually use their goblets, frequently, and may get upset if they fall apart too quickly.

[geminigirl]

You might look at Passover supplies or Jewish resources-at this time of year a lot of the Jewish stuff focuses on Passover and decorating Elijah's cup/a kiddush cup. Something like the Kiddushh Cup Kit perhaps.

[carbonel]

Just as an alternative suggestion if the goblet thing doesn't work out -- what about decorating (kids' choice) a shield, a wizard's wand or hat, or one of those princessy cone hat things? All of those could be managed with cardboard and construction paper, I think.

[telerib.livejournal.com]

I got nothin' on decorating glass, but I found this page of SCA youth activities which range from the really neat to the extremely strange.

I'd also, schedule permitting, be tickled to volunteer to bring a harp up for the kids to touch and play.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I'm playing LJ catchup, so you may have everything figured out by now, but I can't resist sharing one of the best Internet resources *ever:

http://www.thistothat.com/

It tells you what adhesive(s) will work to glue [this] to [that]. And it's awesome.

This (http://www.ehow.com/how_5652256_use-bake-paint-plastic.html), meanwhile, might be useful with the painting part.

[magpie49.livejournal.com]

For decorating goblets, might I suggest making a sleeve of that foam plastic sheet stuff that fits snugly over the goblet, but can be removed by sliding it down?

Then the kids can decorate the sleeve with anything you wish to provide, using any glue you wish to use AND THE SLEEVE DOESN'T GET WASHED. It slips off the goblet while the goblet is being washed.

The plastic foam sheet material is pretty non-slip all by itself, but you could paint a line, a ring or an X of rubber cement inside the sleeve for extra grip.

Alternate idea:
The Seneschal's Ledger (or The King's Record Book, or pick another title that you like)
Start with spiral bound notebooks, composition notebooks, or steno pads, choose something of a size and shape and price you like.
Add foam sheets, stick on letters, ribbon, flat backed jewels, pre-punched foam shapes (I just happen to have a mess of itty hearts in 5 sizes and 4 colors for my granddaughter {these come with glue, and a waxy backing to peel off}) and anything else you a princess, prince, seneschal or king might like to use to decorate his book.

It doesn't need to be laundered, and might encourage a youngling to start a journal {very young can journal using drawings}, or be a sketchbook... or a trophy of the "I decorated this myself {with only a little help from the big folks}" kind.

When my kids were little, I didn't have much money to buy things for them, so I made things for them and did things WITH them. And still hear positively about it every once in a while. {youngest kid is 32}