Got a stress-ball? Or better yet, one of those squishy, glitter-filled things that kids are always playing with. If you pass one of those around, they'll get the feel of how to handle the pastry bag before actually using it.

Of course, the EASIEST thing would be to go spend oodles of $$ on those tiny craft-size tubes of GEII, cuz they've likely (hopefully) all had experience with a toothpaste tube.

Good luck with the party!

You could have them 'practice' with cupcakes first...have them frost a batch with baggies, then move on to the craft project. Then after the craft project, the snacks will be ready!

I work out of an art school that teaches mosaicking to the younger set. We use the pre-mixed adhesive and grout, like Mapei from Lowe's. Because the kids are just starting out, the method used is to put the pre-mixed on pretty thick, and stick the tessarae into it. This is sort of a one-step way to mosaic, because there is no need to go back and grout. It's simple for the kids. The older kids, like 8 and over, can usually use a plastic knife to "frost" their own work, and the teachers do it for the younger kids. The kids can also choose to color their grout, which we do by mixing in a little acrylic paint.

I just shudder at the thought of 5 little girls with their own GEII tubes - mostly the mess. On the table. One the floor. In their hair.

I hope this is helpful.

oh, sorry, I think I must have missed the part where you said their age...for some reason, I have "10" in my head as the age-group.

OH., NO WAY would I let kids loose with GEII!! Look at the mess I make and I'm careful 9sortof) I think 10 yr old girls could do the baggie, maybe let them practice once or twice on something

When is the big party?

Maria

10 is the age group MM. They're 4th graders... we'll be outside with a plastic covered table. Asked parents to put them in old clothes.

I can't see it being that bad Tamar, these particular girls are pretty consciencious.

Shrty, the 10th - the same dang night of the auction whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnneeee

Hey, if I can survive a Kid's Pizza making party, this is doable!! They are at a good age to have the right dexterity I think. And the imagination!!! You may be triggering a budding artist and don't know it!!! Way to go!

I would use premixed adhesive or mix up a batch of thinset and put soem on heavy paper plates and give them craft sticks and let them put a little on at a time sor show them how to butter the backs.i think they'll do fine with that.have fun annie

I'd make them all their own little pastry bag of thinset.
I can't wait to see them finished!!

premix, with chopsticks!
put a glob on a paper, right in front of them and they can pick up little bits of the adhesive with the chopstick and put it on the back of each piece.
it's a neat way to do it and several have already posted this idea in a few different ways of it...
no tubes of the runny stuff and no need to have too much clean up later.
the most they're going to have, is a bunch of it dried on their hands. I haven't figured out a way to eliminate that part yet.lol

it comes in the little tubs I have mentioned before.
sanded grout/adhesive all in one. I get them at Home Depot.
my favorite is the antique white.it's an aged vintage look.

then I always end up painting over it anyway..lol
when I did the frying pan, I used it and then I painte it but I used a crackle paint, under the second coat and that's why the black shows through the second color.
I wanted that aged, cracked look
or was it a different color under the reddish?
I can't remember..I painted it more than once..lol
then I used the chopstick to clean off the dry grout from the pieces when it was all dry.

remember that comment I made, way back when, about when I was in the court room and I was quietly nipping bits of the grout off of the pan and the judge asked me to leave, cuz of a
'contraband weapon' in the court room? hello, a chopstick???

(not me!..I was with a friend for a civil violation)

a visual came to me there...
right after I posted it...
I wonder if the judge could just see me, jumping up, during the court proceedings...all flexed in power ranger's stance and yelling
"HI-YAaa....Kung Fuey"
I've seen my 6 and 3 yr. old grandson's do it!

I know.........go back to bed.

Was the party this weekend?
Anxious to see the girls work. I think getting the extra gems was the perfect idea. That's probably all they will
be interested in, and so much easier for you too!......
well except for the grouting!

Hazie

nope, 2 more weeks. Brier is outside cutting the backer fabric for the stars and I'm getting started on cutting tesserae so it can be tumbled.