Mud Building Basket

What you'll need

• One empty plastic bottle with a tight-fitting cap (500 ml–1 L works well)
• Water from a stream, creek, or rain barrel — about one-third of the bottle
• 10 small stones, pebbles, or gravel pieces
• 5 sheets of scrap paper, newspaper, or old tissue paper, torn into small pieces
• A patch of soil or garden dirt for mixing
• A shallow tray, cardboard, or brown paper for sculpting
• A small bowl of water for rinsing hands
• An old towel or rag for cleanup
• Acrylic paints
• Plastic glue (WHITE SCHOOL GLUE)

Links to products are affiliate links: if you buy through them I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Printables are always free 🙏

How to make it

1. 1

   Head outside and gather your materials together: the empty bottle, stones, torn paper, and a little stream or rain water.

2. 2

   Fill the plastic bottle about one-third full with water.

3. 3

   Drop the 10 small stones into the bottle, then add the torn paper pieces.

4. 4

   Screw the cap on tightly and invite your child to shake the bottle with both hands. Shake vigorously for several minutes until the paper breaks down into a pulpy mush and the water looks cloudy.

5. 5

   Pour the pulpy mixture out onto a patch of bare soil or into a shallow tray of dirt.

6. 6

   Remove the stones and set them aside — they have done their job of helping mash the paper.

7. 7

   Use your hands to mix the paper pulp and soil together thoroughly. Add a little more water or dirt until the mud feels thick and moldable, like stiff cookie dough.

8. 8

   Place the mud onto a piece of cardboard or brown paper and let your child sculpt: pinch pots, little bricks, bowls, or simple animal shapes.

9. 9

   Leave the creations outside in the sun to dry. They will harden and become surprisingly strong as they dry over a day or two.

10. 10

    Once the sculpture is completely dry, brush on a thin layer of plastic glue diluted with a tiny splash of water. This seals the mud and paper pulp so they do not soak up the paint. Let the glue dry fully.

11. 11

    Paint the sealed sculpture with acrylic paints. The colors will look brighter and last longer because the sealed surface no longer drinks the liquid.