Turns out dryer lint really IS valuable! Check out this comment from Jennifer (author of the wonderful homeschooling-on-a-boat blog, S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen):
You don't save Lint for Clay???
2 Cups Dryer Lint (firmly packed) 1/3 Cup Warm Water
6 Tbsp. White Glue
1 Tbsp. Clear Liquid Dishsoap
Tear the lint up into little bits. Mix everything in a bowl and knead until workable. Sculpt to heart's content. Airdries in a few days.
Who knew? (Not my daughters—but perhaps they felt in their bones that it had potential.)
Oh! My! Gosh!
My kids will love this!
Thanks, Jennifer!
(Do you think the dust bunnies can be saved?)
Posted by: Karen E. | January 31, 2007 at 06:49 AM
OMG- I love this idea. Could you make colored clay with colored dish soap? (it's all I have right now. )
I have plenty of lint to work with...
Excellent idea. I'm sending it to all kindergarten teachers I know....
Mary
Posted by: Mary | January 31, 2007 at 07:20 AM
But how sticky is it? I had a very bad experience once with a glue and white bread mixture that couldn't be kneaded as instructed because I couldn't move my hands.
Posted by: Queen of Carrots | January 31, 2007 at 08:06 AM
We made paper out of dryer lint once then wrote a letter to Grandma on it. The paper was a not very attractive gray color but it was fun.
Ruth in NC
Posted by: Ruth in NC | January 31, 2007 at 01:36 PM
The Girl Guides pack dryer lint into each cup in a cardboard egg carton, pour in parafin wax and let cool. When hard, tear apart the cups and use as a fire starter (and you thought they only used one match!)
Posted by: mama martin | January 31, 2007 at 02:29 PM
Very cool! My kids will also love this one (and probably DH too)!
Posted by: Laurie | January 31, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Jennifer is so resourceful! Did you see her advice on chopsticks for knitting needles? She needs to write "Worst Case Scenario - Crafts".
Posted by: Jennifer | February 01, 2007 at 06:42 AM
"Worst Case Scenario - Crafts".ROFLOL!
Posted by: Theresa | February 01, 2007 at 06:56 AM
"Worst case scenario - crafts" sounds like me. Honestly, the most challenging thing about homeschooling for me is that I don't do crafts. I missed the craft gene. Other people are worrying about math and writing and biology, and I am thinking "what kind of a craft would go with THAT? and how would we possibly do THAT?" This is also a severe limitation for a Cub Scout Leader. Fortunately, my co-leader is crafty, and I do the non-craft stuff. I have been known, however, to save dryer lint for my big kids to use as fire starter on camping trips.
Posted by: Jeanne | February 01, 2007 at 11:08 AM
I KNOW YOU COULD MAKE PAPER WITH DRYER LINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've just never taken time to do so.
Joann
Posted by: | February 02, 2007 at 09:43 AM
I tried to make paper with lint last year - yuck, the long hairs in the lint made it too hairy of an experience....blugh!
Posted by: Maria | February 06, 2007 at 05:24 PM