alternate uses for Kool-Aid

In the August edition of All-You magazine (found only at Wal-Mart), there is a page with a lot of Kraft foods coupons. All of them are buy 3 Kraft products and get something for FREE. The cheapest Kraft food I've discovered is Kool-Aid. That deal alone is worth buying the magazine for this month (maybe a few copies if you can budget it). If you're not a Kool-Aid fan, I know you can get Kraft mac n cheese at Wal-Mart for $.50 a box! So there's another idea and you'll be stocking your pantry with yummy mac n cheese while still getting great deals. I usually buy generic mac n cheese because it tastes fine to me and costs about $.20 cheaper. In our house and how much mac n cheese we buy (we love it) that $.20 savings really adds up.

I got to thinking though, even if you don't drink Kool-Aid, there are other uses for it and worth stocking up for. I'm always encouraging more family time - especially families with children. Here are some alternate uses for Kool-Aid; most of which you can get the kids involved with.





KOOL-AID ART BOTTLES ("sand bottles")

What you'll need:

• Inexpensive glass bottle with lid (this is an awesome way to reuse those baby food jars)
• Several different and colorful flavors of Kool-Aid
• Ice tea spoon
• Small paper funnel or frosting decorating tips (quite often these are on clearance)
• Hot glue gun and glue sticks

How to make it:

• Open the top of each Kool-Aid container so you can see all of the different colors.
• Place the funnel in the top of the bottle. If the funnel is too large, use a frosting decorating tip to work as a funnel.
• Spoon the different kinds of Kool-Aid into the bottle through the funnel in the order that you desire.
• Fill up the bottle with all of the different colors.
• Put hot glue around the edge of the lid and place it in the top of the bottle.

Tips: You can poke a toothpick down the sides of the bottle to form designs in the sand.

Kool-Aid Finger Paint

What you'll need:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 packs unsweented kool-aid
• 1/2 cup salt
• 3 cups boiling water
• 3T. oil
  

How to make it:

• Mix wet into dry. The kids love the color change. Then finger paint away.

Kool-Aid Tye Dye:

What you will need:

• T-shirt (cotton works best)
• Unsweetened Kool-Aid
• Vinegar
• Small plastic bowls
• Plastic gloves
• Rubber bands

How to make it:

• For every color you wish to use, combine 1 package Kool-Aid and 1 ounce of vinegar in individual plastic bowls.
• Mix until Kool-Aid is dissolved.
• Using rubber bands, pull and twist T-shirt into different shapes.
• Dip rubber-banded ends in bowls (make sure you wear gloves or your hands will stain).
• To set colors, iron on medium-high using an ironing cloth between shirt and iron.
• Let set for 24 hours before washing. Wash separately the first time.

Tips: For younger kids, you can put the Kool-Aid/Vinegar mix into a squirt bottle and let your child spray a shirt for a different/unique look!

Kool-Aid Playdough:

What you will need:

• 1 c flour, sifted
• 1/2 c salt
• 3 T cooking oil
• 1 pkg Koolaid (unsweet)
• 1 c boiling water

How to make it:

• Mix together flour, salt, oil, and Kool-aid.
• Add the cup of boiling water.
• Mix well.
• Knead the mixture until it forms a soft dough.
• Have fun!

Tips: Expect colored hands (you might want to use some gloves). Non-toxic - could be eaten, but won't taste very good. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. I'm also told that Grape flavor will stain badly. Use at your own risk.

Dying your hair with Kool-Aid:

What you will need:

• 2 Kool-Aid packets
• Conditioner
• Water (from the tap)
• Vaseline
• Plastic Wrap
• Towel
• Highlighting wand and tinfoil (if you are only highlighting)

How to do it:

• Mix two packs of unsweetened Kool-Aid with about twice as much conditioner as you use normally in order to make a pasty mix.
• Dampen your hair.
• Smear Vaseline on your skin near your hairline so you won't get a colored forehead or ears too!
• Also, to avoid getting the dye on your pillow, wrap your head in plastic wrap, or an old shower cap, then cover your head with an old ragged towel.
• Then apply mixture to your head. If you're doing tips or highlights, use a highlighting wand and wrap the dyed sections in tinfoil.
• Leave the dye in for 9-10 hours if you have dark hair, or 4-5 hours if you have blonde hair.
• Rinse out when you are done.

Tips: Some people get better/brighter results by bleaching their hair first, but I don't recommend it. The hair dye is temporary and the more often you bleach your hair to redye, the more likely it is to fall out (even in patches). I also don't recommend this for your children unless it's halloween or a long school holiday break when it might be ok to go to school with colored hair for a few weeks.

I also found this article on how to make Kool-Aid pickles!!

There was also this article on dying your yarn with Kool-Aid!

If you know of any other uses, please leave a comment!!!